Consistent quantization of massless fields of any spin and the generalized Maxwell's equations

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7 Scopus citations

Abstract

A simplified formalism of first quantized massless fields of any spin is presented. The angular momentum basis for particles of zero mass and finite spin s of the D(s-1/2,1/2) representation of the Lorentz group is used to describe the wavefunctions. The advantage of the formalism is that by equating to zero the s - 1 components of the wavefunctions, the 2s - 1 subsidiary conditions (needed to eliminate the non-forward and non-backward helicities) are automatically satisfied. Probability currents and Lagrangians are derived allowing a first quantized formalism. A simple procedure is derived for connecting the wavefunctions with potentials and gauge conditions. The spin 1 case is of particular interest and is described with the D(1/2,1/2) vector representation of the well known self-dual representation of the Maxwell's equations. This representation allows us to generalize Maxwell's equations by adding the E0 and B0 components to the electric and magnetic four-vectors. Restrictions on their existence are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Article number012011
JournalJournal of Physics: Conference Series
Volume615
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 14 May 2015
Event9th Biennial Conference on Classical and Quantum Relativistic Dynamics of Particles and Fields, IARD 2014 - Storrs, United States
Duration: 9 Jun 201413 Jun 2014

Keywords

  • any spin
  • generalized Maxwell's equations
  • massless particles
  • wave equations

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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