Spin-2 Particles & Representations of SO(3)

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In summary, spin-2 particles are elementary particles with a spin quantum number of 2, making them bosons. They are associated with the SO(3) group in mathematics, which represents rotations in three-dimensional space. Spin-2 particles are described by the symmetric representation of SO(3), known as the rank-2 symmetric tensor representation. They behave differently from spin-1 particles, following Bose-Einstein statistics and playing a crucial role in various theories in particle physics and cosmology.
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kexue
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What type of particles do representations of so(3) other than j=1/2 or j=1 correspond to?

For j=1/2 with have spin-half particles, for j=1 with have spin-one particles. So for j=3/2 and j=2, do we get particles with spin-3/2 and spin-2? I remember reading somewhere that spin-2 particles like the graviton must be described by a traceless symmetric tensor.

thanks
 
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anybody?
 
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Gravitino and graviton. Accounted for in a supersymmetric theory of gravity, also known as supergravity. The simplest theory assumes a supermultiplet of only 2 particles, a quanta of spin 3/2 and a quanta of spin 2.
 
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A lot of unstable hadrons have spins>3/2
 

FAQ: Spin-2 Particles & Representations of SO(3)

What are spin-2 particles?

Spin-2 particles are a type of elementary particle that have a spin quantum number of 2. This means that they have two units of intrinsic angular momentum, making them bosons.

What is SO(3) and how does it relate to spin-2 particles?

SO(3) is a group in mathematics that represents the rotations in three-dimensional space. Spin-2 particles are associated with this group because they are symmetric under rotations in three dimensions.

What are the representations of SO(3) and how do they relate to spin-2 particles?

SO(3) has many different representations, each of which describes a different way in which objects can transform under rotations. Spin-2 particles are described by the symmetric representation of SO(3), which is known as the rank-2 symmetric tensor representation.

How do spin-2 particles behave differently from spin-1 particles?

Spin-2 particles, being bosons, follow Bose-Einstein statistics and can occupy the same quantum state. This is in contrast to spin-1 particles, which follow Fermi-Dirac statistics and cannot occupy the same quantum state.

What are the implications of spin-2 particles for particle physics and cosmology?

Spin-2 particles play a crucial role in various theories in particle physics and cosmology. For example, they are predicted by the Standard Model of particle physics and are also involved in theories such as supergravity and string theory. In cosmology, they are important in explaining the properties of gravitational waves and the evolution of the early universe.

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