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# The algebra of discrete torsion

## Introduction

$`G`$–Frobenius algebras were introduced by the author in \[K1\] to explain the algebraic structure replacing Frobenius algebras when one is dealing with global group quotients in theories such as Cohomology, K–theory, local rings of singularities etc.. The main feature is that they are group graded non–commutative algebras with a group action and a controlled non–commutativity. Previously, one had only regarded commutative algebra structures on the invariants under the group action of the $`G`$–module, which leads to a direct sum decomposition indexed by conjugacy classes. The larger non–commutative algebras however reflect the geometry and general properties much better. For instance in the present treatise it is the full $`G`$–Frobenius structure which allows us to decode discrete torsion in all its aspects. Our $`G`$–Frobenius algebras have been proven to be exactly the right structure to describe the cohomology of global quotients \[FG\] and the geometry of symmetric products \[K2,LS\] whose structure is closely related to Hilbert schemes \[LS\]. Furthermore they are suited to describe mirror phenomena for Frobenius structures having their origin in singularity theory \[K1,K3\]. One fundamentally new feature of these algebras is that given any one of them one expects the existence of several cousins of it, which are all related to each other by discrete torsion. There are several definitions of discrete torsion \[V,VW,D,A,R,S,K1,K2\]. The purpose of this note is to show that all definitions can be understood in terms of the fact that there is a universal group action of $`H^2(G,k^{})`$ on $`G`$–Frobenius algebras, by isomorphisms of the underlying linear structure, by taking tensor products with twisted group rings.

The algebraic structures of a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra are as follows: it is naturally a left $`k[G]`$–module algebra as well as a right $`k[G]`$–co–module algebra. Moreover it satisfies the Yetter–Drinfeld (YD) condition for bi–modules and is thus a module over $`D(k[G])`$, the Drinfeld double of $`k[G]`$.

We show that given a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra there is an action of $`H^2(G,k^{})`$ on it by tensoring with the respective twisted group ring. This tensor product exhibits all desiderata of discrete torsion. In fact this action is an action of universal projective re-scalings. Moreover the action transforms the partition sums in the right way and defines a bi–character (usually denoted by $`ϵ(g,h)`$) on commuting elements with the expected properties. It not only satisfies the necessary algebraic relations, but it also appears naturally as factors in front of the summands of the partition function.

The reason for the beautiful picture is the inclusion of twisted sectors for all group elements and not just for conjugacy classes, which has been discussed in detail in \[K1,K2\]. This also allows to understand the bi–character in terms of a 2 cocycle $`\alpha H^2(G,k^{})`$. The bi–character $`ϵ`$ is then derived from $`\alpha `$ and is defined for all elements. It can actually be shown to be a one cocycle in $`ϵH^1(G,k^{}[G])`$ where $`k^{}[G]k[G]`$ are sums with invertible coefficients and the $`G`$–module structure is given by the adjoint action.

We furthermore comment on the generic super–structures one can impose on a given $`G`$–Frobenius algebra and realize that these are also given by tensor product with superized versions of $`k[G]`$. These are a second type of discrete deformation, which is actually different from the one of discrete torsion.

This action of discrete torsion using twisted group rings should be viewed as a statement which is analogous to the relations between projective representations of a group, modules over the twisted group algebra and extensions of the group.

In fact we are able to establish the counterpart to the classical picture in the world of $`G`$–Frobenius algebras.

The paper is organized as follows:

In the first paragraph, we recall the notion of $`G`$–Frobenius algebras, and show that group rings and twisted group rings are $`G`$–Frobenius algebras.

In the second paragraph, we give the algebraic properties of $`G`$–Frobenius algebras. The main Theorem is that a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra has the natural algebraic structures stated above. We also characterize $`G`$–Frobenius algebras which are Galois over their identity sector as $`k[G]`$–comodule algebras.

The third section contains the identification of discrete torsion as an action of $`H^2(G,k^{})`$ on $`G`$–Frobenius algebras. This is done by analyzing universal twists of $`G`$–Frobenius algebras and showing that the universal twists are in 1–1 correspondence with $`H^2(G,k^{})`$. Furthermore we show that these twists can be realized by tensoring with the respective twisted group ring.

We furthermore also study the generic super–structures ($`/2`$) which one can impose on a given $`G`$–Frobenius algebra.

In the fourth paragraph we develop our understanding of these facts by introducing a theory in analogy with projective representations of a group and their relation to modules over the twisted group algebra and extensions of the group. Here the final result is that given any Abelian group $`H`$ and a cocycle $`[\alpha ^{}]H^2(G,H)`$ then for any central extension $`G^\alpha `$ of $`G`$ by $`H`$ with class $`[\alpha ^{}]`$ and any $`G`$–Frobenius algebra $`A`$ there is a natural $`G^\alpha ^{}`$–Frobenius algebra $`A^\alpha ^{}`$ to which the Frobenius algebra $`A_\alpha `$ ($`A`$ twisted by $`\alpha `$) can be lifted. Here $`[\alpha ]H^2(G,k^{})`$ is the image under the transgression map associated to $`[\alpha ^{}]`$ of a $`\chi \mathrm{Hom}(H,k^{})`$. Vice versa, the above $`\chi `$ gives a push down map, which maps $`A^\alpha `$ onto $`A_\alpha `$. Furthermore there is a universal setup of this kind if there is a representation group for $`G`$.

## Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the Max–Planck–Institut for its kind hospitality and also gratefully acknowledge the support from the NSF. Special thanks goes to Takashi Kimura, since it was a discussion with him that was the initial spark for this paper. I would also like to thank Susan Montgomery whose questions about the algebraic setting of orbifolding are the reason for the existence of the second section, which also owes a great deal to her book on “Hopf algebras and their actions on rings”.

## 1. $`G`$–Frobenius algebras

We fix a finite group $`G`$ and denote its unit element by $`e`$. We furthermore fix a ground field $`k`$ of characteristic zero for simplicity. With the usual precautions the characteristic of the field does not play an important role and furthermore the group really only needs to be completely disconnected.

### 1.1. Definition

A G–twisted Frobenius algebra —or $`G`$–Frobenius algebra for short— over a field $`k`$ of characteristic 0 is $`<G,A,,1,\eta ,\phi ,\chi >`$, where

| $`G`$ | finite group |
| --- | --- |
| $`A`$ | finite dim $`G`$-graded $`k`$–vector space |
|  | $`A=_{gG}A_g`$ |
|  | $`A_e`$ is called the untwisted sector and |
|  | the $`A_g`$ for $`ge`$ are called the twisted sectors. |
| $``$ | a multiplication on $`A`$ which respects the grading: |
|  | $`:A_gA_hA_{gh}`$ |
| $`1`$ | a fixed element in $`A_e`$–the unit |
| $`\eta `$ | non-degenerate bilinear form |
|  | which respects grading i.e. $`g|_{A_gA_h}=0`$ unless $`gh=e`$. |

| $`\phi `$ | an action of $`G`$ on $`A`$ (which will be by algebra automorphisms), |
| --- | --- |
|  | $`\phi \mathrm{Hom}(G,\mathrm{Aut}(A))`$, s.t. $`\phi _g(A_h)A_{ghg^1}`$ |
| $`\chi `$ | a character $`\chi \mathrm{Hom}(G,k^{})`$ |

Satisfying the following axioms:

Notation: We use a subscript on an element of $`A`$ to signify that it has homogeneous group degree –e.g. $`a_g`$ means $`a_gA_g`$– and we write $`\phi _g:=\phi (g)`$ and $`\chi _g:=\chi (g)`$.

* Associativity

$`(a_ga_h)a_k=a_g(a_ha_k)`$
* Twisted commutativity

$`a_ga_h=\phi _g(a_h)a_g`$
* $`G`$ Invariant Unit:

$`1a_g=a_g1=a_g`$

and

$`\phi _g(1)=1`$
* Invariance of the metric:

$`\eta (a_g,a_ha_k)=\eta (a_ga_h,a_k)`$
* Projective self–invariance of the twisted sectors

$`\phi _g|A_g=\chi _g^1id`$
* $`G`$–Invariance of the multiplication

$`\phi _k(a_ga_h)=\phi _k(a_g)\phi _k(a_h)`$
* Projective $`G`$–invariance of the metric

$`\phi _g^{}(\eta )=\chi _g^2\eta `$
* Projective trace axiom

$`cA_{[g,h]}`$ and $`l_c`$ left multiplication by $`c`$:

$`\chi _h\mathrm{Tr}(l_c\phi _h|_{A_g})=\chi _{g^1}\mathrm{Tr}(\phi _{g^1}l_c|_{A_h})`$

#### 1.1.1. Special $`G`$–Frobenius algebras

We briefly review special $`G`$–Frobenius algebras. For details see \[K1,K2\].

We call a $`G`$-Frobenius algebra special if all $`A_g`$ are cyclic $`A_e`$ modules via the multiplication $`A_eA_gA_g`$. Fixing a cyclic generator $`1_gA_g`$ the algebra is completely characterized by two compatible cocycles, namely $`\gamma \overline{Z}^2(G,A_e)`$ and $`\phi Z^1(G,k^{}[G])`$ where $`\overline{Z}`$ are graded cocyles (see \[K1\]) and $`k^{}[G]`$ is the group ring restricted to invertible coefficients with $`G`$–module structure induced by the adjoint action:

$$\varphi (g)(\mu _hh)=\underset{h}{}\mu _hghg^1$$

We set $`\phi (g)=_h\phi _{g,h}ghg^1`$ and $`\gamma _{g,h}=\gamma (g,h)`$.

The multiplication and $`G`$–action are determined by

$$1_g1_h=\gamma _{g,h}1_{gh}\phi _g(1_h)=\phi _{g,h}1_{ghg^1}$$

There are two compatibility equations:

(1.1)
$$\phi _{g,h}\gamma _{ghg^1,g}=\gamma _{g,h}$$

and

(1.2)
$$\phi _{k,g}\phi _{k,h}\gamma _{kgk^1,khk^1}=\phi _k(\gamma _{g,h})\phi _{k,gh}$$

Notice that if $`\gamma _{g,h}`$ is non–zero i.e. $`A_gA_h0`$ then (1.1) determines $`\phi _{g,h}`$. We also would like to remark that (1.2) is automatically satisfied if $`A_gA_hA_k0`$ (cf. \[K1\]).

