Spin-one matter fields

Abstract

Spin-one matter fields are relevant both for the description of hadronic states and as potential extensions of the Standard Model. In this work we present a formalism for the description of massive spin-one fields transforming in the $(1,0)\oplus(0,1)$ representation of the Lorentz group, based on the covariant projection onto parity eigenspaces and Poincar\'e orbits. The formalism yields a constrained dynamics. We solve the constraints and perform the canonical quantization accordingly. This formulation uses the recent construction of a parity-based covariant basis for matrix operators acting on the $(j,0)\oplus(0,j) $ representations. The algebraic properties of the covariant basis play an important role in solving the constraints and allowing the canonical quantization of the theory. We study the chiral structure of the theory and conclude that it is not chirally symmetric in the massless limit, hence it is not possible to have chiral gauge interactions. However, spin-one matter fields can have vector gauge interactions. Also, the dimension of the field makes self-interactions naively renormalizable. Using the covariant basis, we classify all possible naively renormalizable self-interaction terms.