Unitary Irreducible Representations Research Articles

New conformal-like symmetry of strictly massless fermions in four-dimensional de Sitter space

We present new infinitesimal ‘conformal-like’ symmetries for the field equations of strictly massless spin-s ≥ 3/2 totally symmetric tensor-spinors (i.e. gauge potentials) on 4-dimensional de Sitter spacetime (dS4). The corresponding symmetry transformations are generated by the five closed conformal Killing vectors of dS4, but they are not conventional conformal transformations. We show that the algebra generated by the ten de Sitter (dS) symmetries and the five conformal-like symmetries closes on the conformal-like algebra so(2, 4) up to gauge transformations of the gauge potentials. The transformations of the gauge-invariant field strength tensor-spinors under the conformal-like symmetries are given by the product of γ5 times a usual infinitesimal conformal transformation of the field strengths. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the two sets of physical mode solutions, corresponding to the two helicities ±s of the strictly massless theories, form a direct sum of Unitary Irreducible Representations (UIRs) of the conformal-like algebra. We also fill a gap in the literature by explaining how these physical modes form a direct sum of Discrete Series UIRs of the dS algebra so(1, 4).

SO(2,2) representations in polar coordinates and Pöschl-Teller potentials

This work is devoted to show the interest of polar coordinates in the description of some unitary irreducible representations (or uir’s) of the SO(2,2) group where the support space are functions on the three dimensional pseudosphere HR2,2 . We will show that the differential equations associated to such uir’s can be interpreted as quantum systems including centrifugal terms; in our case these equations lead to one-dimensional Pöschl-Teller systems. The solutions to these equations are computed and the uir’s are characterized in terms of polar coordinates. We will also discuss briefly the more standard pseudospherical coordinates on HR2,2 in order to appreciate some of the differences. We will consider as well the (maximally superintegrable) free classical systems defined on the real pseudosphere HR2,2 symmetric under SO(2,2) . The constants of motion are found and they are applied to find some bounded (therefore periodic) and unbounded orbits also in terms of polar coordinates.

Paley Wiener Theorem on a Reductive Lie Group

Let G be a locally compact group, K a maximal compact subgroup of G and δ on arbitrary class of irreducible unitary representations of K. The spherical Grassmannian Gp,δ is an equivalence class of spherical functions of type δ−positive of height p. In this work, we give an extension of orbital integral with respect to δ, when G is reductive Lie group. Moreover, if the discret serie is not empty, we give an extension of Paley-Wiener theorem using a compact Cartan subgroup of G.

Realization of unitary representations of the Lorentz group on de Sitter space

This paper builds on our previous work in which we showed that, for all connected semisimple linear Lie groups G acting on a non-compactly causal symmetric space M=G/H, every irreducible unitary representation of G can be realized by boundary value maps of holomorphic extensions in distributional sections of a vector bundle over M. In the present paper we discuss this procedure for the connected Lorentz group G=SO1,d(R)e acting on de Sitter space M=dSd. We show in particular that the previously constructed nets of real subspaces satisfy the locality condition. Following ideas of Bros and Moschella from the 1990’s, we show that the matrix-valued spherical function that corresponds to our extension process extends analytically to a large domain Gℂcut in the complexified group Gℂ=SO1,d(ℂ), which for d=1 specializes to the complex cut plane ℂ∖(−∞,0]. A number of special situations is discussed specifically: (a) The case d=1, which closely corresponds to standard subspaces in Hilbert spaces, (b) the case of scalar-valued functions, which for d>2 is the case of spherical representations, for which we also describe the jump singularities of the holomorphic extensions on the cut in de Sitter space, (c) the case d=3, where we obtain rather explicit formulas for the matrix-valued spherical functions.