### 1.2. The group ring $`k[G]`$

Let $`k[G]`$ denote the group ring of $`G`$.

#### 1.2.1. The Hopf structure of $`k[G]`$

Recall that $`k[G]`$ is a Hopf algebra with the natural multiplication, the co–multiplication induced by $`\mathrm{\Delta }(g)=gg`$, co–unit $`ϵ(g)=1`$ and antipode $`S(g)=g^1`$.

#### 1.2.2. The $`G`$–Frobenius structure of $`k[G]`$

When considering $`k[G]`$ as a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra we will consider $`k[G]`$ as a left $`k[G]`$–module with respect to conjugation, i.e. the map $`k[G]k[G]k[G]`$ given by

$$\underset{g}{}\nu _gg\underset{h}{}\mu _hh\underset{g,h}{}\nu _h\mu _gghg^1$$

The other structures are the naturally $`G`$ graded natural multiplication on $`k[G]`$ with the unit $`e`$, the metric $`\eta (g,h)=\delta _{gh,e}`$ and $`\chi _g1`$. It is trivial to check all axioms.

If we were to choose a grading $`\stackrel{~}{}\mathrm{Hom}(G,/2)`$ then $`\chi _g=(1)^{\stackrel{~}{g}}`$ and $`\phi _g(h)=(1)^{\stackrel{~}{g}\stackrel{~}{h}}`$.

### 1.3. The twisted group ring $`k^\alpha [G]`$

Recall that given an element $`\alpha Z^2(G,k^{})`$ one defines the twisted group ring $`k^\alpha [G]`$ to be given by the same linear structure with multiplication given by the linear extension of

(1.3)
$$gh\alpha (g,h)gh$$

with $`1`$ remaining the unit element. To avoid confusion we will denote elements of $`k^\alpha [G]`$ by $`\widehat{g}`$ and the multiplication with $``$ Thus

$$\widehat{g}\widehat{h}=\alpha (g,h)\widehat{gh}$$

For $`\alpha `$ the following equations hold:

(1.4)
$$\alpha (g,e)=\alpha (e,g),\alpha (g,g^1)=\alpha (g^1,g)$$

Furthermore

$$\widehat{g}^1=\frac{1}{\alpha (g,g^1)}\widehat{g^1}$$

#### 1.3.1. Remark

Given a two co–cycle $`\alpha `$ and possibly extending the field by square roots we can find a co–cycle $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }`$ in the same cohomology class which also satisfies

(1.5)
$$\stackrel{~}{\alpha }(g,g^1)=1$$

If one wishes to consider $``$ as a ground field, one can work with such cocycles.

#### 1.3.2. Lemma

Set $`ϵ(g,h)=\frac{\alpha (g,h)}{\alpha (ghg^1,g)}`$, then the left adjoint action of $`k^\alpha [G]`$ on $`k^\alpha [G]`$ is given by

(1.6)
$$gh\stackrel{ad}{}ϵ(g,h)\widehat{ghg^1}$$

Proof. By the definition of multiplication in $`k^\alpha [G]`$

$$\widehat{g}\widehat{h}\widehat{g}^1=\frac{\alpha (g,h)\alpha (gh,g^1)}{\alpha (g,g^1)}\widehat{ghg^1}$$

Now by associativity

$$\alpha (gh,g^1)\alpha (ghg^1,g)=\alpha (gh,e)\alpha (g^1,g)=\alpha (g,g^1).$$

so

$$\frac{\alpha (g,h)\alpha (gh,g^1)}{\alpha (g,g^1)}=\frac{\alpha (g,h)}{\alpha (ghg^1,g)}$$

#### 1.3.3. The $`G`$–Frobenius Algebra structure of $`k^\alpha [G]`$

Recall from \[K1,K2\] the following structures which turn $`k^\alpha [G]`$ into a special $`G`$–Frobenius algebra:

$`\gamma _{g,h}`$ $`=`$ $`\alpha (g,h)`$
$`\phi _{g,h}`$ $`=`$ $`(1)^{\stackrel{~}{g}\stackrel{~}{h}}{\displaystyle \frac{\alpha (g,h)}{\alpha (ghg^1,g)}}=:ϵ(g,h)`$
$`\eta (\widehat{g},\widehat{g^1})`$ $`=`$ $`\alpha (g,g^1)`$
(1.7) $`\chi _g`$ $`=`$ $`(1)^{\stackrel{~}{g}}`$
Here the second line induces the third via

$$\widehat{g}\widehat{h}=\alpha (g,h)\widehat{gh},\widehat{ghg^1}\widehat{g}=\alpha (ghg^1,g)\widehat{gh}$$

We recall that if $`k^{}`$ is two divisible we could scale s.t. $`\eta (g,g^1)=1`$ and $`ϵ`$ would indeed yield the adjoint action. The last equation follows from the special case of the trace axiom since the dimension of all sectors is one.

It is an exercise to check all axioms. All compatibility equations follow automatically, since $`\alpha (g,h)0`$. The only axiom which is not straightforward is the trace axiom, but see \[K2\] for a proof.

#### 1.3.4. Remark

By the general theory (see above), $`ϵH^1(G,k^{}[G])`$ where $`k^{}[G]`$ is the group ring restricted to invertible coefficients with $`G`$–module structure induced by the adjoint action:

$$\varphi (g)(\mu _hh)=\underset{h}{}\mu _hghg^1$$

#### 1.3.5. Relations

The $`ϵ(g,h)`$ satisfy the equations:

(1.8) $`ϵ(g,e)`$ $`=`$ $`ϵ(g,g)=1`$
(1.9) $`ϵ(g_1g_2,h)`$ $`=`$ $`ϵ(g_1,g_2hg_2^1)ϵ(g_2,h)`$
(1.10) $`ϵ(g,h)^1`$ $`=`$ $`ϵ(g^1,ghg^1)`$
(1.11) $`ϵ(k,gh)`$ $`=`$ $`ϵ(k,g)ϵ(k,h){\displaystyle \frac{\alpha (kgk^1,khk^1)}{\alpha (g,h)}}`$
where (1.9) is the statement that $`\phi \mathrm{Hom}(G,Aut(A))`$, (1.10) is a consequence of (1.9) and (1.11) is the compatibility equation which also ensures the invariance of the metric.

Furthermore the trace axiom holds \[K2\] which is equivalent to the equation

(1.12)
$$\alpha ([g,h],hgh^1)ϵ(h,g)=\alpha ([g,h],h)ϵ(g^1,ghg^1)$$

or

(1.13)
$$ϵ(h,g)=ϵ(g^1,ghg^1)\frac{\alpha ([g,h],h)}{\alpha ([g,h],hgh^1)}$$

In the case that the group elements in the equations commute we obtain the famous conditions of discrete torsion which make $`ϵ`$ into a bi–character on commuting elements.

For commuting elements:

$`ϵ(g,e)`$ $`=`$ $`ϵ(g,g)=1`$
$`ϵ(g_1g_2,h)`$ $`=`$ $`ϵ(g_1,h)ϵ(g_2,h)`$
$`ϵ(g,h)^1`$ $`=`$ $`ϵ(g^1,h)`$
$`ϵ(g,h)`$ $`=`$ $`ϵ(h^1,g)=ϵ(h,g)^1`$
(1.14) $`ϵ(h,g_1g_2)`$ $`=`$ $`ϵ(h,g_1)ϵ(h,g_2)`$
where the last equation is now a consequence of the second and the fourth and the third equation follows from the second.

#### 1.3.6. Fact

One can show \[K2\] that the twisted group algebras $`k^\alpha [G]`$ are the only $`G`$–Frobenius algebras with the property that all $`A_g`$ are one–dimensional. To be completely precise there is an additional freedom of choosing a super (i.e. $`/2`$) structure determined by a homomorphism $`\sigma \mathrm{Hom}(G,/2)`$ (see \[K1\] and 3.4 below).

#### 1.3.7. Geometry of $`k^\alpha [G]`$

From the point of view of Jacobian Frobenius algebras \[K1\] it is natural to say that $`k[G]`$ is the Frobenius algebra naturally associated to $`point/G`$. The existence of the twisted algebras suggests that there are several equivalent ways of taking the group quotient. This is made precise by Theorem 3.3.2 below.

## 2. Algebraic structures of a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra

We fix a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra $`G,A,,1,\eta ,\phi ,\chi `$.

### 2.1. Theorem

A $`G`$–Frobenius algebra is naturally a left $`k[G]`$–module algebra as well as a right $`k[G]`$–co–module algebra. Moreover it satisfies the Yetter–Drinfeld (YD) condition for bi–modules and is thus a module over $`D(k[G])`$, the Drinfeld double of $`k[G]`$. Where the YD condition reads

(2.1)
$$h_1m_0h_2m_1=(h_2m)_0(h_2m)_1h_1$$

Here we used the usual notation for co–algebras and right co–modules. I.e. if $`\mathrm{\Delta }:HHH`$ is the co–multiplication of $`H`$ then for $`hH`$ we write $`\mathrm{\Delta }(h)=h_1h_2`$ and if $`\stackrel{ˇ}{\rho }:MH`$ is a right co–module map, then for $`mM`$ we write $`\stackrel{ˇ}{\rho }(m)=m_0m_1`$.

Proof. The Theorem follows from the collection of facts below and the general statement that any $`H`$ bi–module satisfying the YD–condition is a a module over $`D(H)`$ (see e.g. \[M\]).

#### 2.1.1. Remark

In this particular case the YD condition states that the co-module structure is $`k[G]`$ equivariant with respect to the adjoint action of $`k[G]`$ on itself, viz. as a tensor product of $`G`$–Frobenius algebras of left $`k[G]`$ modules. See below.

