Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2003 iii Paper 53 2 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The matrix is symmetric. Its contraction with two identical odd Grassmann variables is antisymmetric under their exchange, soThis is the vector case of the four-dimensional Majorana bilinear vanishing criterion.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2003 iii Paper 53 2 c Solution 2026-10-14
Four-dimensional Hodge duality identifies with a nonzero convention-dependent multiple of . Every is symmetric by the four-dimensional Majorana bilinear vanishing criterion; taking this linear combination preserves symmetry. HenceThe phase in the duality formula depends on the definition of and orientation, but does not affect the vanishing result.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2003 iii Paper 53 2 Solution 2026-10-14
Choose the charge conjugation matrix so that and , and write . Since the components are odd Grassmann variables,Thus a symmetric matrix gives zero, whereas a nonzero antisymmetric matrix can give a nonzero bilinear. The four-dimensional Majorana bilinear vanishing criterion follows by transposing an antisymmetrized product and reversing its factors:For , the symmetry types are respectively antisymmetric, symmetric, symmetric and antisymmetric. These are the same-spinor selection rules of the Majorana spinor; they would be reversed for a commuting spinor. The vanishing choices are (a) and (c).