Generalized Wigner operators and relativistic gauge fields

Abstract

We introduce and study the generalized Wigner operator. By definition, such an operator transforms the Wigner wave function into a local relativistic field corresponding to an irreducible representation of the Poincar\'e group by extended discrete transformations, with integer helicities $\lambda$ and $-\lambda$. It is shown that the relativistic fields constructed in this way are gauge potentials and satisfy the relations that determine free massless higher spin fields.