#### 2.1.2. The $`k[G]`$–module structure

Since $`A`$ is a $`k`$ algebra, the $`G`$–action $`\phi `$ turns $`A`$ into a right $`k[G]`$ module. More precisely for $`aA_g\nu _ggk[G]`$

(2.2)
$$(\nu _gg)a\underset{g}{}\nu _g\phi _g(a)$$

Since $`\phi \mathrm{Hom}(G,Aut(A))`$ this is a module structure.

#### 2.1.3. The $`k[G]`$–co-module structure

Since $`A`$ is a $`G`$ graded algebra it is naturally a $`k[G]`$ –co-module.

More precisely for $`aA,a=_ga_g`$ the $`k[G]`$ co-module structure $`\rho :AAk[G]`$ is given by

(2.3)
$$a\underset{g}{}(a_gg)$$

which obviously yields a co-module.

#### 2.1.4. Lemma

A $`G`$–Frobenius algebra is a $`k[G]`$–module algebra and a $`k[G]`$ co-module algebra or equivalently a $`k[G]^{}`$–module algebra.

Proof. For the module algebra structure notice that:

* $`A`$ is a left $`k[G]`$ module as noticed before.
* The $`k[G]`$–action induced by $`\phi `$ is by definition by algebra automorphisms, and $`\mathrm{\Delta }(g)=gg`$ thus

$$\phi _g(ab)=\phi _g(a)\phi _g(b)$$
* Since the unit is invariant:

$$\phi _g(1)=1=ϵ(g)1$$

The structure of co-module algebra follows from the fact that

$$\phi (a_gb_h)=a_gb_hgh$$

which, as is well known, is nothing but the condition of $`A`$ being a $`G`$ graded algebra

(2.4)
$$A_gA_hA_{gh}$$

#### 2.1.5. Remark

Notice that the condition (2.4) is usually given by a strict inclusion, so that it is usually not $`k[G]`$–Galois – which is equivalent to $`A_gA_h=A_{gh}`$ (cf. \[M\]). In case it is, the structure of the algebra is particularly transparent. We will come back to this later.

#### 2.1.6. The compatibility

We will view $`k[G]`$ as a left $`k[G]`$ module using the adjoint action. Then $`Ak[G]`$ turns into a left $`k[G]`$–module by using the diagonal action. This is the natural left $`k[G]`$-module structure on the tensor product of left Hopf modules.

$$(\underset{h}{}\mu _hh)(\underset{g}{}a_g\nu g)=\underset{h,g}{}\mu _h\nu \phi (h)(a_g)ghg^1$$

#### 2.1.7. Lemma

The co-module structure is $`k[G]`$–equivariant and thus the co-module map is a map of left $`k[G]`$ modules where we use the left adjoint action of $`k[G]`$ on itself as the left $`k[G]`$ action.

(2.5) $`\rho (({\displaystyle \underset{h}{}}\mu _hh)(a))`$ $`=`$ $`\rho ({\displaystyle \underset{h}{}}\mu _h\phi _h(a))`$
$`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{h,g}{}}\mu _h\phi _h(a_g)hgh^1=({\displaystyle \underset{h}{}}\mu _hh)({\displaystyle \underset{g}{}}a_gg)`$
$`=`$ $`({\displaystyle \underset{h}{}}\mu _hh)\rho (a)`$
#### 2.1.8. The YD condition

Plugging in the co–product and action yields

(2.6)
$$\phi _g(a_h)gh=\phi _g(a_h)(ghg^1)g$$

which verifies the YD condition for $`A`$.

#### 2.1.9. Proposition

If $`A`$ is a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra that is $`k[G]`$–Galois over $`A_e`$ as a k\[G\]–comodule algebra then $`A`$ is special and $`\gamma Z^2(G,A^{})`$ where $`A^{}`$ are the units of $`A`$. So in particular $`\gamma `$ determines $`\phi `$ uniquely.

Moreover if $`A_e`$ is one–dimensional then $`A=k^\alpha [G]`$, for some $`\alpha H^2(G,k^{})`$ with a choice of parity $`\stackrel{~}{}\mathrm{Hom}(G,/2)`$.

Proof. Since $`A_{g^1}A_g=A_e`$ there are elements $`a_gA_g,b_{g^1}A_{g^1}`$ s.t. $`b_{g^1}a_g=1`$ then $`a_g`$ is a cyclic generator since $`c_gA_G`$ $`c_g=c_g(b_{g^1}a_g)=(c_gb_{g^1})a_g`$ and $`c_gb_{g^1}A_e`$. Choosing generators $`1_g`$ in this way it is easy to check that the cocycles need to be invertible and thus the $`\phi `$ are fixed by (1.1). Furthermore notice that the multiplication map induces an isomorphism of $`A_e`$ modules between $`A_e`$ and $`A_g`$ via $`aa1_g`$ where $`A_e`$ is a cyclic $`A_e`$ module over itself via left multiplication. This follows by associativity from $`a=a(1_g1_{g^1})=(a1_g)1_{g^1}`$ and thus $`a1_g0`$ and the map $`A_eA_g`$ is also injective. Thus the restriction maps are all isomorphisms and graded cocycles coincide with the usual ones.

## 3. The action of Discrete Torsion

### 3.1. Twisting $`G`$–Frobenius algebras

Given a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra $`A`$ we can re-scale the multiplication and $`G`$–action by a scalar. More precisely let $`\lambda :G\times Gk^{}`$ be a function. For $`a=_ga_gA`$ we define

$$\phi ^\lambda (g)(a)=_h\lambda (g,h)\phi (g)(a_h)$$

Given another function $`\mu :G\times Gk^{}`$ we can also define a new multiplication $`^\mu `$

$$a_g^\mu b_h=\mu (g,h)a_gb_h$$

#### 3.1.1. Remark

These twists arise from a projectivization of the $`G`$–structures induced on a module over $`A`$ as for instance the associated Ramond–space (cf. \[K1\]). In physics terms this means that each twisted sector will have a projective vacuum, so that fixing their lifts in different ways induces the twist. Mathematically this means that $`g`$ twisted sector is considered to be a Verma module over $`A_g`$ based on this vacuum.

#### 3.1.2. Induced shift on the metric

Due to the invariance of the metric, the twist in the multiplication results in a twisted metric

$$\eta ^\mu (a_g,b_g^1):=\mu (g,g^1)\eta (a_g,b_g^1)$$

#### 3.1.3. Definition

We define $`s(\mu ,\lambda )(A)`$ to be the collection
$`G,A,^\mu ,1,\eta ^\lambda ,\phi ^\lambda ,\chi `$.

#### 3.1.4. Proposition

$`s(\mu ,\lambda )(A)`$ is $`G`$–Frobenius algebra if and only if the following equations hold for $`\mu ,\lambda `$:

(3.1)
$$\mu (e,g)=\mu (g,e)=1$$

furthermore $`g,h,kG`$ s.t. $`A_gA_hA_k0`$:

(3.2)
$$\mu (g,h)\mu (gh,k)=\mu (h,k)\mu (g,hk)$$

and if $`A_gA_h0`$ then

(3.3)
$$\lambda (g,h)=\frac{\mu (g,h)}{\mu (ghg^1,g)}$$

If $`A_gA_h0`$ as well as $`A_gA_hA_k=0`$

(3.4)
$$\lambda (g,hk)\mu (h,k)=\lambda (g,h)\lambda (g,k)\mu (ghg^1,gkg^1)$$

Furthermore

$`\lambda (gh,k)`$ $`=`$ $`\lambda (h,k)\lambda (g,hkh^1)`$
$`\lambda (e,g)`$ $`=`$ $`\lambda (g,g)=1`$
(3.5) $`\mu ([g,h],hgh^1)\lambda (h,g)`$ $`=`$ $`\mu ([g,h],h)\lambda (g^1,ghg^1)`$
where the third equation has to hold for all pairs $`g,h`$ s.t. $`cA_{[g,h]}`$ s.t. $`\chi _h\mathrm{Tr}(l_c\phi _h|_{A_g})0`$, where $`l_c`$ is the left multiplication by $`c`$. In particular it must hold for all pairs $`g,h`$ with $`[g,h]=e`$.

Proof. The first equation (3.1) expresses that $`1`$ is still the unit for the algebra. The statement (3.2) for $`\mu `$ is the obvious form of associativity. The statement (3.3) comes from the compatibility equation of the group action with the multiplication.

The equation (3.4) ensures the equivariance of the multiplication. It is automatic if $`A_gA_hA_k0`$ and also if $`A_gA_h=0`$.

The first equation (3.1.4) for $`\lambda `$ is equivalent to the fact that $`\phi ^\lambda `$ is still a $`G`$ action.

Notice that $`\lambda (e,g)=1`$ since $`A_eA_g=A_g`$ and thus

$$\lambda (e,g)=\frac{\mu (e,g)}{\mu (g,e)}=1$$

and so the identity remains invariant.

Also notice that there is no twist to the character!

$$\chi _g^\lambda =(1)^{\stackrel{~}{g}}dimA_g\mathrm{Str}^1(\phi _g^{\lambda )}|_{A_e})=\chi _g\lambda (g,e)=\chi _g$$

This in turn implies the second statement in the second line by projective self–invariance

$$\chi _g^1id|A_g=\phi _g^\lambda |A_g=\lambda (g,g)\phi _g|A_g=\lambda (g,g)\chi _g^1id|A_g$$

$$1=\lambda (e,k)=\lambda (g^1g,k)=\lambda (g,k)\lambda (g^1,gkg^1)$$

so

$$\lambda (g,h)=\lambda (g^1,ghg^1)^1$$

The third equation follows from the projective trace axiom.

$`cA_{[g,h]}`$ and $`l_c`$ left multiplication by $`c`$:

(3.6)
$$\chi _h\mathrm{Tr}(l_c\phi _h|_{A_g})=\chi _{g^1}\mathrm{Tr}(\phi _{g^1}l_c|_{A_h})$$

Thus we must have $`\chi _h\mathrm{Tr}(l_c\phi _h^\lambda |_{A_g})=\chi _{g^1}\mathrm{Tr}(\phi _{g^1}^\lambda l_c|_{A_h})`$ but this is equivalent to the third equation in view of (3.6).

