Any compact group is a gauge group

The assignment of local observables in the vacuum sector, fulfilling the standard axioms of local quantum theory, is known to determine uniquely a compact group G of gauge transformations of the first kind together with a central involutive element k of G, and a complete normal algebra of fields carrying the localizable charges, on which k defines the Bose/Fermi grading. We show here that any such pair {G,k}, where G is compact metrizable, does actually appear. The corresponding model can be chosen to fulfill also the split property. This is not a dynamical phenomenon: a given {G,k} arises as the gauge group of a model where the local algebras of observables are a suitable subnet of local algebras of a possibly infinite product of free field theories.Comment: 13 pages, LaTeX. To appear on Reviews in Mathematical Physics. References added; minor changes in styl

Spacetime and Fields, a Quantum Texture

We report on joint work, past and in progress, with K.Fredenhagen and with J.E,Roberts, on the quantum structure of spacetime in the small which is dictated by the principles of Quantum Mechanics and of General Relativity; we comment on how these principles point to a deep link between coordinates and fields. This is an expanded version of a lecture delivered at the 37th Karpacz School in Theoretical Physics, February 2001.Comment: LaTeX, 15 pages. Misprints and wording corrected, references added; change in section 3. Related references: hep-th/0303037, hep-th/0201222, hep-th/030110

The Principle of Locality. Effectiveness, fate and challenges

The Special Theory of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics merge in the key principle of Quantum Field Theory, the Principle of Locality. We review some examples of its ``unreasonable effectiveness'' (which shows up best in the formulation of Quantum Field Theory in terms of operator algebras of local observables) in digging out the roots of Global Gauge Invariance in the structure of the local observable quantities alone, at least for purely massive theories; but to deal with the Principle of Local Gauge Invariance is still a problem in this frame. This problem emerges also if one attempts to figure out the fate of the Principle of Locality in theories describing the gravitational forces between elementary particles as well. Spacetime should then acquire a quantum structure at the Planck scale, and the Principle of Locality is lost. It is a crucial open problem to unravel a replacement in such theories which is equally mathematically sharp and reduces to the Principle of Locality at larger scales. Besides exploring its fate, many challenges for the Principle of Locality remain; among them, the analysis of Superselection Structure and Statistics also in presence of massless particles, and to give a precise mathematical formulation to the Measurement Process in local and relativistic terms; for which we outline a qualitative scenario which avoids the EPR Paradox.Comment: 36 pages. Survey partially based on a talk delivered at the Meeting "Algebraic Quantum Field Theory: 50 years", Goettingen, July 29-31, 2009, in honor of Detlev Buchholz. Submitted to Journal of Mathematical Physic

On Quantum Spacetime and the horizon problem

In the special case of a spherically symmetric solution of Einstein equations coupled to a scalar massless field, we examine the consequences on the exact solution imposed by a semiclassical treatment of gravitational interaction when the scalar field is quantized. In agreement with the work of Doplicher, Fredenhagen and Roberts (DFR), imposing the principle of gravitational stability against localization of events, we find that the region where an event is localized, or where initial conditions can be assigned, has a minimal extension, of the order of the Planck length. This conclusion, though limited to the case of spherical symmetry, is more general than that of DFR, since it does not require the use of the notion of energy through the Heisenberg Principle, nor of any approximation as the linearized Einstein equations. We shall then describe the influence of this minimal length scale in a cosmological model, namely a simple universe filled with radiation, which is effectively described by a conformally coupled scalar field in a conformal KMS state. Solving the backreaction, a power law inflation scenario appears close to the initial singularity. Furthermore, the initial singularity becomes light like and thus the standard horizon problem is avoided in this simple model. This indication goes in the same direction as those drawn at a heuristic level from a full use of the principle of gravitational stability against localization of events, which point to a background dependence of the effective Planck length, through which a-causal effects may be transmitted.Comment: 26 pages. v3: several discussions and clarifications added, misprints correcte

