Algebraic study of a class of relativistic wave equations

First-order relativistic wave equations are considered whose irreducible matrix coefficients satisfy the simplest (except for the Dirac algebra) unique mass condition, (β · p)³ = p²(β · p), which is also sufficient to guarantee causality in a minimally coupled external electromagnetic field. All of the associated representations of SL(2, ©) are classified and studied up to and including those which are the direct sum of four irreducible components, (n, m), with either n or m less than two. A large number of families of representations are found which permit the algebraic condition to be satisfied. These are tabulated according to whether a Hermitian choice for β⁰ is possible and their spin content is given. If a unique spin is described, then the only possible representations are

$\text{(1) (}\text{n}\text{,0) ⊕ (}\text{n}\text{? 1/2, 1/2)}$

$\text{(2) (}\text{n}\text{,0) ⊕ (}\text{n}\text{+ 1/2, 1/2)}$

$\text{(3) (}\text{n}\text{+ 1/2, 1/2) ⊕ (}\text{n}\text{,0) ⊕ (}\text{n}\text{? 1/2, 1/2)}$

$\text{(4) (1,0) ⊕ (1/2, 1/2) ⊕ (0,1)}$

and their conjugates. If, in addition, the representation is assumed to be self-conjugate, then only the Dirac and Petiau-Duffin-Kemmer equations survive.