Now we check the other axioms.

The invariance of the metric follows from associativity.

$`\eta ^\mu (a_g,b_h^\mu c_{h^1g^1})`$ $`=`$ $`\mu (g,g^1)\mu (h,h^1g^1)\eta (a_g,b_hc_{h^1g^1})`$
$`=`$ $`\mu (g,h)\mu (gh,h^1g^1)\eta (a_gb_h,c_{h^1g^1})`$
$`=`$ $`\eta ^\mu (a_g^\mu b_h,c_{h^1g^1})`$
The projective invariance of the metric reads as

$$\lambda (g,k)\lambda (g,k^1)\mu (gkg^1,gk^1g^1)=\mu (k,k^1)$$

which is automatic since $`A_gA_kA_{k^1}0`$.

#### 3.1.5. Definition

We call a twist $`s(\lambda ,\mu )`$ universal if it transforms any $`G`$–Frobenius algebra into a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra. We call two twists $`s(\lambda ,\mu )`$ and $`s(\lambda ^{},\mu ^{})`$ isomorphic if for any $`G`$–Frobenius algebra $`A`$ the algebras $`s(\lambda ,\mu )(A)`$ and $`s(\lambda ^{},\mu ^{})(A)`$ are isomorphic.

#### 3.1.6. Theorem

The universal twists are in 1–1 correspondence with elements $`\alpha Z^2(G,k^{})`$ and the isomorphism classes of universal twists are given by $`H^2(G,k^{})`$.

Proof. If the twist is universal then there are no restrictions on the equations. In particular $`\mu Z^2(G,k^{})`$ and $`\lambda `$ is completely determined by $`\mu `$ via (3.3). All the other properties are then automatic. The claim about isomorphism classes is obvious by noticing that if $`\alpha `$ and $`\alpha ^{}`$ are cohomologous and $`\alpha /\alpha ^{}=d\beta `$ for some $`\beta Z^1(G,k^{})`$ then a diagonal rescaling of the generators of $`k^\alpha [G]`$ by $`\beta `$ yields $`k^\alpha ^{}[G]`$ so the result follows from the charcterization of universal twists as taking tensor produce with twisted group rings below.

### 3.2. Discrete torsion

In this subsection we prove that universal twists are exactly given by twisting with discrete torsion.

#### 3.2.1. Reminder

Given two $`G`$–Frobenius algebras $`G,A,,1,\eta ,\phi ,\chi `$ and $`G,A^{},^{},1^{},\eta ^{},\phi ^{},\chi ^{}`$ we defined \[K1\] their tensor product as $`G`$–Frobenius algebras to be the $`G`$–Frobenius algebra

$`G,_{gG}(A_gA_g^{}),^{},11^{},\eta \eta ^{},\phi \phi ^{},\chi \chi ^{}`$.

We will use the short hand notation $`A\widehat{}B`$ for this product.

#### 3.2.2. Definition

Given a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra $`A`$ and an element $`\alpha H^2(G,k)`$ we define the $`\alpha `$–twist of $`A`$ to be the $`G`$–Frobenius algebra $`A^\alpha :=A\widehat{}k^\alpha [G]`$.

Notice that

(3.7)
$$A_g^\alpha =A_gkA_g$$

Using this identification the $`G`$–Frobenius structures are given by:

### 3.3. Lemma

The induced structures under the isomorphism (3.7) are

$`^\alpha |_{A_g^\alpha A_h^\alpha }`$ $`=`$ $`\alpha (g,h)`$
$`\phi _g^\alpha |_{A_h^\alpha }`$ $`=`$ $`ϵ(g,h)\phi _g`$
$`\eta ^\alpha |_{A_g^\alpha A_{g^1}^\alpha }`$ $`=`$ $`\alpha (g,g^1)\eta `$
(3.8) $`\chi _g=\chi _g`$
Proof. We notice that the two algebras have the same linear structure $`A_{\alpha ,g}=A_gkgA_g`$ with the isomorphism given by $`a_gga_g`$. Now the multiplication is given by

$$(a_gg)(a_hh)a_ga_h\alpha (g,h)gh=\alpha (g,h)a_ga_hgh$$

which yields the twisted multiplication.

The twist for the $`G`$ action is computed to be

$$\phi _{\alpha ,h}(a_gg)=ϵ(g,h)\phi _h(g)hgh^1$$

This leads us to the Proposition

#### 3.3.1. Proposition

$`A_\alpha s(\alpha ,ϵ)A`$.

#### 3.3.2. Theorem

The set of universal twists are described by tensoring with twisted group algebras which identifies this operation with twisting by discrete torsion.

In other words given a generic $`G`$–Frobenius algebra $`A`$ there are exactly $`H^2(G,k)`$ twists of it by discrete torsion.

#### 3.3.3. Discrete torsion as phases for the partition sum

Notice that for any $`cA_{[g,h]}^\alpha A_{[g,h]}`$

(3.9)
$$\chi _h\mathrm{Str}(l_c\phi _h|_{A_g^\alpha })=ϵ(h,g)\chi _h\mathrm{Str}(l_c\phi _h|_{A_g})$$

This is the original freedom of choice of a phase for the summands of the partition function postulated by physicists. In this context, we should regard $`g,h:[g,h]=e`$ and set $`c=e`$. More precisely set

(3.10)
$$Z(A)=\underset{g,hG:[g,h]=e}{}\mathrm{Str}(\chi _g\phi _g|_{A_h^\alpha }):=\underset{g,hG:[g,h]=e}{}Z_{g,h}$$

(3.11)
$$Z(A_\alpha )=\underset{g,hG:[g,h]=e}{}ϵ(g,h)Z_{g,h}$$

We could omit the factors $`\chi _g`$, but from the point of view of physics we should take the trace in the Ramond space (cf. \[K1\]) where the $`k[G]`$ module structure is twisted by $`\chi `$.

### 3.4. Supergrading

In this subsection we wish to address questions of super–grading. There is a general theory of super–graded $`G`$–Frobenius algebras and special $`G`$–Frobenius algebras. We will expose the structures here for the group ring.

#### 3.4.1. Super $`G`$–Frobenius algebras

If the underlying algebra of a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra has a supergrading $`\stackrel{~}{}`$ then the axioms of a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra have to be changed to

* Twisted super–commutativity

$`a_ga_h=(1)^{\stackrel{~}{a}_g\stackrel{~}{a}_h}\phi _g(a_h)a_g`$
* Projective super–trace axiom

$`cA_{[g,h]}`$ and $`l_c`$ left multiplication by $`c`$:

$`\chi _h\mathrm{STr}(l_c\phi _h|_{A_g})=\chi _{g^1}\mathrm{STr}(\phi _{g^1}l_c|_{A_h})`$

where $`\mathrm{STr}`$ is the super–trace.

For details on the super structure as well as the role of the super structure for special $`G`$–Frobenius algebras we refer to \[K1\].

#### 3.4.2. Supergraded twisted group rings

Fix $`\alpha H^2(G,k^{}),\sigma \mathrm{Hom}(G,/2)`$ then there is a twisted super–version of the group ring where now the relations read

(3.12)
$$\widehat{g}\widehat{h}=\alpha (g,h)\widehat{gh}$$

and the twisted commutativity is

(3.13)
$$\widehat{g}\widehat{h}=(1)^{\sigma (g)\sigma (h)}\phi _g(\widehat{h})\widehat{g}$$

and thus

(3.14)
$$\phi _g(\widehat{h})=(1)^{\sigma (g)\sigma (h)}\alpha (g,h)\alpha (gh,g^1)\widehat{ghg^1}=:\phi _{g,h}\widehat{ghg^1}$$

and thus

(3.15)
$$ϵ(g,h):=\phi _{g,h}=(1)^{\sigma (g)\sigma (h)}\frac{\alpha (g,h)}{\alpha (ghg^1,g)}$$

We would just like to remark that the axiom iv<sup>σ</sup> shows the difference between super twists and discrete torsion.

#### 3.4.3. Definition

We denote the $`\alpha `$-twisted group ring with super–structure $`\sigma `$ by $`k^{\alpha ,\sigma }[G]`$. We still denote $`k^{\alpha ,0}[G]`$ by $`k^\alpha [G]`$ where $`0`$ is the zero map and we denote $`k^{0,\sigma }[G]`$ just by $`k^\sigma [G]`$ where $`0`$ is the unit of the group $`H^2(G,k^{})`$.

A straightforward calculation shows

#### 3.4.4. Lemma

$`k^{\alpha ,\sigma }[G]=k^\alpha [G]k^\sigma [G]`$ and more generally

#### 3.4.5. Lemma

Let $`A`$ be the $`G`$–Frobenius algebra or more generally super Frobenius algebra with super grading $`\stackrel{~}{}`$ $`G,A,,1,\eta ,\phi ,\chi `$ then $`Ak^\sigma [G]`$ is isomorphic to the super $`G`$–Frobenius algebra $`G,A,,1,\eta ,\phi ^\sigma ,\chi ^\sigma `$ with super grading $`\stackrel{~}{\sigma }`$, where

(3.16)
$$\phi _{g,h}^\sigma =(1)^{\sigma (g)\sigma (h)}\phi _{g,h},\chi ^\sigma =(1)^{\sigma (g)}\chi _g,\stackrel{~}{a}_g^\sigma =\stackrel{~}{a}_g+\sigma (g)$$

Using arguments and definitions for universal twists as for discrete torsion we can obtain the following Proposition. Here universal means that there is no assumption on the particular structure of the $`G`$–Frobenius algebra, in other words it pertains to generic $`G`$–Frobenius algebras.

#### 3.4.6. Proposition

Given a (super) $`G`$–Frobenius algebra $`A`$ the universal super $`G`$–Frobenius algebra re–gradings are in 1-1 correspondence with $`\mathrm{Hom}(G,/2)`$ and these structures can be realized by tensoring with $`k^\sigma [G]`$ for $`\sigma \mathrm{Hom}(G,/2)`$.

