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The relation between symmetry reduction before and after quantization of a field theory is discussed using a toy model: the axisymmetric Klein-Gordon field. We consider three possible notions of symmetry at the quantum level: invariance…
We compute, for massive particles, the explicit Wigner rotations of one-particle states for arbitrary Lorentz transformations; and the explicit Hermitian generators of the infinite-dimensional unitary representation. For a pair of spin 1/2…
This paper begins with a theoretical explanation of why spacetime is discrete. The derivation shows that there exists an elementary length which is essentially Planck's length. We then show how the existence of this length affects time…
Gell-Mann's quarks are coherent particles confined within a hadron at rest, but Feynman's partons are incoherent particles which constitute a hadron moving with a velocity close to that of light. It is widely believed that the quark model…
The equations defining pure spinors are interpreted as equations of motion formulated on the lightcone of a ten-dimensional, lorentzian, momentum space. Most of the equations for fermion multiplets, usually adopted by particle physics, are…
The relativistic conception of space and time is challenged by the quantum nature of physical observables. It has been known for a long time that Poincar\'e symmetry of field theory can be extended to the larger conformal symmetry. We use…
The classical motion of spinning particles can be described without employing Grassmann variables or Clifford algebras, but simply by generalizing the usual spinless theory. We only assume the invariance with respect to the Poincare' group;…
Quantum field theory of space-like particles is investigated in the framework of absolute causality scheme preserving Lorentz symmetry. It is shown that tachyons are associated with unitary orbits of Poincar\'e mappings induced from SO(2)…
We study a quantum mechanics with the usual postulates but in which the Heisenberg algebra of canonical commutation relations and the Poincare algebra are replaced by the Lie algebra of the homogeneous Lorentz group SO(5,1). It arises from…
On the basis of an algebraic relation between torsion and a classical spinor field a new interpretation of Einstein-Cartan gravity interacting with classical spinor field is proposed. In this approach the spinor field becomes an auxiliary…
In a previous paper [1] we proposed a purely mathematical way to quantum mechanics based on Cartan's simple spinors in their most elementary form of 2 component spinors. Here we proceed along that path proposing, this time, a symmetric…
The breadth of Eugene Wigner's interests and contributions is amazing and humbling. At different times in his life he did seminal work in areas as diverse as pure mathematics and chemical engineering. His seminal research in physics is, of…
This PhD thesis is the conclusion of some of my works carried out at the Centre de Physique Th\'eorique, under the supervision of Serge Lazzarini. Two subjects are presented in the manuscript, both aiming at studying the effect of the spin…
It is commonly accepted that general relativity is the only solution to the consistency problem that appears when trying to build a theory of interacting gravitons (massless spin-2 particles). Padmanabhan's 2008 thought-provoking analysis…
Gravity is understood as a geometrization of spacetime. But spacetime is also the manifold of the boundary values of the spinless point particle in a variational approach. Since all known matter, baryons, leptons and gauge bosons are…
The conservation law for the orbital plus spin angular momentum of a free Dirac particle in curved spacetime requires that the affine connection has the antisymmetric part: the torsion tensor, which extends general relativity to the…
The extensive analysis of the dynamics of relativistic spinning particles is presented. Using the coadjoint orbits method the Hamiltonian dynamics is explicitly described. The main technical tool is the factorization of general Lorentz…
Einstein Gravity can be formulated as a gauge theory with the tangent space respecting the Lorentz symmetry. In this paper we show that the dimension of the tangent space can be larger than the dimension of the manifold and by requiring the…
We investigate a possible unified theory of all interactions which is based only on fundamental spinor fields. The vielbein and metric arise as composite objects. The effective quantum gravitational theory can lead to a modification of…
Symmetry formulated by group theory plays an essential role with respect to the laws of nature, from fundamental particles to condensed matter systems. Here, by combining symmetry analysis and tight-binding model calculations, we elucidate…