ISSN:
1572-9575
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Considering a wave functionψ for a massless particle, transforming according to an arbitrary irreducible representation (IR) of the homogeneous Lorentz group, we determine the basic conditions forψ to be an eigenfunction with a specified valueλ of the helicity inall Lorentz frames. The method used is direct and elementary, requiring no knowledge of the IR's of the Poincaré group. It is shown that there existsno invariant helicity state in unitary representations of the Lorentz group, and one such state in any non-unitary representation (with one extra in special cases).
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01258734
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