An introduction to the theory of local twistors

This paper deals with the formalism of local twistors, which has developed from the twistor algebra, and extends some of the basic twistor concepts to curved space-time. Essentially, the central ideas are to define a twistor space at each point of the spacetime, and to define a covariant derivative so that an operation of local twistor transport is possible; this leads to the definition of a conformally invariant curvature twistor. In an appendix, some conformally invariant spinors are discussed.     

Spinor fields at spacelike infinity

The concept of a spinor structure at spacelike infinity is introduced for space-times which are asymptotically flat. It is shown how zero-rest-mass fields on space-time acquire smooth limits on this structure and that these limits satisfy certain differential equations characterized by the helicity and regularity of the field. The geometry of the limits of twistor fields is also discussed, and it seems possible that one can define the momentum and angular momentum of an asymptotically flat space-time in terms of a twistor space at spacelike infinity.     

Canonical Symmetries in the Functional Formalism

Based on the phase-space generating functionalof the Green function, the canonical Ward identities(CWI) under local, nonlocal, and global transformationsin phase space for a system with a regular and singular Lagrangian have been derived. Therelation of global canonical symmetries to conservationlaws at the quantum level is presented. The advantage ofthis formulation is that one does not need to carry out the integration over canonicalmomenta in a phase-space path (functional) integral asin the traditional treatment in configuration space. Ingeneral, the connection between global canonicalsymmetries and conservation laws in classical theories isno longer preserved in quantum theories. Applications ofour formulation to the non-Abelian Chern-Simons (CS)theory are given, and new forms for CS gauge-ghost field proper vertices and the quantal conservedangular momentum of this system are obtained; thisangular momentum differs from the classical one in thatone needs to take into account the contribution of angular momenta of ghost fields.     

Anti-self-dual Conformal Structures with Null Killing Vectors from Projective Structures

Using twistor methods, we explicitly construct all local forms of four–dimensional real analytic neutral signature anti–self–dual conformal structures (M, [g]) with a null conformal Killing vector. We show that M is foliated by anti-self-dual null surfaces, and the two-dimensional leaf space inherits a natural projective structure. The twistor space of this projective structure is the quotient of the twistor space of (M, [g]) by the group action induced by the conformal Killing vector. We obtain a local classification which branches according to whether or not the conformal Killing vector is hyper-surface orthogonal in (M, [g]). We give examples of conformal classes which contain Ricci–flat metrics on compact complex surfaces and discuss other conformal classes with no Ricci–flat metrics. Dedicated to the memory of Jerzy Plebański     

A one-potential formulation of the quantum field theory of magnetic poles

We formulate a new approach to the quantum field theory of electric and magnetic charges. Its advantages relative to existing formulations are that (a) it is a one-potential lagrangian one, (b) it has a canonical structure and (c) it representys a natural generalization of Dirac's quantum mechanical theory to field theory. Our formulation is non-local in coordinate space, but yields Feynman rules that are local in momentum space.     

Polarized vector bosons on the de Sitter expanding universe

The quantum theory of the vector field minimally coupled to the gravity of the de Sitter spacetime is built in a canonical manner starting with a new complete set of quantum modes of given momentum and helicity derived in the moving chart of conformal time. It is shown that the canonical quantization leads to new vector propagators which satisfy similar equations as the propagators derived by Tsamis and Woodard (J Math Phys 48:052306, 2007) but having a different structure. The one-particle operators are also written down pointing out that their properties are similar with those found already in the quantum theory of the scalar, Dirac and Maxwell free fields.     

Modified weak energy condition for the energy momentum tensor in quantum field theory

The weak energy condition is known to fail in general when applied to expectation values of the energy momentum tensor in flat space quantum field theory. It is shown how the usual counter arguments against its validity are no longer applicable if the states |ψ〉 for which the expectation value is considered are restricted to a suitably defined subspace. A possible natural restriction on |ψ〉 is suggested and illustrated by two quantum mechanical examples based on a simple perturbed harmonic oscillator Hamiltonian. The proposed alternative quantum weak energy condition is applied to states formed by the action of the scalar, vector and the energy momentum tensor operators on the vacuum. We assume conformal invariance in order to determine almost uniquely three-point functions involving the energy momentum tensor in terms of a few parameters. The positivity conditions lead to non-trivial inequalities for these parameters. They are satisfied in free field theories, except in one case for dimensions close to two. Further restrictions on |ψ〉 are suggested which remove this problem. The inequalities which follow from considering the state formed by applying the energy momentum tensor to the vacuum are shown to imply that the coefficient of the topological term in the expectation value of the trace of the energy momentum tensor in an arbitrary curved space background is positive, in accord with calculations in free field theories.     

Singular Hyperbolic Monopoles

We study the twistor theory of singular hyperbolic SU(2) monopoles following the approach taken by Kronheimer [9] in the Euclidean case. We use our results to show that the moduli space of charge 1 monopoles possesses a natural 2-sphere of scalar flat Kähler metrics. In the zero mass limit, the metrics reduce to a class of metrics first studied by LeBrun in [10].     

