Van der Waerden notation
Encyclopedia
In theoretical physics
, van der Waerden notation refers to the usage of two-component spinor
s (Weyl spinors) in four spacetime dimensions. This is standard in twistor theory
and supersymmetry
.
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
, van der Waerden notation refers to the usage of two-component spinor
Spinor
In mathematics and physics, in particular in the theory of the orthogonal groups , spinors are elements of a complex vector space introduced to expand the notion of spatial vector. Unlike tensors, the space of spinors cannot be built up in a unique and natural way from spatial vectors...
s (Weyl spinors) in four spacetime dimensions. This is standard in twistor theory
Twistor theory
In theoretical and mathematical physics, twistor theory maps the geometric objects of conventional 3+1 space-time into geometric objects in a 4 dimensional space with metric signature...
and supersymmetry
Supersymmetry
In particle physics, supersymmetry is a symmetry that relates elementary particles of one spin to other particles that differ by half a unit of spin and are known as superpartners...
.