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arXiv · 1607.01316

Remarks on a Gauge Theory for Continuous Spin Particles

Victor O. Rivelles
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Abstract

We discuss in a systematic way the gauge theory for a continuous spin particle proposed by Schuster and Toro. We show that it is naturally formulated in a cotangent bundle over Minkowski spacetime where the gauge field depends on the spacetime coordinate ${x^μ}$ and on a covector $η_μ$. We discuss how fields can be expanded in $η_μ$ in different ways and how these expansions are related to each other. The field equation has a derivative of a Dirac delta function with support on the $η$-hyperboloid $η^2+1=0$ and we show how it restricts the dynamics of the gauge field to the $η$-hyperboloid. We then show that on-shell the field carries one single irreducible unitary representation of the Poincaré group for a continuous spin particle. We also show how the field can be used to build a set of covariant equations found by Wigner describing the wave function of one-particle states for a continuous spin particle. Finally we show that it is not possible to couple minimally a continuous spin particle to a background abelian gauge field, and make some comments about the coupling to gravity.

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Victor O. Rivelles. 2017-06-28. Remarks on a Gauge Theory for Continuous Spin Particles. https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc%2Fs10052-017-4927-1

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