## 4. Projective representations, Extensions and twisted group algebras

In this section we first assemble classical facts about groups which will be extended to $`G`$–Frobenius algebras. As an intermediate step we analyze twisted group algebras, which belong to both worlds.

### 4.1. Part I: Groups

#### 4.1.1. Projective representations

A projective representation $`\rho `$ of a group is a map $`\rho :GGL(V)`$, $`V`$ being a $`k`$–vector space, which satisfies

(4.1)
$$\rho (g)\rho (h)=\alpha (g,h)\rho (gh),\rho (e)=id$$

It is easy to check that $`\alpha (g,h)Z^2(G,k^{})`$. Moreover with a natural notion of projective isomorphy two projective representations are isomorphic if their classes are cohomologous (cf. e.g. \[CR, Kar\]).

#### 4.1.2. Extensions

Given a central extension

(4.2)
$$1AG^{}\stackrel{\pi }{}G1$$

fix a section $`s`$ of $`\pi `$ and define $`\alpha :G\times GA`$ by $`s(g)s(h)=\alpha (g,h)s(gh)`$. It is easy to see that indeed $`\alpha Z^2(G,A)`$ and furthermore changing the section or changing the extension by an isomorphism preserves the cohomology class of $`\alpha `$.

Vice versa a cycle in $`\alpha Z^2(G,A)`$ were $`A`$ is an Abelian group gives rise to a central group extension of $`G`$.

(4.3)
$$1AG^\alpha \stackrel{\pi }{}G1$$

where $`G^\alpha =AG`$. The maps are given by $`a(A,e_G)`$ , $`(a,g)g`$ and the multiplication is given by $`(a,g)(a^{},g^{})=(aa^{}\alpha (g,g^{}),gg^{})`$.

#### 4.1.3. The transgression map

Given a cycle $`\alpha H^2(G,A)`$ there is a natural map

(4.4)
$$Tra_\alpha :\mathrm{Hom}(A,k^{})H^2(G,k^{})$$

which sends $`\chi \mathrm{Hom}(A,k^{})`$ to the cocycles defined by $`(g,h)\chi \alpha (g,h)`$. Actually this map maps into the cohomology group with values in the torsion subgroup of $`k^{}`$ which we call $`tors(k^{})`$.

(4.5)
$$Tra_\alpha :\mathrm{Hom}(A,k^{})H^2(G,tors(k^{}))$$

#### 4.1.4. Facts

We briefly give the facts linking group cohomology, projective representations and twisted group algebras. For a detailed account see \[Kar\].

* The classes of central extensions of a group $`G`$ by an Abelian group $`A`$ are in 1–1 correspondence with $`H^2(G,A)`$.
* Any projective $`\alpha `$–representation is a module over the $`\alpha `$–twisted group algebra $`k^\alpha [G]`$. (This is in fact an equivalence of categories).
* Every projective representation with cycle $`\alpha `$ is projectively equivalent to one that can be lifted to linear representation on $`G^{\widehat{\alpha }}`$ if $`[\alpha ]`$ is in the image of the transgression map associated to $`[\widehat{\alpha }]`$.
* If $`H^2(G,k^{})=H^2(G,(tors(k^{}))`$ then:

+ any projective representation can be lifted to a suitable group, and
    + there is a universal extension

    $$1AG^{}G1$$

    such that any projective representation lifts to $`G^{}`$ and moreover the group $`AH^2(G,k^{})`$.

Assumption:
For the remainder of the section we will assume that $`k`$ has the property that $`H^2(G,k^{})=H^2(G,(tors(k^{}))`$. This is the case e.g. if is algebraically closed or $`k=`$, see eg. \[Kar\].

### 4.2. Part II: The twisted group algebra revisited

Fix $`[\alpha ^{}]H^2(G,A)`$, an element $`[\alpha ]\mathrm{Im}(Tra_{[\alpha ^{}]})`$ and a pre–image character $`\chi \mathrm{Hom}(A,k^{})`$.

This yields a central extension:

(4.6)
$$1AG^\alpha ^{}\stackrel{\pi }{}G1$$

with a section $`s`$ of $`\pi `$ s.t. the cocycle corresponding to $`s`$ is $`\alpha ^{}`$. The map $`\chi `$ induces map

(4.7)
$$\chi :k[G^\alpha ]k[G]:ag\chi (a)g$$

while the section $`s`$ induces a map

(4.8)
$$s:k[G]k[G^\alpha ]:g1_Ag$$

#### 4.2.1. Projective algebra

Using the maps $`s,\chi `$ we can also characterize the multiplication $`\mu ^\alpha `$ in $`k^\alpha [G]`$ as follows: It is the map which makes the following diagram commutative:

$$\begin{array}{ccc}k[G^\alpha ]k[G^\alpha ]& \stackrel{\mu }{}& k[G^\alpha ]\\ ss& & \chi & & \\ k[G]k[G]& \stackrel{\mu ^\alpha }{}& k[G]\end{array}$$

We already know that $`\mu ^\alpha `$ induces the structure of an algebra. This diagram captures the statement about lifts of projective representations of $`G`$ to linear representations of $`G^\alpha `$.

This is essentially 4.1.4 1.

#### 4.2.2. Projective co–algebra

Using the diagram above as we define a co–multiplication by commutativity of:

$$\begin{array}{ccc}k[G^\alpha ]& \stackrel{\mathrm{\Delta }}{}& k[G^\alpha ]k[G^\alpha ]\\ s& & \chi \chi & & \\ k[G]& \stackrel{\mathrm{\Delta }^\alpha }{}& k[G]k[G]\end{array}$$

The co–algebra structure we induce in this way on $`k[G]`$ is actually the old co–algebra structure, but $`k^\alpha [G]`$ ceases to be a bi–algebra.

#### 4.2.3. Remark: Braiding

If one would like a bi–algebra structure on the group ring $`k^\alpha [G]`$ then one has to consider braided objects, where the braiding is inverse to the twist. It should be possible to find analogous statements to the ones presented in this article by considering structures over $`k^\alpha [G]`$ in braided categories.

#### 4.2.4. Adjoint action

Let $`ad`$ denote the adjoint action $`k[G^\alpha ]`$. Then there is an induced action on $`k[G]`$

$$\begin{array}{ccc}k[G^\alpha ]k[G^\alpha ]& \stackrel{ad}{}& k[G^\alpha ]\\ ss& & \chi & & \\ k[G]k[G]& \stackrel{ad^ϵ}{}& k[G]\end{array}$$

According to 1.3.2 this action is given by

$$ad^ϵ(g)(h):=ϵ(g,h)ghg^1$$

### 4.3. Part III: $`G`$–Frobenius algebras

We now apply the logic of part II to general $`G`$–Frobenius algebras.

Let $`H`$ be an Abelian group. Fix $`[\alpha ^{}]H^2(G,H)`$, an element $`[\alpha ]\mathrm{Im}(Tra_{[\alpha ^{}]})`$ and a pre-image character $`\chi \mathrm{Hom}(H,k^{})`$ and a central extension:

(4.9)
$$1HG^\alpha ^{}\stackrel{\pi }{}G1$$

with a section $`s`$ of $`\pi `$ s.t. the cocycle corresponding to $`s`$ is $`\alpha ^{}`$.

#### 4.3.1. Definition

Let $`A^\alpha `$ be a $`G^\alpha `$ Frobenius algebra. We say that a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra $`F`$ can be lifted to $`A^\alpha `$ if there are maps $`i:AA^\alpha `$ and $`res:A^\alpha A`$ such that the structural maps fit into the commutative diagrams

$$\begin{array}{ccc}A^\alpha & \stackrel{\rho ^\alpha }{}& A^\alpha k[G^\alpha ]\\ i& & res\chi & & \\ A& \stackrel{\rho }{}& Ak[G]\end{array}$$

and

$$\begin{array}{ccc}A^\alpha A^\alpha & \stackrel{\mu ^\alpha }{}& A^\alpha \\ ii& & res& & \\ AA& \stackrel{\mu }{}& A\end{array}\begin{array}{ccc}k[G^\alpha ]A^\alpha & \stackrel{\phi ^\alpha }{}& A^\alpha \\ ss& & res& & \\ k[G]A& \stackrel{\phi }{}& A\end{array}$$

and all algebraic structures are compatible.

#### 4.3.2. Definition

We say that an $`H`$–Frobenius algebra $`B`$ is $`H`$ homogeneous if it is endowed with an additional left $`H`$–action $`\tau `$ which shifts group degree and is equivariant w.r.t. multiplication. More precisely the following two equations hold:

(4.10)
$$\tau (h)(A_h^{})A_{h,h^{}},\tau (h)(ab)=a\tau (h)(b)$$

It is standard to see that

#### 4.3.3. Remark

With the notation as above, the left action $`\tau `$ of $`H`$ on $`B`$ is necessarily by isomorphisms and thus $`B`$ is a special $`H`$–Frobenius algebra whose components are all isomorphic. Moreover $`B`$ is Galois as a $`k[H]`$–comodule over $`B_e`$.

#### 4.3.4. Definition

Given a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra $`A`$, an $`H`$–homogeneous $`H`$–Frobenius algebra $`B`$ and a cocycle $`\alpha Z^2(G,H)`$ we define the crossed product of $`A`$ and $`B`$ to be the $`G^\alpha `$–Frobenius algebra

(4.11)
$$A\mathrm{\#}_\alpha B:=G^\alpha ,AB,\mathrm{\#}_\alpha ^{},11,\eta \eta ^{},\phi \mathrm{\#}_ϵ\phi ^{},\chi \chi ^{}$$

Where

(4.12)
$$(a_gb_h)\mathrm{\#}_\alpha ^{}(c_g^{}d_h^{})=a_gc_g^{}\tau (\alpha (g,g^{}))b_hd_h^{}$$

and

(4.13)
$$\phi \mathrm{\#}_ϵ\phi ^{}(g,h)(a_g^{}b_h^{})=\phi _g(a_g^{})\tau (\alpha (g,g^{})\alpha (gg^{},g^1))\phi _h(b_h^{})$$

We leave it to the reader to verify all axioms, since it is analogous to previous calculations.

