Symmetric multiplets in quantum algebras

Abstract

We consider a modified version of the coproduct for U(suq(2)) and show that in the limit q → 1, there exists an essentially non-cocommutative coproduct. We study the implications of this non-cocommutativity for a system of two spin-1/2 particles. Here it is shown that, unlike the usual case, this nontrivial coproduct allows for symmetric and antisymmetric states to be present in the multiplet. We surmise that our analysis could be related to the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic cases of the Heisenberg magnets.