Propagators for Higher Spin Particles.
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is the study of propagators for higher spin particles. Previous attempts to describe higher spin particles (s (GREATERTHEQ) 1) have utilized such theoretical frameworks as S-matrix theory, field theory, and wave equations. These methods are examined in some detail, with particular attention to the difficulties that have resulted from the attempts to describe single higher spin particles. Some of these problems include singularities in the off mass shell propagators unless lower spin contributions are included, noncovariant contact terms appearing in the Hamiltonian in order to obtain a covariant S-matrix, and propagators which display incorrect behavior in the high energy limit. The regular wave equation propagators are examined and found to display none of the undesirable properties that occur in the previous higher spin theories for single particles. The regular wave equation propagators behave as well on and off the mass shell as the spin- 1/2 Dirac propagators, regardless of the arbitrarily high spins involved. The regular wave equation propagators are compared for special cases to the S-matrix and field theory propagators and formulas for writing the regular wave equation projection operators in terms of these are derived.
- Publication:
-
Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- 1986
- Bibcode:
- 1986PhDT........77C
- Keywords:
-
- Physics: Elementary Particles and High Energy