#### 4.3.5. Quantum symmetry group

The postulated second left action by translation $`\tau `$ can be viewed as the quantum symmetry group postulated by physicists. Notice that it acts freely. The invariants are linearly isomorphic to $`A_gB_{e_H}`$ where $`e_H`$ is the unit element of $`H`$.

#### 4.3.6. Lemma

The linear map above induces an isomorphism

$${}_{}{}^{H_\tau }(A\mathrm{\#}_\alpha B)\underset{gG}{}(A_gB_{e_H})$$

as $`G`$–Frobenius algebras with trivial action on the second factor.

Here we denoted the invariants under the action of $`H`$ by $`\tau `$ by $`^{H_\tau }`$.

#### 4.3.7. Definition

Fix $`\chi \mathrm{Hom}(H,k^{})`$ then there is a natural map from $`B`$ to $`B_e`$ given by $`\tau (h)b_e\chi (h)b_e`$. This map induces a map

$$A\mathrm{\#}_\alpha B\underset{gG}{}(A_gB_{e_H})$$

which induces a structure of $`G`$–Frobenius algebra on $`_{gG}(A_gB_{e_H})`$, the $`G`$–action on the second factor being trivial. We define

$$(A\mathrm{\#}_\alpha B)^\chi $$

to be this $`G`$–Frobenius algebra.

It is easy to check that the following holds:

#### 4.3.8. Lemma

Keeping the notation above, let $`[\alpha ^{}]=Tra_{[\alpha ]}(\chi )`$ and more precisely on the level of cocycles let $`\alpha ^{}(g,g^{})=\chi \alpha (g,g^{})`$.

Then

$$(A\mathrm{\#}_\alpha B)^\chi \left((A_gB_{e_H})\right)_\alpha ^{}$$

#### 4.3.9. Definition

Given a cocycle $`\alpha Z^2(G,H)`$, a central extension $`G^\alpha `$ of $`G`$ by $`H`$ and a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra $`A`$ we define $`A^\alpha `$ to be the $`G^\alpha `$–Frobenius algebra

$$A^\alpha :=A\mathrm{\#}_\alpha k[H]$$

#### 4.3.10. Theorem

Given a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra $`A`$ and cocycles $`\alpha Z^2(G,k^{}),\alpha ^{}Z^2(G,H)`$ which are related by $`\chi \mathrm{Hom}(G,k^{})`$ via $`\alpha (g,g^{})=\chi (\alpha ^{}(g,g^{}))`$.

Then the twist $`A_\alpha `$ of $`A`$ lifts to the $`G^\alpha ^{}`$–Frobenius algebra $`A^\alpha ^{}`$ and moreover

$$(A^\alpha )^\chi A_\alpha $$

Finally if $`G^{}`$ is the universal extension of $`G`$ whose cocycle is $`\beta H^2(G,H^2(G,k^{}))`$ then any twist $`A_\alpha `$ of a $`G`$–Frobenius algebra $`A`$ lifts to $`A^\beta `$.

Proof. Choose a section $`s`$ of the extension yielding $`\alpha `$. We denote the unit element of $`H`$ by $`e_H`$ and denote $`s(g)`$ by $`e_Hg`$. We let $`i:A_gA_{e_Hg}^\alpha ^{}`$ be the map given by $`A_gA_gke_H:a_ga_ge_H`$ and define $`res:A_{hg}^\alpha ^{}A_gke_HA_g`$ to be the map $`a_ge_H\chi (h)a_g`$.

Then

$$\begin{array}{c}(res\chi )(\rho ^\alpha ^{}(i(a_g)))=(res\chi )(\rho ^\alpha ^{}(a_ge_H))\hfill \\ \hfill =(res\chi )(a_ge_H)(e_Hg)=a_gg\end{array}$$

which assures the comodule algebra structure.

$$\chi (\mu ^\alpha ((ii)(a_gb_g^{})))=\chi (a_gb_g^{}\alpha (g,g^{})gg^{})=\alpha (g,h)a_gb_g^{}$$

since $`A_{e_Hg}A_{e_Hg^{}}A_{\alpha (g,g^{})gg^{}}`$ which assures the algebra structure.

$$\chi \phi (ss)(ga_h)=\chi \phi ((e_HgA_{e_Hg^{}}))=ϵ(g,g^{})\phi _g(a_g^{})$$

which assures the module algebra structure, since $`\phi _{e_Hg}(A_{e_Hh})A_{ϵ^{}(g,h)gh}`$, where we set

$$ϵ^{}(g,g^{})=\frac{\alpha ^{}(g,h)}{\alpha ^{}(ghg^1,g)}$$

to be the cocycle of the adjoint action. Then by 1.3.2

$$\chi (ϵ^{}(g,g^{}))=ϵ(g,g^{})$$

For the last statement notice that (cf. e.g. \[Kar\])

$$k[G^{}]=\underset{\alpha T}{}k[G^\alpha ]$$

where $`T`$ is a transversal for $`B^2(G,k^{})`$ in $`Z^2(G,k^{})`$. So $`A^\beta _{\alpha T}A^\alpha `$ and we can lift to the appropriate component.


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# Spinning particles in gravitational wave spacetime

## 1 Introduction

The dynamics of particles in curved spacetime has been an important part of the theories of gravitation. The dynamics of test particles, i.e., particles without any internal structure was studied in the early stages of the development of general relativity. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the problem of motion of spinning particles (some references may be found in ).

Rietdijk and van Holten  has obtained a general set of equations of the symmetries of the spinning particles in an arbitrary curved spacetime. Similar equations has been obtained in  from a more general action. These equations constitutes a Grassmann valued extension of the Killing equations for the symmetries of the spacetime manifold. These ideas was further investigated in  and was applied to the case of Schwarzschild spacetime in  and to Reissner-Nordstrom spacetime in . The canonical structure of the theory and the equivalent Dirac formulation of the quantum theory has been derived in . Equations for the world-line deviations of spinning particles was obtained in .

The aim of the present paper is to study the motion of spinning particles in the spacetime of an exact plane gravitational wave following the ideas presented in the references mentioned above. This problem has been studied previously in the framework of Papapetrou-Dixon description of spinning particles in  and . In  a linearized version of Papapetrou-Dixon equations was applied to the case of a weak plane gravitational wave of arbitrary polarization and harmonic profile. In  a linearly polarized wave of arbitrary profile (and in particular, a square gravitational wave pulse) was considered and a set of exact solutions was presented in some rather special circumstances. The general solution of those equations could only be found numerically, of course.

There is a simpler version of Papapetrou-Dixon equations. This is basically obtained by replacing the usual supplementary condition $`ps=0`$ by the so called Pirani supplementary condition $`vs=0`$. A similar calculation has been performed along the lines of , but using Pirani condition instead . It led to conclusions very close to those of .

In this paper we find the general solution for motion of spinning particles in the spacetime of an exact plane gravitational wave. We use only two of the generic constants of motion, namely the Hamiltonian and the supercharge. The results may be considered as a generalized alternative to the results of  and . The solutions we present here, give more physical insight into the behaviour of spinning particles and may be of interest in the important problem of the detection of gravitational waves. In the subsequent sections we first give brief reviews of spinning particles and gravitational waves and then solve the equations of motion exactly, next we study the world-line deviations of spinning particles and finally present our physical conclusions. An appendix is devoted to the small-$`h`$ limit of the particle’s trajectory and the evolution of its spin.

## 2 Spinning particles

The equations of motion of a classical fermion may be obtained from the action

$$S=m𝑑\tau (\frac{1}{2}g_{\mu \nu }(x)\dot{x}^\mu \dot{x}^\nu +\frac{i}{2m}g_{\mu \nu }(x)\psi ^\mu \frac{D\psi ^\nu }{D\tau }),$$
(1)
$`x^\mu `$ being commuting and $`\psi ^\mu `$ anticommuting variables with $`\mu ,\nu ,\mathrm{}`$ running over the dimensions of the spacetime. The above action will lead to the following equations of motion

$`{\displaystyle \frac{D^2x^\mu }{D\tau ^2}}`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{i}{2m}}R_{}^{\mu }{}_{\nu \lambda \rho }{}^{}\dot{x}^\nu \psi ^\lambda \psi ^\rho ,`$ (2)
$`{\displaystyle \frac{D\psi ^\mu }{D\tau }}`$ $`=`$ $`0,`$ (3)
where $`\frac{D^2x^\mu }{D\tau ^2}:=\ddot{x}^\mu +\mathrm{\Gamma }_{}^{\mu }{}_{\lambda \nu }{}^{}\dot{x}^\lambda \dot{x}^\nu `$, $`\frac{D\psi ^\mu }{D\tau }:=\dot{\psi }^\mu +\dot{x}^\lambda \mathrm{\Gamma }_{}^{\mu }{}_{\lambda \nu }{}^{}\psi ^\nu `$, a dot denotes $`\frac{d}{d\tau }`$, and $`R_{}^{\nu }{}_{\kappa \lambda \mu }{}^{}:=_\lambda \mathrm{\Gamma }_{\kappa \mu }^\nu _\mu \mathrm{\Gamma }_{\kappa \lambda }^\nu +\mathrm{\Gamma }_{\lambda \rho }^\nu \mathrm{\Gamma }_{\kappa \mu }^\rho \mathrm{\Gamma }_{\mu \rho }^\nu \mathrm{\Gamma }_{\kappa \lambda }^\rho `$ is the Riemann curvature tensor.

