Spin-half mass dimension one fermions and their higher-spin generalizations

TL;DR

This paper reviews spin-half mass dimension one fermions, introduces their higher-spin generalizations, and discusses their unique properties, including mass dimension and positive-definite Hamiltonians, with implications for particle physics.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review and generalization of spin-half mass dimension one fermions to higher spins, highlighting their construction, properties, and potential significance.

Findings

Elko spinors are of mass dimension one with positive-definite Hamiltonians.

Higher-spin generalizations of Elko are constructed and analyzed.

The physical significance of higher-spin mass dimension one particles is discussed.

Abstract

A self-contained review on spin-half mass dimension one fermions and their higher-spin generalizations is presented. Starting from the two-component left-handed Weyl spinors, the Dirac spinors and Elko (eigenspinors of the charge conjugation operator) are constructed. After elaborating on their similarities and differences, we generalize the spin-half Elko to higher-spin. The field operators constructed from Elko and their higher-spin generalizations are shown to be of mass dimension one with positive-definite free Hamiltonians. The physical significance of higher-spin mass dimension one particles and further extensions in the context of Lounesto classification are discussed.