Physics – High Energy Physics – High Energy Physics - Theory
Scientific paper
1999-12-14
Class.Quant.Grav. 17 (2000) 2847-2866
Physics
High Energy Physics
High Energy Physics - Theory
25 pages. Presentation reorganized, with the final section moved to the beginning. CQG in press
Scientific paper
10.1088/0264-9381/17/15/301
I discuss the properties of the central charges c and a for higher-derivative and higher-spin theories (spin 2 included). Ordinary gravity does not admit a straightforward identification of c and a in the trace anomaly, because it is not conformal. On the other hand, higher-derivative theories can be conformal, but have negative c and a. A third possibility is to consider higher-spin conformal field theories. They are not unitary, but have a variety of interesting properties. Bosonic conformal tensors have a positive-definite action, equal to the square of a field strength, and a higher-derivative gauge invariance. There exists a conserved spin-2 current (not the canonical stress tensor) defining positive central charges c and a. I calculate the values of c and a and study the operator-product structure. Higher-spin conformal spinors have no gauge invariance, admit a standard definition of c and a and can be coupled to Abelian and non-Abelian gauge fields in a renormalizable way. At the quantum level, they contribute to the one-loop beta function with the same sign as ordinary matter, admit a conformal window and non-trivial interacting fixed points. There are composite operators of high spin and low dimension, which violate the Ferrara-Gatto-Grillo theorem. Finally, other theories, such as conformal antisymmetric tensors, exhibit more severe internal problems. This research is motivated by the idea that fundamental quantum field theories should be renormalization-group (RG) interpolations between ultraviolet and infrared conformal fixed points, and quantum irreversibility should be a general principle of nature.
No associations
LandOfFree
Irreversibility and higher-spin conformal field theory does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Irreversibility and higher-spin conformal field theory, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Irreversibility and higher-spin conformal field theory will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-430780