Effect of symmetry in the many-particle Wigner funcion

An analysis of the Wigner function for identical particles is presented. Four situations have been considered. (i) The first is scattering process between two indistinguishable particles described by a minimum uncertainty wave packets showing the exchange and correlation effects in Wigner phase space. (ii) An equilibrium ensemble of N particles in a one-dimensional box and in a one-dimensional harmonic potential is considered second, showing that the reduced one-particle Wigner function, as a function of the energy defined in the Wigner phase space, tends to the Fermi-Dirac or to the Bose-Einstein distribution function, depending on the considered statistics. (iii) The third situation is reduced one-particle transport equation for the Wigner function, in the case of interacting particles, showing the need for the two-particle reduced Wigner function within the Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood-Yvon hierarchy scheme. (iv) Finally, the electron-phonon interaction in the two-particle case is considered, showing coparticipation of two electrons in the interaction with the phonon bath

Closed Strings in Misner Space: Stringy Fuzziness with a Twist

Misner space, also known as the Lorentzian orbifold $R^{1,1}/boost$, is the simplest tree-level solution of string theory with a cosmological singularity. We compute tree-level scattering amplitudes involving twisted states, using operator and current algebra techniques. We find that, due to zero-point quantum fluctuations of the excited modes, twisted strings with a large winding number $w$ are fuzzy on a scale $\sqrt{\log w}$, which can be much larger than the string scale. Wave functions are smeared by an operator $\exp(\Delta(\nu) \partial_+ \partial_-)$ reminiscent of the Moyal-product of non-commutative geometry, which, since $\Delta(\nu)$ is real, modulates the amplitude rather than the phase of the wave function, and is purely gravitational in its origin. We compute the scattering amplitude of two twisted states and one tachyon or graviton, and find a finite result. The scattering amplitude of two twisted and two untwisted states is found to diverge, due to the propagation of intermediate winding strings with vanishing boost momentum. The scattering amplitude of three twisted fields is computed by analytic continuation from three-point amplitudes of states with non-zero $p^+$ in the Nappi-Witten plane wave, and the non-locality of the three-point vertex is found to diverge for certain kinematical configurations. Our results for the three-point amplitudes allow in principle to compute, to leading order, the back-reaction on the metric due to a condensation of coherent winding strings.Comment: 29 pages, Latex2e, uses JHEP3.cls; v3: minor corrections, final version to appear in JCA

Computation with spin foam models of quantum gravity

The focus of this thesis is the study of spin foam models of quantum gravity on a computer. These models include the standard Barrett-Crane (BC) spin foam model, as well as the new Engle-Pereira-Rovelli (EPR) and Freidel-Krasnov (FK) models. New numerical algorithms are developed and implemented, based on the existing Christensen-Egan (CE) algorithm, to allow computations with the BC model in the presence of a cosmological constant (implemented through q-deformation) and to allow computations with the recently proposed EPR and FK models. For the first time, we show that the inclusion of a positive cosmological constant, a long standing open problem for spin foams, curiously changes the behavior of the BC model, rendering the expectation values of its observables discontinuous in the limit of zero cosmological constant. Also, unlike previous work, this investigation was carried out on large triangulations, which are closer to large semiclassical space-times. Efficient numerical algorithms are described and implemented, for the first time, allowing the evaluation of the EPR and FK spin foam vertex amplitudes. An initial application of these algorithms is the study of the effective single vertex large spin asymptotics of the new models. Their asymptotic behavior is found to be qualitatively similar to that of the BC model. The leading asymptotic behavior does not exhibit the oscillatory character expected by analogy with the Ponzano-Regge model. Two important tests of the spin foam semiclassical limit are wave packet prop­ agation and evaluation of the graviton propagator matrix elements. These tests are generalized to encompass the three major spin foam models. The wave packet prop­ agation test is carried out in greater generality than previously. The results indicate that conjectures about good semiclassical behavior of the new spin foam models may have been premature

Inelastic electron-vortex-beam scattering

Recent theoretical and experimental developments in the field of electron vortex beam physics have raised questions on what exactly this novelty in the field of electron microscopy (and other fields, such as particle physics) really provides. An important part in the answer to those questions lies in scattering theory. The present investigation explores various aspects of inelastic quantum scattering theory for cylindrically symmetric beams with orbital angular momentum. The model system of Coulomb scattering on a hydrogen atom provides the setting to address various open questions: How is momentum transferred? Do vortex beams selectively excite atoms, and how can one employ vortex beams to detect magnetic transitions? The analytical approach presented here provides answers to these questions. OAM transfer is possible, but not through selective excitation; rather, by pre- and post-selection one can filter out the relevant contributions to a specific signal

Computation with spin foam models of quantum gravity

The focus of this thesis is the study of spin foam models of quantum gravity on a computer. These models include the standard Barrett-Crane (BC) spin foam model, as well as the new Engle-Pereira-Rovelli (EPR) and Freidel-Krasnov (FK) models. New numerical algorithms are developed and implemented, based on the existing Christensen-Egan (CE) algorithm, to allow computations with the BC model in the presence of a cosmological constant (implemented through g-deformation) and to allow computations with the recently proposed EPR and FK models. For the first time, we show that the inclusion of a positive cosmological constant, a long standing open problem for spin foams, curiously changes the behavior of the BC model, rendering the expectation values of its observables discontinuous in the limit of zero cosmological constant. Also, unlike previous work, this investigation was carried out on large triangulations, which are closer to large semiclassical space-times. Efficient numerical algorithms are described and implemented, for the first time, allowing the evaluation of the EPR and FK spin foam vertex amplitudes. An initial application of these algorithms is the study of the effective single vertex large spin asymptotics of the new models. Their asymptotic behavior is found to be qualitatively similar to that of the BC model. The leading asymptotic behavior does not exhibit the oscillatory character expected by analogy with the Ponzano-Regge model. Two important tests of the spin foam semiclassical limit are wave packet propagation and evaluation of the graviton propagator matrix elements. These tests are generalized to encompass the three major spin foam models. The wave packet propagation test is carried out in greater generality than previously. The results indicate that conjectures about good semiclassical behavior of the new spin foam models may have been premature