Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2013/iii/paper-75/2/b/solution

The Holstein–Primakoff transformation acts on the physical Fock states , , with the specified operator ordering. Its matrix elements are
The unavailable endpoint states have zero coefficient. These formulas directly give . Moreover
Thus the spin commutation relations hold in units . The Holstein–Primakoff occupation constraint is essential: the spin Hilbert space has dimension , so unrestricted boson Fock space is not itself this finite-spin representation. The square root and oscillator operators must retain their order for the displayed matrix elements and endpoint conditions to agree.

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