Internal space-time symmetries of massive and massless particles

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Am. J. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1119/1.13784· OSTI ID:6406469

Han, D; Kim, Y S; Noz, M E; Son, D

A unified description is given for internal space-time symmetries for massive and massless particles. It is noted that the little groups governing the internal symmetries of massive and massless particles are locally isomorphic to the three-dimensional rotation group or O(3) and the two-dimensional rotation group or E(2), respectively. It is noted also that the E(2) group can be obtained from a large-radius/flat-surface approximation of O(3). This procedure is then shown to be directly applicable to that of obtaining the E(2)-like little group for massless particles from the O(3)-like little group for massive particles in the infinite-momentum/zero-mass limit.

• Research Organization: Systems and Applied Sciences Corporation, Hyattsville, Maryland 20784
• OSTI ID: 6406469
• Journal Information: Am. J. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 52:11; ISSN AJPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645301* -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Invariance Principles & Symmetries-- General-- (-1987)
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
DYNAMICAL GROUPS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FIELD THEORIES
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
LIE GROUPS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
O GROUPS
POINCARE GROUPS
RELATIVITY THEORY
SPACE-TIME
SYMMETRY
SYMMETRY GROUPS