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Spin-2 Fields and Helicity

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Abstract

By considering the irreducible representations of the Lorentz group, an analysis of the different spin-2 waves is presented. In particular, the question of the helicity is discussed. It is concluded that, although from the point of view of representation theory there are no compelling reasons to choose between spin-2 waves with helicity σ=±1 or σ=±2, consistency arguments of the ensuing field theories favor waves with helicity σ=±1.

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Notes

  1. We use the Greek alphabet μ,ν,ρ,…=0,1,2,3 to denote indices related to spacetime, also known as world indices. The first half of the Latin alphabet a,b,c,…=0,1,2,3 will be used to denote algebraic indices related to the tangent spaces, each one a Minkowski spacetime with metric \(\eta_{ab} = \operatorname{diag}(+1,-1,-1,-1)\).

  2. In a different context, gravitational waves with helicity σ=±1 have been discussed in Ref. [22].

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Y. Obukhov for useful discussions, and an anonymous referee for useful comments and suggestions. They would like to thank also FAPESP, CNPq and CAPES for partial financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, A.A. 97, La Julita, Pereira, Colombia

    H. I. Arcos

  2. Instituto de Física Teórica, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Caixa Postal 70532-2, 01156-970, São Paulo, Brazil

    H. I. Arcos, C. S. O. Mayor, G. Otalora & J. G. Pereira

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  1. H. I. Arcos
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  2. C. S. O. Mayor
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  3. G. Otalora
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  4. J. G. Pereira
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Correspondence to J. G. Pereira.

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Arcos, H.I., Mayor, C.S.O., Otalora, G. et al. Spin-2 Fields and Helicity. Found Phys 42, 1339–1349 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-012-9670-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-012-9670-8

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