(Non-)unitarity of strictly and partially massless fermions on de Sitter space II: an explanation based on the group-theoretic properties of the spin-3/2 and spin-5/2 eigenmodes

Abstract In our previous article (Letsios 2023 J. High Energy Phys. JHEP05(2023)015), we showed that the strictly massless spin-3/2 field, as well as the strictly and partially massless spin-5/2 fields, on N-dimensional ( N ⩾ 3 ) de Sitter (dS) spacetime (dS N ) are non-unitary unless N = 4. The (non-)unitarity was demonstrated by simply observing that there is a (mis-)match between the representation-theoretic labels that correspond to the unitary irreducible representations (UIR’s) of the dS algebra spin ( N , 1 ) and the ones corresponding to the space of eigenmodes of the field theories. In this paper, we provide a technical representation-theoretic explanation for this fact by studying the (non-)existence of positive-definite, dS invariant scalar products for the spin-3/2 and spin-5/2 strictly/partially massless eigenmodes on dS N ( N ⩾ 3 ). Our basic tool is the examination of the action of spin ( N , 1 ) generators on the space of eigenmodes, leading to the following findings. For odd N, any dS invariant scalar product is identically zero. For even N > 4, any dS invariant scalar product must be indefinite. This gives rise to positive-norm and negative-norm eigenmodes that mix with each other under spin ( N , 1 ) boosts. In the N = 4 case, the positive-norm sector decouples from the negative-norm sector and each sector separately forms a UIR of spin(4, 1). Our analysis makes extensive use of the analytic continuation of tensor-spinor spherical harmonics on the N-sphere (S N ) to dS N and also introduces representation-theoretic techniques that are absent from the mathematical physics literature on half-odd-integer-spin fields on dS N .

The hidden Lorentz covariance of quantum mechanics

This paper introduces a systematic algorithm for deriving a new unitary representation of the Lorentz algebra (so(1,3)) and an irreducible unitary representation of the extended (anti) de-Sitter algebra (so(2,4)) on L2(R3,1r). This representation is equivalent to a representation on L2(R3), and the corresponding similarity transformation is identified. An explicit representation in terms of differential operators is given, and it is shown that the inner product is Lorentz invariant. Ensuring Lorentz covariance demands a modification of the Heisenberg algebra, recognized as a phase space algebra at the interface of gravitational and quantum realms (IGQR), which we consider subordinate to Lorentz covariance. It is also demonstrated that time evolution can be cast in a manifestly covariant form. Each mass sector of the Hilbert space carries a representation of the Lorentz algebra, and the (anti) de-Sitter algebra on each mass sector contracts to the Poincare algebra in the flat configuration and momentum space limits. Finally, we show that three-dimensional fuzzy space also carries a unitary representation of these algebras, algebraically equivalent to the L2(R3,1r) representation but not necessarily equivalent as representations. Several outstanding issues are identified for future exploration.

Scalar two-point functions at the late-time boundary of de Sitter

We calculate two-point functions of scalar fields of mass m and their conjugate momenta at the late-time boundary of de Sitter with Bunch-Davies boundary conditions, in general d + 1 spacetime dimensions. We perform the calculation using the wavefunction picture and using canonical quantization. With the latter one clearly sees how the late-time field and conjugate momentum operators are linear combinations of the normalized late-time operators αN and βN that correspond to unitary irreducible representations of the de Sitter group with well-defined inner products. The two-point functions resulting from these two different methods are equal and we find that both the autocorrelations of αN and βN and their cross correlations contribute to the late-time field and conjugate momentum two-point functions. This happens both for light scalars m<d2H\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\left(m<\\frac{d}{2}H\\right) $$\\end{document}, corresponding to complementary series representations, and heavy scalars m>d2H\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\left(m>\\frac{d}{2}H\\right) $$\\end{document}, corresponding to principal series representations of the de Sitter group, where H is the Hubble scale of de Sitter. In the special case m = 0, only the βN autocorrelation contributes to the conjugate momentum two-point function in any dimensions and we gather hints that suggest αN to correspond to discrete series representations for this case at d = 3.

