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arXiv · 1302.3225

A Gauge Field Theory of Continuous-Spin Particles

Philip Schuster·Natalia Toro
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Abstract

We propose and quantize a local, covariant gauge-field action that unifies the description of all free helicity and continuous-spin degrees of freedom in a simple manner. This is the first field-theory action of any kind for continuous spin particles; it is consistent as a quantum theory and generalizes to any number of dimensions. The fields live on the null cone of an internal four-vector "spin-space"; in D dimensions a linearized gauge invariance reduces their physical content to a single function on a Euclidean (D-2)-plane, on which the little group E(D-2) acts naturally. A projective version of the action further reduces the physical content to S^{D-3}, enabling a new local description of particles with any spin structure, and in particular a tower of all integer-helicity particles for D=4. Gauge-invariant interactions with a background current are added in a straightforward manner.

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Philip Schuster, Natalia Toro. 2013-11-01. A Gauge Field Theory of Continuous-Spin Particles. https://doi.org/10.1007/jhep10(2013)061

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