The momentum operators corresponding to a localized massless particle

DOI10.1016/S0034-4877(06)80017-0MaRDI QIDQ2507364zbMATH OpenFDO

Authors Yanyan Li

Publication date 10 October 2006

Published in Reports on Mathematical Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/math-ph/0507002

zbMATH Keywords

algebraic methodsinfinite groupsmassless particle representation

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Applications of group representations to physics and other areas of science (20C35) Induced representations for locally compact groups (22D30) Applications of Lie groups to the sciences; explicit representations (22E70) Finite-dimensional groups and algebras motivated by physics and their representations (81R05) Operator algebra methods applied to problems in quantum theory (81R15)

Abstract: In this article we propose, using a purely group theoretical argument, that if a massless particle is localized, then there are only two momentum operator s corresponding to the localized state. We explicitly determine these self-adjoint operators.

Review text

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.

Recommendations

• Localization of the photon on phase space
• Group theoretical derivation of consistent massless particle theories
• MASSLESS PARTICLES, ELECTROMAGNETISM, AND RIEFFEL INDUCTION
• Localizability, gauge symmetry and Newton-Wigner operator for massless particles
• Poincaré representations of the massless class

Cites work

• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3737961 (Why is no real title available?)
• Induced representations of locally compact groups. II. The Frobenius reciprocity theorem
• Linear representations of the Lorentz group
• On Mackey's subgroup theorem

Cited in

(7)

• Momentum operators with a winding gauge potential
• Group theoretical derivation of consistent massless particle theories
• Momentum operators in the unit square
• Localization Error Estimate for the Massless Relativistic Kinetic Energy Operator
• Localization of the photon on phase space
• Local fields without restrictions on the spectrum of 4-momentum operator and relativistic Lindblad equation
• Local Decay for Weak Interactions with Massless Particles

This page was built for publication: The momentum operators corresponding to a localized massless particle

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2507364)