There are four types of generic (i.e. existing in any spacetime) conserved quantities connected with the action (1). These are the Hamiltonian $`H`$ ,the supercharge $`Q`$, the dual supercharge $`Q^{}`$, and the chiral charge $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_{}`$, given respectively by

$`H`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2m}}g^{\mu \nu }(x)p_\mu p_\nu ={\displaystyle \frac{m}{2}}g^{\mu \nu }(x)\dot{x}_\mu \dot{x}_\nu ,`$ (4)
$`Q`$ $`=`$ $`p_\mu \psi ^\mu ,`$ (5)
$`Q^{}`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{3!}}\sqrt{g}ϵ_{\mu \nu \kappa \lambda }p^\mu \psi ^\nu \psi ^\kappa \psi ^\lambda ,`$ (6)
$`\mathrm{\Gamma }_{}`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{4!}}\sqrt{g}ϵ_{\mu \nu \kappa \lambda }\psi ^\mu \psi ^\nu \psi ^\kappa \psi ^\lambda ,`$ (7)
The relativistic spin of the particle is described by the antisymmetric tensor

$$s^{\mu \nu }=i\psi ^\mu \psi ^\nu ,$$
(8)
whose spacelike components $`s^{ij}`$ represent the particle’s magnetic dipole moment and the timelike components $`s^{0i}`$ correspond to the electric dipole moment. For free Dirac particles we require the dipole moment to vanish in the rest frame. Hence we set

$$g_{\mu \lambda }(x)\dot{x}^\lambda s^{\mu \nu }=0,$$
(9)
or equivalently

$$g_{\mu \nu }(x)\dot{x}^\mu \psi ^\nu =0,$$
(10)
That is $`Q=0`$. The conservation of $`Q`$ guarantees that this condition can be satisfied at all times irrespective of the presence of external fields.

We may recast Eqs. (2) and (3) in terms of $`s^{\mu \nu }`$ as follows

$`{\displaystyle \frac{D^2x^\mu }{D\tau ^2}}`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2m}}R_{\nu \lambda \rho }^\mu \dot{x}^\nu s^{\lambda \rho },`$ (11)
$`{\displaystyle \frac{Ds^{\mu \nu }}{D\tau }}`$ $`=`$ $`0.`$ (12)
where $`\frac{Ds^{\mu \nu }}{D\tau }:=\dot{s}^{\mu \nu }+\mathrm{\Gamma }_{\kappa \lambda }^\mu \dot{x}^\kappa s^{\lambda \nu }+\mathrm{\Gamma }_{\kappa \lambda }^\nu \dot{x}^\kappa s^{\mu \lambda }.`$ The particle’s spin may also be represented via a spin four-vector given by

$$s^\mu :=\frac{1}{2\sqrt{g}}ϵ^{\mu \nu \kappa \lambda }\dot{x}_\nu s_{\kappa \lambda }.$$
(13)
In general relativity, only relative acceleration has an observer- independent meaning. The relative acceleration of two nearby particles can be determined by measuring the rate at which the particles world-lines deviate from each other. The world-line deviation equations are given by

$`{\displaystyle \frac{D^2n^\mu }{D\tau ^2}}`$ $`=`$ $`R_{}^{\mu }{}_{\kappa \lambda \nu }{}^{}\dot{x}^\kappa \dot{x}^\nu n^\lambda {\displaystyle \frac{1}{2m}}s^{ab}R_{}^{\mu }{}_{\nu ab}{}^{}{\displaystyle \frac{Dn^\nu }{D\tau }}`$ (14)
$``$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2m}}(s^{ab}_\lambda R_{}^{\mu }{}_{\nu ab}{}^{}\dot{x}^\nu n^\lambda +J^{ab}R_{}^{\mu }{}_{\nu ab}{}^{}\dot{x}^\nu ),`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{DJ^{\mu \nu }}{D\tau }}`$ $`=`$ $`s^{\kappa [\mu }R_{}^{\nu ]}{}_{\kappa \alpha \beta }{}^{}n^\alpha \dot{x}^\beta ,`$ (15)
where $`_\lambda R_{}^{\mu }{}_{\nu \kappa \rho }{}^{}=_\lambda R_{}^{\mu }{}_{\nu \kappa \rho }{}^{}+\mathrm{\Gamma }_{}^{\mu }{}_{\lambda \beta }{}^{}R_{}^{\beta }{}_{\nu \kappa \rho }{}^{}\mathrm{\Gamma }_{}^{\beta }{}_{\nu \lambda }{}^{}R_{}^{\mu }{}_{\beta \kappa \rho }{}^{}\mathrm{\Gamma }_{}^{\beta }{}_{\kappa \lambda }{}^{}R_{}^{\mu }{}_{\nu \beta \rho }{}^{}\mathrm{\Gamma }_{}^{\beta }{}_{\rho \lambda }{}^{}R_{}^{\mu }{}_{\nu \kappa \beta }{}^{}`$ and $`n^\mu ,J^{ab}`$ are defined for a one-parameter congruence of solutions $`(x^\mu (\tau ;\lambda ),\psi (\tau ;\lambda ))`$ to (2) and (3) as follows

$`n^\mu ={\displaystyle \frac{x^\mu }{\lambda }},J^{ab}={\displaystyle \frac{Ds^{ab}}{D\lambda }}.`$
Equations (14)-(15) are generalization of the well-known equation of geodesic deviation. The first term in the r.h.s of (14) represents the usual effect of the spacetime curvature on the deviations of world-lines, and the other terms are due to the spin-curvature coupling. These equations may be derived by a procedure similar to the derivation of the equation of geodesic deviation, or by alternative methods .

In the next section we seek solutions to Eqs. (9), (11), (12) and(14),(15) in a gravitational wave spacetime.

## 3 Plane gravitational waves

The most general plane-fronted parallel-rays gravitational wave is given by the metric

$$ds^2=dudv+F(u,x^a)du^2+dx^adx^a,$$
(16)
where $`(u,v)`$ are null coordinates, $`x^a`$ are spacelike transverse coordinates, and $`F(u,x^a)`$ is a solution of the two-dimensional Laplace equation with respect to $`x^a`$. Plane gravitational waves are the particular case where $`F`$ is quadratic in $`x^a`$. Here we consider a wave given by the metric

$$ds^2=dudvK(u,x,y)du^2+dx^2+dy^2,$$
(17)
where $`K(u,x,y)=f_+(u)(x^2y^2)+2f_\times (u)xy`$. The arbitrary functions $`f_+`$ and $`f_\times `$ corresponding to two independent polarisations of the wave. We consider a wave of harmonic profile (suitably chosen to reduce to the metric given in  in the weak field limit, in the so called group coordinates)

$`f_+(u)`$ $`=`$ $`h\omega ^2\mathrm{sin}(\omega u),`$ (18)
$`f_\times (u)`$ $`=`$ $`h\omega ^2\mathrm{cos}(\omega u),`$ (19)
$`h`$ being the dimensionless wave amplitude.

## 4 The particle’s trajectory and spin

In this section we seek solutions to Eqs. (9) and (11)- (13) together with (17) and suitable initial conditions. $`\mu =1,2,3,4`$ correspond to $`u,v,x,y`$ respectively. From Eq. (12) we have

$`{\displaystyle \frac{ds^{13}}{d\tau }}`$ $`=`$ $`0,`$ (20)
$`{\displaystyle \frac{ds^{14}}{d\tau }}`$ $`=`$ $`0,`$ (21)
$`{\displaystyle \frac{ds^{34}}{d\tau }}`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}K_x\dot{u}s^{14}+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}K_y\dot{u}s^{13}.`$ (22)
The three remaining $`s^{\mu \nu }`$ may be found from Eq. (9) with $`\nu =1,3,4`$

$`\dot{u}s^{12}`$ $`=`$ $`2\dot{x}s^{13}+2\dot{y}s^{14},`$ (23)
$`\dot{u}s^{23}`$ $`=`$ $`(\dot{v}+2K\dot{u})s^{13}2\dot{y}s^{34},`$ (24)
$`\dot{u}s^{24}`$ $`=`$ $`(\dot{v}+2K\dot{u})s^{14}+2\dot{x}s^{34},.`$ (25)
From Eq. (11) we obtain

$`{\displaystyle \frac{d^2u}{d\tau ^2}}`$ $`=`$ $`0,`$ (26)
$`{\displaystyle \frac{d^2x}{d\tau ^2}}`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2m}}K_{xx}\dot{u}s^{13}{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}K_x\dot{u}^2,`$ (27)
$`{\displaystyle \frac{d^2y}{d\tau ^2}}`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2m}}K_{yy}\dot{u}s^{14}{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}K_y\dot{u}^2,.`$ (28)
The other component of the trajectory may be found by considering $`H=\frac{m}{2}`$ from which, Eq. (4) results in

$$\dot{v}=\frac{1}{\dot{u}}(1K+\dot{x}^2+\dot{y}^2),$$
(29)
We fix the gauge such that the solution to Eq. (26) takes the following form

$$u=\tau .$$
(30)
Also Eqs. (20)-(21) result respectively in

$`s^{13}(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`\text{c}onstant=\alpha ,`$ (31)
$`s^{14}(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`\text{c}onstant=\beta .`$ (32)
So Eqs. (27)-(28) become

$`\ddot{x}`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{\alpha }{m}}h\omega ^2\mathrm{sin}(\omega \tau )h\omega ^2\mathrm{sin}(\omega \tau )xh\omega ^2\mathrm{cos}(\omega \tau )y,`$ (33)
$`\ddot{y}`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{\beta }{m}}h\omega ^2\mathrm{sin}(\omega \tau )h\omega ^2\mathrm{cos}(\omega \tau )x+h\omega ^2\mathrm{cos}(\omega \tau )y,`$ (34)
respectively. With $`\zeta =x+iy`$ and $`c=\alpha i\beta `$ the solution to the above system of coupled differential equations is

$`\zeta (\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{\overline{c}}{2m}}+{\displaystyle \frac{2ihc}{m(4h^2)}}e^{i\omega \tau }+{\displaystyle \frac{\overline{c}h^2}{2m(4h^2)}}e^{2i\omega \tau }+pe^{ia\omega \tau }`$ (35)
$`+`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{ih}{(1+a)^2}}\overline{p}e^{i(1+a)\omega \tau }+qe^{ib\omega \tau }+{\displaystyle \frac{ih}{(1+b)^2}}\overline{q}e^{i(1+b)\omega \tau },`$
where $`a=\frac{1+\sqrt{1+4h}}{2}`$, $`b=\frac{1+\sqrt{14h}}{2}`$ with $`p,q`$ constants determined by initial conditions, and overbar denoting complex conjugation. For $`h\frac{1}{4}`$ both $`x`$ and $`y`$ components contain $`\mathrm{sin}`$ and $`\mathrm{cos}`$ terms only, resulting in a combined oscillation in the $`xy`$ plane. For $`h>\frac{1}{4}`$ exponential terms appear in both $`x`$ and $`y`$. In this case oscillatory terms are modulated by either exponentially decreasing or increasing terms and the resulting motion differs significantly from the previous type. We do not investigate this type of motion here.

