Antiquity, Dark Ages and Renaissance of Light-Front Higher Spin Theory

TL;DR

This paper reviews the historical development and recent resurgence of light-front higher spin theory, highlighting its significance and progress in theoretical physics over the past decades.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution and renewed interest in light-front higher spin theory, including personal reminiscences and recent advances.

Findings

Recent renaissance in light-front higher spin theory

Historical perspective on its development

Insights into current research directions

Abstract

These notes contain -- apart from some physics -- scattered reminiscences of everyday life at the Institute for Theoretical Physics in G\"oteborg in the early eighties. The text has been in the making for many years. Some of it was written inspired by the Lars Brink 70-fest at The Solvay Institute in Brussels in 2014, but was never finished or published. Parts of the old text has now been replaced by a review of the quite unexpected recent renaissance for light-front higher spin theory. Lars sadly did not live to experience more than the very beginnings of this quite remarkable development. The text was finalized in the spring of 2023.