Twisted conjugacy in residually finite groups of finite Prüfer rank

Abstract Suppose 𝐺 is a residually finite group of finite upper rank admitting an automorphism 𝜑 with finite Reidemeister number R ⁢ ( φ ) R(\varphi) (the number of 𝜑-twisted conjugacy classes). We prove that such a 𝐺 is soluble-by-finite (in other words, any residually finite group of finite upper rank that is not soluble-by-finite has the R ∞ R_{\infty} property). This reduction is the first step in the proof of the second main theorem of the paper: suppose 𝐺 is a residually finite group of finite Prüfer rank and 𝜑 is its automorphism. Then R ⁢ ( φ ) R(\varphi) (if it is finite) is equal to the number of equivalence classes of finite-dimensional irreducible unitary representations of 𝐺, which are fixed points of the dual map φ ̂ : [ ρ ] ↦ [ ρ ∘ φ ] \hat{\varphi}\colon[\rho]\mapsto[\rho\circ\varphi] (i.e. we prove the TBFT𝑓, the finite version of the conjecture about the twisted Burnside–Frobenius theorem, for such groups).

Manifestly covariant worldline actions from coadjoint orbits. Part I. Generalities and vectorial descriptions

We derive manifestly covariant actions of spinning particles starting from coadjoint orbits of isometry groups, by using Hamiltonian reductions. We show that the defining conditions of a classical Lie group can be treated as Hamiltonian constraints which generate the coadjoint orbits of another, dual, Lie group. In case of (inhomogeneous) orthogonal groups, the dual groups are (centrally-extended inhomogeneous) symplectic groups. This defines a symplectic dual pair correspondence between the coadjoint orbits of the isometry group and those of the dual Lie group, whose quantum version is the reductive dual pair correspondence à la Howe. We show explicitly how various particle species arise from the classification of coadjoint orbits of Poincaré and (A)dS symmetry. In the Poincaré case, we recover the data of the Wigner classification, which includes continuous spin particles, (spinning) tachyons and null particles with vanishing momenta, besides the usual massive and massless spinning particles. In (A)dS case, our classification results are not only consistent with the pattern of the corresponding unitary irreducible representations observed in the literature, but also contain novel information. In dS, we find the presence of partially massless spinning particles, but continuous spin particles, spinning tachyons and null particles are absent. The AdS case shows the largest diversity of particle species. It has all particles species of Poincaré symmetry except for the null particle, but allows in addition various exotic entities such as one parameter extension of continuous particles and conformal particles living on the boundary of AdS. Notably, we also find a large class of particles living in “bitemporal” AdS space, including ones where mass and spin play an interchanged role. We also discuss the relative inclusion structure of the corresponding orbits.

Notes on gauge fields and discrete series representations in de Sitter spacetimes

In this note we discuss features of the simplest spinning Discrete Series Unitary Irreducible Representations (UIR) of SO(1,4). These representations are known to be realised in the single particle Hilbert space of a free gauge field propagating in a four dimensional fixed de Sitter background. They showcase distinct features as compared to the more common Principal Series realised by heavy fields. Upon computing the 1 loop Sphere path integral we show that the edge modes of the theory can be understood in terms of a Discrete Series of SO(1, 2). We then canonically quantise the theory and show how group theory constrains the mode decomposition. We further clarify the role played by the second SO(4) Casimir in the single particle Hilbert space of the theory.

The discreet charm of the discrete series in dS2

We study quantum field theories placed on a two-dimensional de Sitter spacetime (dS2) with an eye on the group-theoretic organization of single and multi-particle states. We explore the distinguished role of the discrete series unitary irreducible representation (UIR) in the Hilbert space. By employing previous attempts to realize these states in free tachyonic scalar field theories, we propose how the discrete series may contribute to the Källén–Lehmann decomposition of an interacting scalar two-point function. We also study BF gauge theories with SL(N,R) gauge group in dS2 and establish a relation between the discrete series UIRs and the operator content of these theories. Although present at the level of the operators, states carrying discrete series quantum numbers are projected out of the gauge-invariant Hilbert space. This projection is reminiscent of what happens for quantum field theories coupled to semiclassical de Sitter gravity, where we must project onto the subspace of de Sitter invariant states. We discuss how to impose the diffeomorphism constraints on local field-theory operators coupled to two-dimensional gravity in de Sitter, with particular emphasis on the role of contact terms. Finally, we discuss an SYK-type model with a random two-body interaction that encodes an infinite tower of discrete series operators. We speculate on its potential microscopic connection to the SL(N,R) BF theory in the large-N limit.

