Spin-2 fields and helicity

Abstract

By considering the irreducible representations of the Lorentz group, an analysis of the different spin-2 waves is presented. In particular, the question of the helicity is discussed. It is concluded that, although from the point of view of representation theory there are no compelling reasons to choose between spin-2 waves with helicity = + - 1 or helicity = + - 2, consistency arguments of the ensuing field theories favor waves with helicity = + - 1.

10 pages. V2: presentation changes and discussion added

References in corpus (4)

• A note on spin two fields in curved backgrounds
• Higher spin $m\ne 0$ excitations on curved backgrounds and cosmological supergravity
• Consistent Gravitationally-Coupled Spin-2 Field Theory
• The Nonlinear Essence of Gravitational Waves

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Conformal and gauge invariant spin-2 field equations