Group theoretical approach to gauge invariance of massive spin-one free fields in the infinite-momentum limit

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6741346

Chakravorty, N N

Gauge invariance in the group theoretical approach manifests itself in the transformation property of the photon potential under a Lorentz transformation. The photon potential does not transform exactly like a four-vector, rather it picks up an additional gradient term. It is therefore of fundamental importance to investigate the possibility of gaining gauge invariance by starting the theoretical development with the (1,0) and (0,1) massive spin-one irreducible fundamental free fields and then letting the mass go to zero at the end. This thesis investigates this fundamental problem. Instead of letting the mass go to zero, the investigation is made under the broader and phenomenologically meaningful assumption that the massive particle is ultrarelativistic. Starting with the massive spin-one irreducible free fields, a massive potential is constructed which transforms like a vector under three-dimensional rotations but fails to transform in a meaningful manner under a Lorentz transformation. If the ultrarelativistic assumption is then made, this massive potential transforms exactly like a photon potential, i.e., it transforms like a four-vector up to a gradient term under a Lorentz transformation. The ultrarelativistic assumption also suppresses the helicity zero component of the massive potential. A massive potential that transforms exactly as a four-vector was also constructed. The curl of this potential is the canonical antisymmetric tensor field and as the mass goes to zero this antisymmetric massive tensor field reduces to a linear combination of antisymmetric photon fields of helicities +/- 1. The lengthy task of explicitly evaluating the Wigner rotation appropriate to helicity states has also been completed.

• Research Organization: Georgia Inst. of Tech., Atlanta (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6741346
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645400* -- High Energy Physics-- Field Theory
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
BOSONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
GAUGE INVARIANCE
HADRONS
HELICITY
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
LORENTZ TRANSFORMATIONS
MASS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MESON RESONANCES
MESONS
MOTION
PARITY
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
PHOTONS
POTENTIALS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
RESONANCE PARTICLES
ROTATION
SPIN
TRANSFORMATIONS
VECTOR FIELDS
VECTOR MESONS