A novel holographic framework preserving reflection positivity in dSd spacetime

This manuscript introduces a novel holographic correspondence in d-dimensional de Sitter (dSd) spacetime, connecting bulk dSd scalar unitary irreducible representations (UIRs) with their counterparts at the dSd boundary I±, all while preserving reflection positivity. The proposed approach, with potential applicability to diverse dSd UIRs, is rooted in the geometry of the complex dSd spacetime and leverages the inherent properties of the (global) dSd plane waves, as defined within their designated tube domains.

Topologically nontrivial three-body contact interaction in one dimension

Abstract It is known that three-body contact interactions in one-dimensional (1D) n(≥3)-body problems of nonidentical particles can be topologically nontrivial: they are all classified by unitary irreducible representations of the pure twin group PTn. It was, however, unknown how such interactions are described in the Hamiltonian formalism. In this paper, we study topologically nontrivial three-body contact interactions from the viewpoint of the path integral. Focusing on spinless particles, we construct an n(n − 1)(n − 2)/3!-parameter family of n-body Hamiltonians that corresponds to one particular 1D unitary representation of PTn. These Hamiltonians are written in terms of background Abelian gauge fields that describe infinitely thin magnetic fluxes in the n-body configuration space.

Classical and quantum gravity from the axioms of relativistic quantum mechanics

It is common practice to describe elementary particles by irreducible unitary representations of the Poincaré group. In the same way, multi-particle systems can be described by irreducible unitary representations of the Poincaré group. Representations of the Poincaré group are characterised by fixed eigenvalues of two Casimir operators corresponding to a fixed mass and a fixed angular momentum. In multi-particle systems (of massive spinless particles), fixing these eigenvalues leads to correlations between the particles. In the quasi-classical approximation of large quantum numbers, these correlations take on the structure of a gravitational interaction described by the field equations of conformal gravity. A theoretical value of the corresponding gravitational constant is calculated. It agrees with the empirical value used in the field equations of general relativity.

Commutativity of quantization with conic reduction for torus actions on compact CR manifolds

We define conic reductions Xνred\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$X^{\ extrm{red}}_{\ u }$$\\end{document} for torus actions on the boundary X of a strictly pseudo-convex domain and for a given weight ν\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ u $$\\end{document} labeling a unitary irreducible representation. There is a natural residual circle action on Xνred\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$X^{\ extrm{red}}_{\ u }$$\\end{document}. We have two natural decompositions of the corresponding Hardy spaces H(X) and H(Xνred)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$H(X^{\ extrm{red}}_{\ u })$$\\end{document}. The first one is given by the ladder of isotypes H(X)kν\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$H(X)_{k\ u }$$\\end{document}, k∈Z\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$k\\in {\\mathbb {Z}}$$\\end{document}; the second one is given by the k-th Fourier components H(Xνred)k\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$H(X^{\ extrm{red}}_{\ u })_k$$\\end{document} induced by the residual circle action. The aim of this paper is to prove that they are isomorphic for k sufficiently large. The result is given for spaces of (0, q)-forms with L2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$L^2$$\\end{document}-coefficient when X is a CR manifold with non-degenerate Levi form.

