Weyl spinor notation co/contravariant and un/dotted

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    Notation Spinor Weyl
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the notation used for Weyl spinors, specifically the distinctions between covariant and contravariant spinors, as well as the use of dotted and undotted indices. Participants explore various conventions found in different texts and how these notations relate to Lorentz transformations.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion over the differing notations for Weyl spinors found in various texts, including Landau, Srednicki, and Peskin.
  • Another participant recommends using Wess and Bagger for clarity on notation, noting that it aligns with many authors.
  • It is stated that a left covariant spinor, represented as \(\psi_{\alpha}\), transforms with the matrix \(M\), while a left contravariant spinor, \(\psi^{\alpha}\), transforms with \(M^{-1}\).
  • For right-handed spinors, it is proposed that a bar is used to denote them, with \(\bar{\psi}_{\dot{\alpha}}\) transforming with \(M^{*}\) and \(\bar{\psi}^{\dot{\alpha}}\) with \(M^{*-1}\).
  • One participant emphasizes that \(\psi_{\alpha}\) and \(\bar{\psi}^{\dot{\alpha}}\) correspond to left and right-handed spinors, respectively.
  • There is a discussion about the role of the epsilon symbol in raising and lowering indices, with a claim that inner products involve only like indices, making dotted-undotted combinations nonsensical.
  • A participant clarifies that their convention aligns with Wess and Bagger, which may differ from other conventions.
  • Another participant questions the use of the bar notation, leading to a clarification that it signifies right-handed spinors rather than being a hermitian conjugate.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit some agreement on the transformation rules for left and right-handed spinors, but there remains disagreement regarding the notation and conventions used across different texts. The discussion does not reach a consensus on a single notation system.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the potential for differing interpretations of notation across various texts, which may lead to confusion. The discussion does not resolve the differences in conventions or the implications of these notations.

oliveriandrea
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Hello,
sorry for my english..
I have a problem with weyl's spinors notation.
I'm confused, becouse i read more books (like Landau, Srednicki and Peskin) and it's seems to me that all of them use different and incompatible notations..

If i define

M=\exp\left(-\frac{1}{2}(i\theta+\beta)\sigma\right)

as a generic lorentz transformation in left spinor rappresentation

if \psi_\alpha represent left covariant spinor that transform with M

\psi^\alpha represent left contravariant spinor that transform with M^(-1) right?

so how do i represent covariant and contravariant right spinor in dotted notation?
and how do they transform in connection with M matrix?

if i transform covariant left spinor with \epsilon^{\alpha\beta} I obtain a contravariant left spinor or not?

the inner product involves dotted-dotted spinors (covariant and contravariant) or dotted-undotted spinors?

thank you :)
 
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I would recommend using Wess and Bagger for notational purposes. It is short and conforms to the notations of many authors. Also if your looking for a free resource S. Martins "SUSY Primer" is also good for at least having the notation.

The general rules for the left transformation are:

\psi_{\alpha} transfoms with M

\psi^{\alpha} transforms with M^-1

For the right people usually put a bar on the spinor and the transform rules are:

\bar{\psi}_{\dot{\alpha}} transforms with M^{*}


\bar{\psi}^{\dot{\alpha}} transforms with M^{* -1}

What is important to remember is that \psi_{\alpha} and \bar{\psi}^{\dot{\alpha}} are what we normally think of left and right handed spinors, respectively.

Finally the epsilon symbol raises and lowers indeces and the inner product involves only like indeces. In fact, it makes no sense to have dotted-undotted since these objects live in different representations
 
I forgot to mention that my convention conforms to Wess and Bagger and may disagree with other conventions
 
with bar as hermitian conjugate right?
 
No, the bar is there to tell you that it is right handed. The reason is because people prefer to remove indices from their notation. In doing so there must be a way to tell the difference between spinors without looking at whether or not there are dots on the indices.
 
Ohh! Thank you! :smile:
I hate notation problems!
Finaly I've understood it!
 

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