spinweighted

Spin-weighted quantities are a concept used in theoretical physics, particularly in the study of general relativity and cosmology. They are related to fields that transform under the representation of the Lorentz group, specifically with a spin number. A quantity with spin weight $s$ transforms in a particular way under Lorentz transformations. The spin weight can be an integer or half-integer. For example, scalars have spin weight $s=0$, vectors have spin weight $s=1$ (when considered as antisymmetric tensors under rotation), and spinors have spin weight $s=1/2$.

The formalism of spin-weighted quantities allows for a unified treatment of various fields. For instance, derivatives of spin-weighted fields can be defined, such as the 'd-operator' and the 'bar-d-operator', which act on a spin-weighted quantity of weight $s$ to produce a quantity of weight $s+1$ and $s-1$ respectively. These operators are essential for expressing the equations of motion for fields with different spin weights in a covariant manner.

Spin-weighted spherical harmonics are also important, serving as a basis for functions on the sphere that carry a specific spin weight. They find applications in the analysis of cosmological data, such as the cosmic microwave background radiation, and in the study of gravitational waves. The concept helps in organizing and simplifying complex calculations involving fields with different spin properties in curved spacetime.