Gauge fields in (anti)-de Sitter space and Connections of its symmetry algebra

TL;DR

This paper develops a unified formalism using generalized connections to describe arbitrary-spin gauge fields in (anti)-de Sitter space, revealing a one-to-one correspondence with the algebra's connections and simplifying gauge symmetry handling.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach that encodes all massless and partially-massless higher-spin fields in (anti)-de Sitter space as single algebra-valued connections, streamlining their gauge description.

Findings

Unified description of higher-spin gauge fields as algebra connections

Establishment of a one-to-one correspondence between connections and gauge fields

Automatic inclusion of auxiliary fields and manifest gauge symmetry

Abstract

The generalized connections of the (anti)-de Sitter space symmetry algebra, which are differential forms of arbitrary degree with values in any irreducible (spin)-tensor representation of the (anti)-de Sitter algebra, are studied. It is shown that arbitrary-spin gauge field in (anti)-de Sitter space, massless or partially-massless, can be described by a single connection. A 'one-to-one' correspondence between the connections of the (anti)-de Sitter algebra and the gauge fields is established. The gauge symmetry is manifest and auxiliary fields are automatically included in the formalism.