The C*-algebra of a Hilbert Bimodule

We regard a right Hilbert C*-module X over a C*-algebra A endowed with an isometric *-homomorphism \phi: A\to L_A(X) as an object X_A of the C*-category of right Hilbert A-modules. Following a construction by the first author and Roberts, we associate to it a C*-algebra O_{X_A} containing X as a ``Hilbert A-bimodule in O_{X_A}''. If X is full and finite projective O_{X_A} is the C*-algebra C*(X), the generalization of the Cuntz-Krieger algebras introduced by Pimsner. More generally, C*(X) is canonically embedded in O_{X_A} as the C*-subalgebra generated by X. Conversely, if X is full, O_{X_A} is canonically embedded in the bidual of C*(X). Moreover, regarding X as an object A_X_A of the C*-category of Hilbert A-bimodules, we associate to it a C*-subalgebra O_{A_X_A} of O_{X_A} commuting with A, on which X induces a canonical endomorphism \rho. We discuss conditions under which A and O_{A_X_A} are the relative commutant of each other and X is precisely the subspace of intertwiners in O_{X_A} between the identity and \rho on O_{A_X_A}. We also discuss conditions which imply the simplicity of C*(X) or of O_{X_A}; in particular, if X is finite projective and full, C*(X) will be simple if A is X-simple and the ``Connes spectrum'' of X is the circle.Comment: 22 pages, LaTe

Superselection Theory for Subsystems

An inclusion of observable nets satisfying duality induces an inclusion of canonical field nets. Any Bose net intermediate between the observable net and the field net and satisfying duality is the fixed-point net of the field net under a compact group. This compact group is its canonical gauge group if the occurrence of sectors with infinite statistics can be ruled out for the observable net and its vacuum Hilbert space is separable.Comment: 28 pages, LaTe

Pale Glares of Dark Matter in Quantum Spacetime

A U(1) gauge theory turns, on physically motivated models of Quantum Spacetime, into a U($\infty$) gauge theory, hence free classical electrodynamics is no longer free and neutral fields may have electromagnetic interactions. We discuss the last point for scalar fields, possibly describing dark matter; we have in mind the gravitational collapse of binary systems or future applications to self gravitating Bose-Einstein condensates as possible sources of evidence of quantum gravitational phenomena. The effects so far considered, however, seem too faint to be detectable at present.Comment: 14 page

Quantum Spacetime and Algebraic Quantum Field Theory

We review the investigations on the quantum structure of spactime, to be found at the Planck scale if one takes into account the operational limitations to localization of events which result from the concurrence of Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity. We also discuss the different approaches to (perturbative) Quantum Field Theory on Quantum Spacetime, and some of the possible cosmological consequences.Comment: 49 pages, 2 figure

The Measurement Process in Local Quantum Theory and the EPR Paradox

We describe in a qualitative way a possible picture of the Measurement Process in Quantum Mechanics, which takes into account: 1. the finite and non zero time duration T of the interaction between the observed system and the microscopic part of the measurement apparatus; 2. the finite space size R of that apparatus; 3. the fact that the macroscopic part of the measurement apparatus, having the role of amplifying the effect of that interaction to a macroscopic scale, is composed by a very large but finite number N of particles. The conventional picture of the measurement, as an instantaneous action turning a pure state into a mixture, arises only in the limit in which N and R tend to infinity, and T tends to 0. We sketch here a proposed scheme, which still ought to be made mathematically precise in order to analyse its implications and to test it in specific models, where we argue that in Quantum Field Theory this picture should apply to the unique time evolution expressing the dynamics of a given theory, and should comply with the Principle of Locality. We comment on the Einstein Podolski Rosen thought experiment (partly modifying the discussion on this point in an earlier version of this note), reformulated here only in terms of local observables (rather than global ones, as one particle or polarisation observables). The local picture of the measurement process helps to make it clear that there is no conflict with the Principle of Locality.Comment: 18 page

Quantum Field Theory on Quantum Spacetime

Condensed account of the Lectures delivered at the Meeting on {\it Noncommutative Geometry in Field and String Theory}, Corfu, September 18 - 20, 2005.Comment: 10 page