Wigner's Theorem That All Fields Must Be Tensors

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SUMMARY

Wigner's 1939 theorem establishes that all fields in quantum theory must be represented as tensors. The original paper, titled "On Unitary Representations of the Inhomogeneous Lorentz Group," is a critical milestone in relativistic quantum field theory (QFT) and can be found in the Annals of Mathematics. The discussion highlights the significance of the proper orthochronous Lorentz group and its central covering group, ##\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{C})##, which allows for the representation of half-integer spin and fermions in quantum theory. For further understanding, readers are encouraged to consult Weinberg's "Quantum Theory of Fields, Vol. I."

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum theory (QT) principles
  • Familiarity with relativistic quantum field theory (QFT)
  • Knowledge of Lorentz groups and their representations
  • Basic grasp of tensor mathematics
NEXT STEPS
  • Read Wigner's original paper on unitary representations of the inhomogeneous Lorentz group
  • Study Weinberg's "Quantum Theory of Fields, Vol. I" for insights on central extensions
  • Explore the mathematical framework of the covering group ##\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{C})##
  • Investigate the implications of half-integer spin in quantum mechanics
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for theoretical physicists, quantum field theorists, and advanced students in physics who are exploring the foundations of quantum theory and the mathematical structures underlying particle physics.

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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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