Gauge-Invariant Lagrangian Formulations for Mixed-Symmetry Higher-Spin Bosonic Fields in AdS Spaces

We deduce a non-linear commutator higher-spin (HS) symmetry algebra which encodes unitary irreducible representations of the AdS group—subject to a Young tableaux Y(s1,…,sk) with k≥2 rows—in a d-dimensional anti-de Sitter space. Auxiliary representations for a deformed non-linear HS symmetry algebra in terms of a generalized Verma module, as applied to additively convert a subsystem of second-class constraints in the HS symmetry algebra into one with first-class constraints, are found explicitly in the case of a k=2 Young tableaux. An oscillator realization over the Heisenberg algebra for the Verma module is constructed. The results generalize the method of constructing auxiliary representations for the symplectic sp(2k) algebra used for mixed-symmetry HS fields in flat spaces [Buchbinder, I.L.; et al. Nucl. Phys. B 2012, 862, 270–326]. Polynomial deformations of the su(1,1) algebra related to the Bethe ansatz are studied as a byproduct. A nilpotent BRST operator for a non-linear HS symmetry algebra of the converted constraints for Y(s1,s2) is found, with non-vanishing terms (resolving the Jacobi identities) of the third order in powers of ghost coordinates. A gauge-invariant unconstrained reducible Lagrangian formulation for a free bosonic HS field of generalized spin (s1,s2) is deduced. Following the results of [Buchbinder, I.L.; et al. Phys. Lett. B 2021, 820, 136470.; Buchbinder, I.L.; et al. arXiv 2022, arXiv:2212.07097], we develop a BRST approach to constructing general off-shell local cubic interaction vertices for irreducible massive higher-spin fields (being candidates for massive particles in the Dark Matter problem). A new reducible gauge-invariant Lagrangian formulation for an antisymmetric massive tensor field of spin (1,1) is obtained.

Generalized Heisenberg-Weyl groups and Hermite functions

A generalisation of Euclidean and pseudo-Euclidean groups is presented, where the Weyl-Heisenberg groups, well known in quantum mechanics, are involved. A new family of groups is obtained including all the above-mentioned groups as subgroups. Symmetries, like self-similarity and invariance with respect to the orientation of the axes, are properly included in the structure of this new family of groups. Generalized Hermite functions on multidimensional spaces, which serve as orthogonal bases of Hilbert spaces supporting unitary irreducible representations of these new groups, are introduced.

Quantum Carroll/fracton particles

We classify and relate unitary irreducible representations (UIRs) of the Carroll and dipole groups, i.e., we define elementary quantum Carroll and fracton particles and establish a correspondence between them. Whenever possible, we express the UIRs in terms of fields on Carroll/Aristotle spacetime subject to their free field equations.We emphasise that free massive (or “electric”) Carroll and fracton quantum field theories are ultralocal field theories and highlight their peculiar and puzzling thermodynamic features. We also comment on subtle differences between massless and “magnetic” Carroll field theories and discuss the importance of Carroll and fractons symmetries for flat space holography.

Semi-invariant distribution vectors for p-adic unipotent groups

Let G be a unipotent algebraic group defined over a [Formula: see text]-adic field of characteristic zero. We denote by [Formula: see text] the set of rational points of G. It is a [Formula: see text]-adic Lie group with Lie algebra denoted by [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] be an irreducible unitary representation of [Formula: see text] in a Hilbert space [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] be a linear form on [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be a polarization at [Formula: see text]. We denote by [Formula: see text] a character of [Formula: see text] related to [Formula: see text]. The aim of this study is to give a precise description of the space of semi-invariant distribution vectors [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text].

Energy bands in a three dimension simple cubic lattice of contact potential

In this work, we investigate energy bands in a three dimensional simple cubic lattice of contact potential. The energy bands in the first Brillouin Zone are obtained with Ewald’s summation method. In comparison with single point potential, the presence of lattice potential changes the existence condition of negative energy states near zero energy. It is found that the system always has negative energy states for an arbitrarily weak periodic potential. In addition, we prove that if an irreducible unitary representation is not a trivial representation of group of wave vector, the corresponding wave functions at lattice sites would be zero. With this theorem, the degeneracy of energy bands is explained with group theory. Furthermore, we find that there exists some energy bands which are not affected by the lattice potential. We call their corresponding eigenstates as dark states. The physical mechanism of the dark states is explained by explicitly constructing the standing wave-type Bloch wave functions.