SU(3) Ghosts with Spin

Abstract

A new Lorentz-covariant gauge is presented for SU(3). In this gauge, both the ghosts and the gauge fields in the (4, 5, 6, 7) gauge directions acquire half-integral spin. As a result, the ghosts in these directions have the correct relationship between spin and statistics, while the gauge fields have the incorrect relationship. Consequently, asymptotic ghost states are not forbidden in this gauge and can possibly form new matter states. Conversely, asymptotic gauge fields in the (4, 5, 6, 7) directions are forbidden in this gauge, so the SU(3) symmetry is broken down to an SU(2)xU(1) symmetry asymptotically.