Massless Particles in Higher Dimensions

TL;DR

This paper explores the constraints on massless particle states in higher-dimensional spacetimes, analyzing how Lorentz group representations restrict possible particle states and providing examples with tensor and spinor fields.

Contribution

It offers a detailed analysis of massless particle state constraints in higher dimensions and presents examples with tensor and spinor fields, along with a general speculation.

Findings

Massless states are constrained by the invariance of the little group.

Examples include tensor and spinor-tensor field descriptions.

Speculation on the general case of massless particles in higher dimensions.

Abstract

In spacetimes of any dimensionality, the massless particle states that can be created and destroyed by a field in a given representation of the Lorentz group are severely constrained by the condition that the invariant Abelian subgroup of the little group must leave these states invariant. A number of examples are given of the massless one-particle states that can be described by various tensor and spinor-tensor fields, and a speculation is offered for the general case.