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arxiv: 1302.3225 · v2 · pith:YAQE46DHnew · submitted 2013-02-13 · ✦ hep-th · hep-ph

A Gauge Field Theory of Continuous-Spin Particles

classification ✦ hep-th hep-ph
keywords particlesactioncontentcontinuous-spindescriptiondimensionsgaugelocal
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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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