Proper Conformal Transformations Research Articles

Niederer’s transformation, time-dependent oscillators and polarized gravitational waves

It is noted that the Niederer transformation can be used to find the explicit relation between time-dependent linear oscillators, including the most interesting case when one of them is harmonic. A geometric interpretation of this correspondence is provided by certain subclasses of pp-waves; in particular the ones strictly related to the proper conformal transformations. This observation allows us to show that the pulses of plane gravitational wave exhibiting the maximal conformal symmetry are analytically solvable. Particularly interesting is the circularly polarized family for which some aspects (such as the classical cross section, velocity memory effect and impulsive limit) are discussed in more detail. The role of the additional integrals of motion, associated with the conformal generators, is clarified by means of Ermakov–Lewis invariants. Possible applications to the description of interaction of electromagnetic beams with matter are also indicated.

DE SITTER TRANSITIVITY, CONFORMAL TRANSFORMATIONS AND CONSERVATION LAWS

Minkowski spacetime is transitive under ordinary translations, a transformation that do not have matrix representations. The de Sitter spacetime, on the other hand, is transitive under a combination of translations and proper conformal transformations, which do have a matrix representation. Such matrix, however, is not by itself a de Sitter generator: it gives rise to a conformal re-scaling of the metric, a transformation not belonging to the de Sitter group, and in general not associated with diffeomorphisms in spacetime. When dealing with variational principles and Noether's theorem in de Sitter spacetime, it is necessary to regularize the transformations in order to eliminate the conformal re-scaling of the metric.

Contractions of Certain Lie Algebras in the Context of the DLF-Theory

Contractions of the Lie algebras d = u(2), f = u(1 ,1) to the oscillator Lie algebra l are realized via the adjoint action of SU(2,2) when d, l, f are viewed as subalgebras of su(2,2). Here D, L, F are the corresponding (four-dimensional) real Lie groups endowed with bi-invariant metrics of Lorentzian signature. Similar contractions of (seven-dimensional) isometry Lie algebras iso(D), iso(F) to iso(L) are determined. The group SU(2,2) acts on each of the D, L, F by conformal transformation which is a core feature of the DLF-theory. Also, d and f are contracted to T, S-abelian subalgebras, generating parallel translations, T, and proper conformal transformations, S (from the decomposition of su(2,2) as a graded algebra T + Ω + S, where Ω is the extended Lorentz Lie algebra of dimension 7).

De Sitter geodesics: reappraising the notion of motion

The de Sitter spacetime is transitive under a combination of translations and proper conformal transformations. Its usual family of geodesics, however, does not take into account this property. As a consequence, there are points in de Sitter spacetime which cannot be joined to each other by any one of these geodesics. By taking into account the appropriate transitivity properties in the variational principle, a new family of maximizing trajectories is obtained, whose members are able to connect any two points of the de Sitter spacetime. These geodesics introduce a new notion of motion, given by a combination of translations and proper conformal transformations, which may possibly become important at very-high energies, where conformal symmetry plays a significant role.

A singular conformal spacetime

The infinite cosmological “constant” limit of the de Sitter solutions to Einstein’s equation is studied. The corresponding spacetime is a singular, four-dimensional cone-space, transitive under proper conformal transformations, which constitutes a new example of maximally-symmetric spacetime. Grounded on its geometric and thermodynamic properties, some speculations are made in connection with the primordial universe.

Kinematics of a Spacetime with an Infinite Cosmological Constant

A solution of the sourceless Einstein's equation with an infinite value for the cosmological constant Λ is discussed by using Inonu–Wigner contractions of the de Sitter groups and spaces. When Λ→∞, spacetime becomes a four-dimensional cone, dual to Minkowski space by a spacetime inversion. This inversion relates the four-cone vertex to the infinity of Minkowski space, and the four-cone infinity to the Minkowski light-cone. The non-relativistic limit c→∞ is further considered, the kinematical group in this case being a modified Galilei group in which the space and time translations are replaced by the non-relativistic limits of the corresponding proper conformal transformations. This group presents the same abstract Lie algebra as the Galilei group and can be named the conformal Galilei group. The results may be of interest to the early Universe Cosmology.

Modular structure of the local algebras associated with the free massless scalar field theory

The modular structure of the von Neumann algebra of local observables associated with a double cone in the vacuum representation of the free massless scalar field theory of any number of dimensions is described. The modular automorphism group is induced by the unitary implementation of a family of generalized fractional linear transformations on Minkowski space and is a subgroup of the conformal group. The modular conjugation operator is the anti-unitary implementation of a product of time reversal and relativistic ray inversion. The group generated by the modular conjugation operators for the local algebras associated with the family of double cone regions is the group of proper conformal transformations. A theorem is presented asserting the unitary equivalence of local algebras associated with lightcones, double cones, and wedge regions. For the double cone algebras, this provides an explicit realization of spacelike duality and establishes the known typeIII 1 factor property. It is shown that the timelike duality property of the lightcone algebras does not hold for the double cone algebras. A different definition of the von Neumann algebras associated with a region is introduced which agrees with the standard one for a lightcone or a double cone region but which allows the timelike duality property for the double cone algebras. In the case of one spatial dimension, the standard local algebras associated with the double cone regions satisfy both spacelike and timelike duality.

On conformal covariance of spinor field equations

It is shown that the equation γμ∂μψ (χ) = 0 is covariant with respect to proper conformal transformations if the four-component spinor field ψ(χ) is a Cartan conformal semispinor of the first or second kind. If, instead, ψ is a Dirac spinor, then no less than two such equations are needed in a covariant field theory where the conformal group may be represented linearly. Some consequences are outlined.

Gauge theory of the conformal and superconformal group

We show that the locally scale invariant Weyl theory of gravity is the gauge theory of the conformal group. Proper conformal transformations are gauged by a non-propagating gauge field. A gauge theory for the superconformal group is obtained which is locally scale, Lorentz, and chiral invariant but not locally supersymmetric despite remarkable cancellations.