A CSP Field Theory with Helicity Correspondence
Abstract
We propose the first covariant local action describing the propagation of a single free continuous-spin degree of freedom. The theory is simply formulated as a gauge theory in a "vector superspace", but can also be formulated in terms of a tower of symmetric tensor gauge fields. When the spin invariant $\rho$ vanishes, the helicity correspondence is manifest -- familiar gauge theory actions are recovered and couplings to conserved currents can easily be introduced. For non-zero $\rho$, a tower of tensor currents must be present, of which only the lowest rank is exactly conserved. A paucity of local gauge-invariant operators for non-zero $\rho$ suggests that the equations of motion in any interacting theory should be covariant, not invariant, under a generalization of the free theory's gauge symmetry.
- Publication:
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arXiv e-prints
- Pub Date:
- April 2014
- DOI:
- 10.48550/arXiv.1404.0675
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1404.0675
- Bibcode:
- 2014arXiv1404.0675S
- Keywords:
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- High Energy Physics - Theory
- E-Print:
- 45 pages