arXiv subjects

Dmitri Vassiliev

Publications and source records attributed to Dmitri Vassiliev.

40 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2001

Pseudoinstantons in metric-affine field theory

In abstract Yang-Mills theory the standard instanton construction relies on the Hodge star having real eigenvalues which makes it inapplicable in the Lorentzian case. We show that for the affine connection an instanton-type construction can be carried out in the Lorentzian setting. The Lorentzian analogue of an instanton is a spacetime whose connection is metric compatible and Riemann curvature irreducible ("pseudoinstanton"). We suggest a metric-affine action which is a natural generalization of the Yang-Mills action and for which pseudoinstantons are stationary points. We show that a spacetime with a Ricci flat Levi-Civita connection is a pseudoinstanton, so the vacuum Einstein equation is a special case of our theory. We also find another pseudoinstanton which is a wave of torsion in Minkowski space. Analysis of the latter solution indicates the possibility of using it as a model for the neutrino.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

Torsion waves in metric-affine field theory

The approach of metric-affine field theory is to define spacetime as a real oriented 4-manifold equipped with a metric and an affine connection. The 10 independent components of the metric tensor and the 64 connection coefficients are the unknowns of the theory. We write the Yang-Mills action for the affine connection and vary it both with respect to the metric and the connection. We find a family of spacetimes which are stationary points. These spacetimes are waves of torsion in Minkowski space. We then find a special subfamily of spacetimes with zero Ricci curvature; the latter condition is the Einstein equation describing the absence of sources of gravitation. A detailed examination of this special subfamily suggests the possibility of using it to model the neutrino. Our model naturally contains only two distinct types of particles which may be identified with left-handed neutrinos and right-handed antineutrinos.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

A tensor interpretation of the 2D Dirac equation

We consider the Dirac equation in flat Minkowski 3-space and rewrite it as the Maxwell equation in Minkowski 4-space with torsion. The torsion tensor is defined as the dual of the electromagnetic vector potential. Our model clearly distinguishes the electron and the positron without resorting to "negative frequencies": we produce a real scalar invariant (charge) which indicates whether we are looking at an electron or a positron. Another interesting feature of our model is that the free electron and positron are identified with gradient type solutions of the standard (torsion free) Maxwell equation; such solutions have traditionally been disregarded on the grounds of gauge invariance.

math-ph↗

arXiv1998

The Dirac equation without spinors

In the first part of the paper we give a tensor version of the Dirac equation. In the second part we formulate and analyse a simple model equation which for weak external fields appears to have properties similar to those of the 2--dimensional Dirac equation.

math-ph↗