Proton spin: a topological invariant

Abstract

Proton spin problem is given a new perspective with the proposition that spin is a topological invariant represented by a de Rham 3-period. The idea is developed generalizing Finkelstein-Rubinstein theory for Skyrmions/kinks to topological defects, and using nonabelian de Rham theorems. Two kinds of de Rham theorems are discussed applicable to matrix valued differential forms, and traces. Physical and mathematical interpretations of de Rham periods are presented. It is suggested that Wilson lines and loop operators probe the local properties of the topology, and spin as a topological invariant in pDIS measurements could appear with any value from 0 to $\frac{\hslash }{2}$, i. e. proton spin decomposition has no meaning in this approach.

Published in IJMPA

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Cited by in corpus (4)

• Physical reality of electromagnetic potentials and the classical limit of the Aharonov-Bohm effect
• Coulomb- quantum oscillator correspondence in two dimension, pure gauge field and half-quantized vortex
• Symmetry of Dirac two-oscillator system, gauge-invariance, and Landau problem
• Stochasticity, topology, and spin