A basic introduction to the su(1,1) algebra is presented, in which we discuss the relation with canonical transformations, the realization in terms of quantized radiation field modes and coherent states. Instead of going into details of these topics, we rather emphasize the existing connections between them. We discuss two parametrizations of the coherent states manifold SU(1,1)/U(1): as the Poincaré disk in the complex plane and as the pseudosphere (a sphere in a Minkowskian space), and show that it is a natural phase space for quantum systems with SU(1,1) symmetry.
su(1,1) algebra; SU(1,1) group; canonical transformations; coherent states; second quantization; pseudosphere
