Wigner's Theorem That All Fields Must Be Tensors

In summary, in 1939, Wigner published a theorem stating that all fields must be tensors. However, the proof for this theorem is difficult to find. Another important result, known as the no interaction theorem, also lacks a published proof. It would be beneficial to have a book that compiles these types of results in one place. Wigner's paper, "On Unitary Representations of the Inhomogeneous Lorentz Group," is considered a milestone in relativistic quantum field theory and is a significant contribution to scientific writing. It discusses the proper orthochronous Lorentz group, which is replaced by its covering group, ##\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{C})##, in the context of
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I know in 1939 Wigner published a theorem that all fields must be tensors from a couple of books, but can't find the proof anywhere. That obviously is an important result so does anyone know where I can find the proof? Another I haven't seen the proof of is the no interaction theorem. I wish someone would publish book with these kind of results are in one place.

Thanks
Bill
 
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Just read the original paper. It's a milestone in relativistic (Q)FT and, imho, also in scientific writing:

E. P. Wigner, On Unitary Representations of the Inhomgeneous Lorentz Group, Annals of Mathematics 40 (1939) 149.
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0920-5632(89)90402-7

Of course, in the context of QT, it's not the Poincare group (or "inhomogeneous Lorentz group") as Wigner writes in the title but the (central extensions of) the covering group. Since there are no non-trivial central extensions (see Weinberg's QT of Fields, Vol. I) the only thing is that the proper orthochronous Lorentz groiup as a subgroup of the Poincare group is to be substituted by its covering group, which is ##\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{C})## (with the ##\mathrm{SU}(2)## as a subgroup reprenting spatial rotations of course as in non-relativistic QT). The importance of this is that within quantum theory you can have half-integer spin (or helicities for massless particles) and fermions.
 
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1. What is Wigner's theorem?

Wigner's theorem is a mathematical theorem that states that all fields in physics must be represented as tensors, which are mathematical objects that describe the relationship between different quantities in a coordinate-independent way.

2. Why is it important?

Wigner's theorem is important because it provides a fundamental framework for understanding the behavior of physical fields and their interactions. It also allows for the development of more complex mathematical models and calculations in physics.

3. How does Wigner's theorem relate to the concept of symmetry?

Wigner's theorem is closely related to the concept of symmetry in physics. It states that the behavior of physical fields must remain the same under certain transformations, such as rotations and translations. This is known as the principle of covariance.

4. Are there any exceptions to Wigner's theorem?

No, Wigner's theorem is considered a fundamental principle in physics and has been extensively tested and verified in various physical systems. However, there may be cases where it does not apply, such as in highly curved spacetimes.

5. How does Wigner's theorem impact our understanding of the universe?

Wigner's theorem has greatly contributed to our understanding of the universe by providing a mathematical framework for describing physical fields and their interactions. It has also played a crucial role in the development of theories such as general relativity and quantum mechanics, which have greatly expanded our understanding of the universe.

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