No Arabic abstract
Real Clifford algebras for arbitrary number of space and time dimensions as well as their representations in terms of spinors are reviewed and discussed. The Clifford algebras are classified in terms of isomorphic matrix algebras of real, complex or quaternionic type. Spinors are defined as elements of minimal or quasi-minimal left ideals within the Clifford algebra and as representations of the pin and spin groups. Two types of Dirac adjoint spinors are introduced carefully. The relation between mathematical structures and applications to describe relativistic fermions is emphasized throughout.
A specific mapping is introduced to reduce the Dirac action to the non-relativistic (Pauli - Schrodinger) action for spinors. Using this mapping, the structures of the vector and axial vector currents in the non-relativistic theory are obtained. The implications of the relativistic Ward identities in the non-relativistic limit are discussed. A new non-abelian type of current in the Pauli - Schrodinger theory is obtained. As we show, this is essential for the closure of the algebra among the usual currents. The role of parity in the non-relativistic theory is also discussed.
Dedicated to Ludwig Faddeev on his 80th birthday. Ludwig exemplifies perfectly a mathematical physicist: significant contribution to mathematics (algebraic properties of integrable systems) and physics (quantum field theory). In this note I present an exercise which bridges mathematics (restricted Clifford algebra) to physics (Majorana fermions).
BMS symmetry is a symmetry of asymptotically flat spacetimes in the vicinity of the null boundary of spacetime and it is expected to play a fundamental role in physics. It is interesting therefore to investigate the structures and properties of quantum deformations of these symmetries, which are expected to shed some light on symmetries of quantum spacetime. In this paper we discuss the structure of the algebra of extended BMS symmetries in 3 and 4 spacetime dimensions, realizing that these algebras contain an infinite number of distinct Poincare subalgebras, a fact that has previously been noted in the 3-dimensional case only. Then we use these subalgebras to construct an infinite number of different Hopf algebras being quantum deformations of the BMS algebras. We also discuss different types of twist-deformations and the dual Hopf algebras, which could be interpreted as noncommutative, extended quantum spacetimes.
In principle, there is no obstacle to gapping fermions preserving any global symmetry that does not suffer a t Hooft anomaly. In practice, preserving a symmetry that is realised on fermions in a chiral manner necessitates some dynamics beyond simple quadratic mass terms. We show how this can be achieved using familiar results about supersymmetric gauge theories and, in particular, the phenomenon of confinement without chiral symmetry breaking. We present simple models that gap fermions while preserving a symmetry group under which they transform in chiral representations. For example, we show how to gap a collection of 4d fermions that carry the quantum numbers of one generation of the Standard Model, but without breaking electroweak symmetry. We further show how to gap fermions in groups of 16 while preserving certain discrete symmetries that exhibit a mod 16 anomaly.
Boundary conditions for Majorana fermions in d=1+1 dimensions fall into one of two SPT phases, associated to a mod 2 anomaly. Here we consider boundary conditions for 2N Majorana fermions that preserve a $U(1)^N$ symmetry. In general, the left-moving and right-moving fermions carry different charges under this symmetry, and implementation of the boundary condition requires new degrees of freedom, which manifest themselves in a boundary central charge, $g$. We follow the boundary RG flow induced by turning on relevant boundary operators. We identify the infra-red boundary state. In many cases, the boundary state flips SPT class, resulting in an emergent Majorana mode needed to cancel the anomaly. We show that the ratio of UV and IR boundary central charges is given by $g^2_{IR} / g^2_{UV} = {rm dim},({cal O})$, the dimension of the perturbing boundary operator. Any relevant operator necessarily has ${rm dim}({cal O}) < 1$, ensuring that the central charge decreases in accord with the g-theorem.