The momentum operators corresponding to a localized massless particle (Q2507364)

Using a suggestion, quoted from a well known textbook on group representations in physical problems [\textit{A. O. Barut} and \textit{R. Rączka}, Theory of Group Representation and Applications] that a massless particle can be localized in the hyperplane perpendicular to the light-like momentum 4-vector of that particle, the authors propose a group theoretical method based on the induction-reduction theorem of Mackey. Starting from the relativistic relation for the massless particle, \(p^2=0\), it is observed that a little group (isotropy group) of the 4-vector \(p\) is the set of all matrices \(A\) belonging to SL\((2,\mathbb{C})\), the double covering of the restricted Lorentz group \(L_0\). Considering the two subgroups of SL\((2,\mathbb{C})\): \(H_1\) which is the inducing subgroup for all principal series unitary irreducible representations of SL\((2,\mathbb{C})\) and the auxiliary one \(H_2\), the authors undertake in seven steps the reduction of a unitary representation SL\((2,\mathbb{C})\) induced from the character \(\Delta(H_1)\) when restricted to \(H_2\), using the Mackey's induction-reduction theorem. This reduction allows the derivation of momentum operators and their eigenfunctions that correspond to localized massless states.