Summary
We present a brief discussion of the difficulties associated with taking the limitm→0 in massive-particle equations of the formi(∂ψ/∂t)=Hψ, in which ψ transforms according to theD(0,s)⊕D(s,0) representation of the homogeneous Lorentz group. It is pointed out that, though the HamiltonianH tends to a well-defined form asm→0, the resulting wave equation is still unsatisfactory as the invariant scalar product (in the space of solutions of the wave equation) has an unacceptable form. We observe that this difficulty is due to the indecomposability of the representation of the Poincaré group over wave functions transforming asD(0,s)⊕D(s,0) in the massless case. Making due allowance for this fact we obtain, in close parallel to the treatment for massive particles, wave equations for zero-mass particles with invariant helicities ±s. The relevant invariant scalar products are also determined.
Riassunto
Si presenta una breve discussione associata con il limitem→0 in equazioni per particelle con massa della formai(∂ψ/∂t)=Hψ, in cuiψ si trasforma secondo la rappresentazioneD(0,s)⊕C(s,0) del gruppo di Lorentz omogeneo. Si mette in rilievo che, sebbene l’hamiltonianoH tenda ad una forma ben definita quandom→0, l’equazione d’onda risultante non è ancora soddisfacente in quanto il prodotto scalare invariante (nello spazio delle soluzioni dell’equazione d’onda) ha una forma inaccettabile. Si osserva che questa difficoltà è dovuta alla indecomponibilità della rappresentazione del gruppo di Poincaré rispetto alle funzioni d’onda che si trasformano comeD(0,s)⊕D(s, 0) nel caso senza massa. Tenendo dovuto conto di questo fatto si ottengono, in stretta analogia con il trattamento per particelle con massa, equazioni per particelle con massa nulla con elicità invarianti ±s. Si determinano anche i relativi prodotti scalari invarianti.
Реэюме
Вкратце обсуждаются трудности, воэникаюшие при переходе к пределуm→;0 в уравнениях видаi(∂ψ/∂t)=H у с отличной от нуля массой частиц, в которых ψ преобраэуется согласно представлениюD(0,s)⊕D(s, 0) однородной группы Лорентца. Отмечается, что хотя Гамильтониан Я стремится к хорощо иэвестному выражению приm→0, но окончательное волновое уравнение является неудовлетворит ельным, так как инвариантное скалярное проиэведение (в пространстве рещений волнового уравнения) имеет неприемлемый вид. Мы обнаруживаем, что зта трудность обусловлена неприводимостью представления группы Пуанкаре череэ волновые функции, преобраэуюшиеся, какD(0,s)⊕D(s,0) в случае нулевой массы. Учитывая зтот факт, мы, по аналогии с рассмотрением для частиц с отличной от нуля массой, получаем волновое уравнение для частиц нулевой массы с инвариантными спиральностями ±s. Также определяются соответствуюшие инвариантные скалярные проиэведения.
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Seetharaman, M., Simon, M.T. & Mathews, P.M. Wave equations for zero-mass particle with invariant helicities. Nuov Cim A 12, 788–800 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02736622
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02736622