Different Aspects of Spin in Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity

Abstract

In this paper, different aspects of the concept of spin are studied. The most well-established one is, of course, the quantum mechanical aspect: spin is a broken symmetry in the sense that the solutions of the Dirac equation tend to have directional properties that cannot be seen in the equation itself. It has been clear since the early days of quantum mechanics that this has something to do with the indefinite metric in Lorentz geometry, but the mechanism behind this connection is elusive. Although spin is not the same as rotation in the usual sense, there must certainly be a close relationship between these concepts. And, a possible way to investigate this connection is to instead start from the underlying geometry in general relativity. Is there a reason why rotating motion in Lorentz geometry should be more natural than non-rotating motion? In a certain sense, the answer turns out to be yes. But, it is by no means easy to see what this should correspond to in the usual quantum mechanical picture. On the other hand, it seems very unlikely that the similarities should be just coincidental. The interpretation of the author is that this can be a golden opportunity to investigate the interplay between these two theories.