Multi-particle entanglement

We build, using group-theoretic methods, a genaral framework for approaching multi-particle entanglement. As far as entanglement is concerned, two states of n spin-1/2 particles are equivalent if they are on the same orbit of the group of local rotations (U(2)n). We give a method for finding the number of parameters needed to describe inequivalent n spin-1/2 particle states. We also describe how entanglement of states on a given orbit may be characterized by the stability group of the action of the group of local rotations on any point on the orbit.