A graphical representation of the Dirac algebra

Abstract

The elements of the Dirac algebra are represented by sixteen 4×4 gamma matrices, each pair of which either commute or anticommute. This paper demonstrates a correspondence between the gamma matrices and the complete graph on six points, a correspondence that provides a visual picture of the structure of the Dirac algebra. The graph shows all commutation and anticommutation relations, and can be used to illustrate the structure of subalgebras and equivalence classes and the effect of similarity transformations. Since gamma matrices are the direct products of two Pauli spin matrices, they provide an appropriate way to describe a system of two spin-1/2 particles. Such multiparticle spin states are intimately connected with the theorems of John Bell. The graph is helpful in analyzing an important example of the Bell–Kochen–Specker theorem.