Topological Chern—Simons vortices in the O (3) σ -model

Based on the phase-space path integral (functional integral) for a system with a regular or singular Lagrangian, the generalized Ward identities for phase space generating functional under the global transformation in phase space are derived respectively. The canonical Noether theorem at the quantum level is also established. It is pointed out that the connection between the symmetries and conservation laws in classical theories, in general,is no longer preserved in quantum theories. The advantage of our formulation is that we do not need to carry out the integration over the canonical momenta as usually performed. Applying the present formulation to Yang-Mills theory, the quantal BRS conserved quantity and Ward-Takahashi identity for BRS tranformation are derived; the Ward identities for gaugeghost proper vertices and new quantal conserved quantity are also found. In comparison of quantal conservation laws with those one deriving from configuration-space path integral using the Faddeev-Popov(F-P) trick is discussed. A precise study of path-integral quantisation for a nonlinear sigma model with Hopf and Chern-Simons (CS) terms is reexamined. It has been shown that the angular momentum at the quantum level is equal to classical (Noether ) one. Applying our formulation to non-Abelian CS theory, the quantal conserved angular momentum of this system is obtained which differs from classical one in that one needs to take into account the contribution of angular momenta of ghost fields.     

Twistors and geometric quantisation theory

The basic geometry of twistors is developed as an application of geometric quantisation theory to the conformal group. It is found, however, that the Kähler form is not positive and that the quantised Hilbert space is trivial. This serves both to highlight difficulties in the quantisation theory for semi-simple Lie groups and to point out some of the obstacles in the way of developing a rigorous theory of twistors. It also suggests some areas in which the interplay between the two theories may be helpful in clarifying issues.     

String Without Strings

Scale invariance provides a principled reason for the physical importance of Hilbert space, the Virasoro algebra, the string mode expansion, canonical commutators and Schrödinger evolution of states, independent of the assumptions of string theory and quantum theory. The usual properties of dimensionful fields imply an infinite, projective tower of conformal weights associated with the tangent space to scale-invariant spacetimes. Convergence and measurability on this tangent tower are guaranteed using a scale-invariant norm, restricted to conformally self-dual vectors. Maps on the resulting Hilbert space are correspondingly restricted to semi-definite conformal weight. We find the maximally- and minimally-commuting, complete Lie algebras of definite-weight operators. The projective symmetry of the tower gives these algebras central charges, giving the canonical commutator and quantum Virasoro algebras, respectively. Using a continuous, m-parameter representation for rank-m tower tensors, we show that the parallel transport equation for the momentum-vector of a particle is the Schrödinger equation, while the associated definite-weight operators obey canonical commutation relations. Generalizing to the set of integral curves of general timelike, self-dual vector-valued weight maps gives a lifting such that the action of the curves parallel transports arbitrary tower vectors. We prove that the full set of Schrödinger-lifted integral curves of a general self-dual map gives an immersion of its 2-dim parameter space into spacetime, inducing a Lorentzian metric on the parameter space. This immersion is shown to satisfy the full variational equations of open string.     

Conformal supergravity tree amplitudes from open twistor string theory

We display the vertex operators for all states in the conformal supergravity sector of the twistor string, as outlined by Berkovits and Witten. These include ‘dipole’ states, which are pairs of supergravitons that do not diagonalize the translation generators. We use canonical quantization of the open string version of Berkovits, and compute N-point tree level scattering amplitudes for gravitons, gluons and scalars. We reproduce the Berkovits–Witten formula for maximal helicity violating (MHV) amplitudes (which they derived using path integrals), and extend their results to the dipole pairs. We compare these trees with those of Einstein gravity field theory.     

On the relationship between Twistors and Clifford algebras

Basis p-forms of a complexified Minkowski spacetime can be used to realize a Clifford algebra isomorphic to the Dirac algebra of matrices. Twistor space is then constructed as a spin space of this abstract algebra through a Witt decomposition of the Minkowski space. We derive explicit formulas relating the basis p-forms to index one twistors. Using an isomorphism between the Clifford algebra and a space of index two twistors, we expand a suitably defined antisymmetric index two twistor basis on p-forms of ranks zero, one, and four. Together with the inverse formulas they provide a complete passage between twistors and p-forms.     

Generalised quaternion methods in conformal geometry

A new approach to Penrose's twistor algebra is given. It is based on the use of a generalised quaternion algebra for the translation of statements in projective five-space into equivalent statements in twistor (conformal spinor) space. The formalism leads toSO(4, 2)-covariant formulations of the Pauli-Kofink and Fierz relations among Dirac bilinears, and generalisations of these relations.     

Differential and Twistor Geometry of the Quantum Hopf Fibration

We study a quantum version of the SU(2) Hopf fibration and its associated twistor geometry. Our quantum sphere arises as the unit sphere inside a q-deformed quaternion space . The resulting four-sphere is a quantum analogue of the quaternionic projective space . The quantum fibration is endowed with compatible non-universal differential calculi. By investigating the quantum symmetries of the fibration, we obtain the geometry of the corresponding twistor space and use it to study a system of anti-self-duality equations on , for which we find an ‘instanton’ solution coming from the natural projection defining the tautological bundle over .