2,224 research outputs found
On the Implementation of Constraints through Projection Operators
Quantum constraints of the type Q \psi = 0 can be straightforwardly
implemented in cases where Q is a self-adjoint operator for which zero is an
eigenvalue. In that case, the physical Hilbert space is obtained by projecting
onto the kernel of Q, i.e. H_phys = ker(Q) = ker(Q*). It is, however,
nontrivial to identify and project onto H_phys when zero is not in the point
spectrum but instead is in the continuous spectrum of Q, because in this case
the kernel of Q is empty.
Here, we observe that the topology of the underlying Hilbert space can be
harmlessly modified in the direction perpendicular to the constraint surface in
such a way that Q becomes non-self-adjoint. This procedure then allows us to
conveniently obtain H_phys as the proper Hilbert subspace H_phys = ker(Q*), on
which one can project as usual. In the simplest case, the necessary change of
topology amounts to passing from an L^2 Hilbert space to a Sobolev space.Comment: 22 pages, LaTe
On Hamiltonian formulation of the Einstein-Hilbert action in two dimensions
It is shown that the well-known triviality of the Einstein field equations in
two dimensions is not a sufficient condition for the Einstein-Hilbert action to
be a total divergence, if the general covariance is to be preserved, that is, a
coordinate system is not fixed. Consequently, a Hamiltonian formulation is
possible without any modification of the two dimensional Einstein-Hilbert
action. We find the resulting constraints and the corresponding gauge
transfromations of the metric tensor.Comment: 9 page
Very Light Cosmological Scalar Fields from a Tiny Cosmological Constant
We discuss a mechanism which generates a mass term for a scalar field in an
expanding universe. The mass of this field turns out to be generated by the
cosmological constant and can be naturally small if protected by a conformal
symmetry which is however broken in the gravitational sector. The mass is
comparable today to the Hubble time. This scalar field could thus impact our
universe today and for example be at the origin of a time variation of the
couplings and masses of the parameters of the standard model.Comment: 11 page
Dynamical Generation of Spacetime Signature by Massive Quantum Fields on a Topologically Non-Trivial Background
The effective potential for a dynamical Wick field (dynamical signature)
induced by the quantum effects of massive fields on a topologically non-trivial
dimensional background is considered. It is shown that when the radius of
the compactified dimension is very small compared with (where
is a proper-time cutoff), a flat metric with Lorentzian signature is
preferred on . When the compactification radius
becomes larger a careful analysis of the 1-loop effective potential indicates
that a Lorentzian signature is preferred in both and and that these
results are relatively stable under metrical perturbations
On Quantization of Time-Dependent Systems with Constraints
The Dirac method of canonical quantization of theories with second class
constraints has to be modified if the constraints depend on time explicitly. A
solution of the problem was given by Gitman and Tyutin. In the present work we
propose an independent way to derive the rules of quantization for these
systems, starting from physical equivalent theory with trivial
non-stationarity.Comment: 4 page
Dirac quantization of free motion on curved surfaces
We give an explicit operator realization of Dirac quantization of free
particle motion on a surface of codimension 1. It is shown that the Dirac
recipe is ambiguous and a natural way of fixing this problem is proposed. We
also introduce a modification of Dirac procedure which yields zero quantum
potential. Some problems of abelian conversion quantization are pointed out.Comment: 16 page
Canonical and D-transformations in Theories with Constraints
A class class of transformations in a super phase space (we call them
D-transformations) is described, which play in theories with second-class
constraints the role of ordinary canonical transformations in theories without
constraints.Comment: 16 pages, LaTe
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