It is also interesting to find expressions for the Grassmannian variables $`\psi ^\mu `$. Using Eqs. (3), (10), and (17) we obtain

$`\psi ^1(\tau )`$ $`=`$ a constant Grassmannian (36)
$`\psi ^2(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`\psi ^1(2K{\displaystyle \frac{\dot{v}}{\dot{u}}}+{\displaystyle \frac{2\dot{x}}{\dot{u}}}f(\tau )+{\displaystyle \frac{2\dot{y}}{\dot{u}}}g(\tau ))`$ (37)
$`\psi ^3(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`\psi ^1f(\tau )`$ (38)
$`\psi ^4(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`\psi ^1g(\tau )`$ (39)
where $`f(\tau )`$ and $`g(\tau )`$ are solutions to $`df(\tau )/d\tau =1/2K_x\dot{u}`$ and $`dg(\tau )/d\tau =1/2K_y\dot{u}`$ respectively. The immediate result of these expressions is the vanishing of the dual supercharge and the chiral charge:

$$Q^{}=\mathrm{\Gamma }_{}=0$$

Having the exact solution to Eqs. (20)-(21) and (26)-(28), it is now straightforward to find solutions to Eqs. (22)-(25) and (29). So we have found in principal the exact solutions to the equations for the trajectory and the spin of the particle. The resulting expressions are algebraically involved. To get physical insight into the nature of the resulting solutions, one may use a weak field limit of the solutions. We have gathered in the appendix some of the linearized solutions.

## 5 The world-line deviations

From (17) and (15) we obtain

$`{\displaystyle \frac{dJ^{13}}{d\tau }}={\displaystyle \frac{dJ^{14}}{d\tau }}=0`$
whose solutions are

$`J^{13}(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`\text{constant}=ϵ,`$ (40)
$`J^{14}(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`\text{constant}=\delta .`$ (41)
Equations (14) results in

$$\frac{d^2n^1}{d\tau ^2}=0$$
(42)
One may choose the following solution to the above equation

$$n^1(\tau )=0$$
(43)
Now inserting the above relations in equations (14) we get

$`{\displaystyle \frac{d^2n^3(\tau )}{d\tau ^2}}`$ $`=`$ $`+h\omega ^2\mathrm{sin}(\omega \tau )n^3(\tau )+{\displaystyle \frac{ϵ}{m}}h\omega ^2\mathrm{sin}(\omega \tau ),`$ (44)
$`{\displaystyle \frac{d^2n^4(\tau )}{d\tau ^2}}`$ $`=`$ $`h\omega ^2\mathrm{sin}(\omega \tau )n^4(\tau ){\displaystyle \frac{\delta }{m}}h\omega ^2\mathrm{sin}(\omega \tau ).`$ (45)
The other component, $`n^2(\tau )`$ may be obtained from the condition $`\dot{x}\frac{Dn}{D\tau }=0`$. An approximate solution to (44) and (45) is

$`n^3(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`A+h(({\displaystyle \frac{ϵ}{m}}A)(\omega \tau \mathrm{sin}(\omega \tau ))),`$ (46)
$`n^4(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`B+h(({\displaystyle \frac{\delta }{m}}+B)(\omega \tau \mathrm{sin}(\omega \tau ))),`$ (47)
in which $`A,B`$ denote the initial separations of the two spinning particles at rest near the origin of the coordinates with the same $`\frac{ϵ}{m}`$ and $`\frac{\delta }{m}`$. These show how the relative accelerations of spinning particles depend on the spin. The terms independent of the spin are due to the usual tidal force.

## 6 Discussion

The projection of the particle’s trajectory onto the $`xy`$ plane is given by (35). This is depicted for a particle initially at rest at the origin in Fig.1 for some set of the parameters. As the figure shows the path is an ellipse with a slow precession. The dimensions of this ellipse depend on the particles’s spin. For a given frequency, this precession gets slower for smaller values of $`h`$.

Using a weak field approximation (see the appendix) give some insight into the nature of the exact solution we found. Let us examine the trajectory and spin of the particle in some rather special situations. For a particle at rest at the origin of coordinates at $`\tau =0`$ (which we consider as the time in which the wave arrives), if the initial orientation of the spin is chosen to be $`\alpha =\beta =0`$, and $`\gamma 0`$ then

$$(u(\tau ),v(\tau ),x(\tau ),y(\tau ))=(\tau ,\tau ,0,0),$$
(48)
that is the particle remains at rest at the initial coordinates, and

$$(s^1(\tau ),s^2(\tau ),s^3(\tau ),s^4(\tau ))=(\gamma ,\gamma ,0,0),$$
(49)
its spin remains unchanged. These are in agreement with the results of  and .

For $`\gamma =0`$ and $`\alpha 0`$, $`\beta 0`$, the particle’s trajectory is

$`x(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{\alpha }{2m}}{\displaystyle \frac{h\alpha }{m}}\mathrm{sin}(\omega \tau )+{\displaystyle \frac{\alpha }{m}}\mathrm{sin}(h\omega \tau ){\displaystyle \frac{\alpha }{2m}}\mathrm{cos}(h\omega \tau ),`$ (50)
$`y(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{\beta }{2m}}+{\displaystyle \frac{h\beta }{m}}\mathrm{sin}(\omega \tau ){\displaystyle \frac{\beta }{m}}\mathrm{sin}(h\omega \tau ){\displaystyle \frac{\beta }{2m}}\mathrm{cos}(h\omega \tau ),`$ (51)
$`v(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`\tau .`$ (52)
and its spin is

$`s^1(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{2h\omega }{m}}\alpha \beta (1\mathrm{cos}(\omega \tau )),`$ (53)
$`s^2(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{2h\omega }{m}}\alpha \beta (1\mathrm{cos}(\omega \tau )),`$ (54)
$`s^3(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`\beta ,`$ (55)
$`s^4(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`\alpha .`$ (56)
It is now clear from Eqs. (50)-(52) that the particle’s displacement along the direction of the wave propagation ($`z=\frac{vu}{2}`$) is much smaller ($`O(h^2)`$) than its displacement in the transverse plane, even though this transverse displacement is practically very small ($`O(h)`$) itself. This is similar to the behaviour of spinless particles.

For general initial spin orientation ($`\alpha 0,\beta 0,\gamma 0`$), the transverse components of the particle’s spin have oscillations of very small amplitudes (of the order of $`h`$) around their initial orientation. The component of the spin parallel to the direction of the wave propagation $`s_z=\frac{s^2s^1}{2}`$ remains unaffected, again in agreement with .

The relative acceleration of two nearby spinning particles is given by (46) and (47). They show that the relative acceleration oscillates with the frequency of the wave.

As argued in  we may recover Eqs. (9) and (11) -(12) from the so called Papapetrou-Dixon equations by neglecting the terms quadratic in spin. On the other hand, as we saw in our calculations above, the contribution from spin are usually small. Thus it seems neglecting the very small contributions from terms quadratic in spin makes no significant loss of physical content. Hence in the lack of exact solutions to Papapetrou-Dixon equations in gravitational wave spacetime, our results may be generalized to them as well (at least in spacetime regions far from the strong sources of these waves).

acknowledgment

I would like to thank the research council of the Payame Noor University for partial financial support.

## appendix

In this appendix we gather some linearized solutions for the particles trajectory and spin. Putting $`\zeta (0)=\dot{\zeta }(0)=0`$, Eq. (35) reduces to first order in $`h`$ to

$`\zeta (\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{\overline{c}}{2m}}+{\displaystyle \frac{ihc}{2m}}e^{i\omega \tau }{\displaystyle \frac{ihc}{2m}}e^{i\omega \tau }{\displaystyle \frac{\overline{c}+2ic}{4m}}e^{ih\omega \tau }+{\displaystyle \frac{2ic\overline{c}}{4m}}e^{ih\omega \tau },`$ (57)
or equivalently

$`x(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{\alpha }{2m}}{\displaystyle \frac{h\alpha }{m}}\mathrm{sin}(\omega \tau )+{\displaystyle \frac{\alpha }{m}}\mathrm{sin}(h\omega \tau ){\displaystyle \frac{\alpha }{2m}}\mathrm{cos}(h\omega \tau ),`$ (58)
$`y(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{\beta }{2m}}+{\displaystyle \frac{h\beta }{m}}\mathrm{sin}(\omega \tau ){\displaystyle \frac{\beta }{m}}\mathrm{sin}(h\omega \tau ){\displaystyle \frac{\beta }{2m}}\mathrm{cos}(h\omega \tau ).`$ (59)
Thus from Eq. (29) we obtain (with $`v(0)=0`$)

$`v(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`\tau +O(h^2).`$ (60)
Eq. (30) and (58)-(60) determine the particle’s trajectory. From Eq. (22) we obtain

$`s^{34}(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`\gamma `$ (61)
where $`\gamma `$ is a constant of integration.

We may now put Eqs. (31)-(32) and (61) into (23)-(25) to find the other components of $`s^{\mu \nu }`$. The results may be fed into (13) (with $`ϵ^{1234}=+1`$) to give $`s^\mu `$

$`s^1(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{2h\omega }{m}}\alpha \beta (1\mathrm{cos}(\omega \tau ))\gamma ,`$ (62)
$`s^2(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{2h\omega }{m}}\alpha \beta (1\mathrm{cos}(\omega \tau ))+\gamma ,`$ (63)
$`s^3(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`\beta {\displaystyle \frac{h\omega }{m}}\alpha \gamma (1\mathrm{cos}(\omega \tau )),`$ (64)
$`s^4(\tau )`$ $`=`$ $`\alpha {\displaystyle \frac{h\omega }{m}}\beta \gamma (1\mathrm{cos}(\omega \tau )),.`$ (65)