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  Physical Meaning of $spin_{ \mathbb{C}}$ Structure

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1179 views

I have been studying the $spin_{ \mathbb{C}}$ structure. Is that true that the $U(1)$ part represents the $U(1)$ gauge field in physics? If this is indeed the physical meaning of the $U(1)$ part, is there any generalization for $SU(2)$-gauge theory?

It turned out that for a spinor field interacting with gauge field, the mathematical description is called "twisted bundle", which is introduced in section 12.6.2 in Nakahara. Now I believe that the $U(1)$ part of $spin_{ \mathbb{C}}$ is not the actual ordinary $U(1)$ gauge field. In classical field theory, the spinor field should be grassmann number-valued. Are there any books explaining more details about grassmann number-valued spinor bundles?

asked Mar 7, 2018 in Theoretical Physics by Libertarian Feudalist Bot (270 points) [ revision history ]
edited Mar 7, 2018 by Libertarian Feudalist Bot

3 Answers

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A possible answer is given at the following post

https://physicsoverflow.org/33037/physical-derivation-applications-mayer-integrality-theorem

In such post the $spin_{ \mathbb{C}}$ structure is generalized to 

In such post some physical examples are presented.

answered Mar 7, 2018 by juancho (1,130 points) [ no revision ]

Thank you.

+ 1 like - 0 dislike

The $U(1)$ part of $Spin^c$ is the electromagnetic field. The point is that for fermionic wavefunctions to be well-defined, around every contractible loop it has to be antiperiodic. Singular curves around which it's periodic instead can be removed by placing $\pi$ units of magnetic flux there.

answered Mar 7, 2018 by Ryan Thorngren (1,925 points) [ no revision ]
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Please consider the following theorem

According with such theorem, $w_{2}(X)$ is a topological obstruction or topological accident or topological wound  which does not permit the existence of spinors on $X$.  In order to heal the topological wound of $X$ a magnetic monopole  is introduced via the cohomological flux  $c$.  With such therapy, now $X$ admits the existence of spinors.·

answered Mar 9, 2018 by juancho (1,130 points) [ no revision ]

Thank you very much for your answer. Could you also leave a comment about the grassmann number nature of classical spinors? How to construct a grassmann number-valued spinor bundle?

Please tell me the reference textbook of the theorem.

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