40 research outputs found
Operator product expansions as a consequence of phase space properties
The paper presents a model-independent, nonperturbative proof of operator
product expansions in quantum field theory. As an input, a recently proposed
phase space condition is used that allows a precise description of point field
structures. Based on the product expansions, we also define and analyze normal
products (in the sense of Zimmermann).Comment: v3: minor wording changes, as to appear in J. Math. Phys.; 12 page
Scaling algebras and pointlike fields: A nonperturbative approach to renormalization
We present a method of short-distance analysis in quantum field theory that
does not require choosing a renormalization prescription a priori. We set out
from a local net of algebras with associated pointlike quantum fields. The net
has a naturally defined scaling limit in the sense of Buchholz and Verch; we
investigate the effect of this limit on the pointlike fields. Both for the
fields and their operator product expansions, a well-defined limit procedure
can be established. This can always be interpreted in the usual sense of
multiplicative renormalization, where the renormalization factors are
determined by our analysis. We also consider the limits of symmetry actions. In
particular, for suitable limit states, the group of scaling transformations
induces a dilation symmetry in the limit theory.Comment: minor changes and clarifications; as to appear in Commun. Math.
Phys.; 37 page
A sharpened nuclearity condition for massless fields
A recently proposed phase space condition which comprises information about
the vacuum structure and timelike asymptotic behavior of physical states is
verified in massless free field theory. There follow interesting conclusions
about the momentum transfer of local operators in this model.Comment: 13 pages, LaTeX. As appeared in Letters in Mathematical Physic
Coincidence Arrangements of Local Observables and Uniqueness of the Vacuum in QFT
A new phase space criterion, encoding the physically motivated behavior of
coincidence arrangements of local observables, is proposed in this work. This
condition entails, in particular, uniqueness and purity of the energetically
accessible vacuum states. It is shown that the qualitative part of this new
criterion is equivalent to a compactness condition proposed in the literature.
Its novel quantitative part is verified in massive free field theory.Comment: 27 pages, LaTe
On dilation symmetries arising from scaling limits
Quantum field theories, at short scales, can be approximated by a scaling
limit theory. In this approximation, an additional symmetry is gained, namely
dilation covariance. To understand the structure of this dilation symmetry, we
investigate it in a nonperturbative, model independent context. To that end, it
turns out to be necessary to consider non-pure vacuum states in the limit.
These can be decomposed into an integral of pure states; we investigate how the
symmetries and observables of the theory behave under this decomposition. In
particular, we consider several natural conditions of increasing strength that
yield restrictions on the decomposed dilation symmetry.Comment: 40 pages, 1 figur
On the equivalence of two deformation schemes in quantum field theory
Two recent deformation schemes for quantum field theories on the
two-dimensional Minkowski space, making use of deformed field operators and
Longo-Witten endomorphisms, respectively, are shown to be equivalent.Comment: 14 pages, no figure. The final version is available under Open
Access. CC-B
Axiomatic quantum field theory in curved spacetime
The usual formulations of quantum field theory in Minkowski spacetime make
crucial use of features--such as Poincare invariance and the existence of a
preferred vacuum state--that are very special to Minkowski spacetime. In order
to generalize the formulation of quantum field theory to arbitrary globally
hyperbolic curved spacetimes, it is essential that the theory be formulated in
an entirely local and covariant manner, without assuming the presence of a
preferred state. We propose a new framework for quantum field theory, in which
the existence of an Operator Product Expansion (OPE) is elevated to a
fundamental status, and, in essence, all of the properties of the quantum field
theory are determined by its OPE. We provide general axioms for the OPE
coefficients of a quantum field theory. These include a local and covariance
assumption (implying that the quantum field theory is locally and covariantly
constructed from the spacetime metric), a microlocal spectrum condition, an
"associativity" condition, and the requirement that the coefficient of the
identity in the OPE of the product of a field with its adjoint have positive
scaling degree. We prove curved spacetime versions of the spin-statistics
theorem and the PCT theorem. Some potentially significant further implications
of our new viewpoint on quantum field theory are discussed.Comment: Latex, 44 pages, 2 figure
Continuous Spectrum of Automorphism Groups and the Infraparticle Problem
This paper presents a general framework for a refined spectral analysis of a
group of isometries acting on a Banach space, which extends the spectral theory
of Arveson. The concept of continuous Arveson spectrum is introduced and the
corresponding spectral subspace is defined. The absolutely continuous and
singular-continuous parts of this spectrum are specified. Conditions are given,
in terms of the transposed action of the group of isometries, which guarantee
that the pure-point and continuous subspaces span the entire Banach space. In
the case of a unitarily implemented group of automorphisms, acting on a
-algebra, relations between the continuous spectrum of the automorphisms
and the spectrum of the implementing group of unitaries are found. The group of
spacetime translation automorphisms in quantum field theory is analyzed in
detail. In particular, it is shown that the structure of its continuous
spectrum is relevant to the problem of existence of (infra-)particles in a
given theory.Comment: 31 pages, LaTeX. As appeared in Communications in Mathematical
Physic
Causality and dispersion relations and the role of the S-matrix in the ongoing research
The adaptation of the Kramers-Kronig dispersion relations to the causal
localization structure of QFT led to an important project in particle physics,
the only one with a successful closure. The same cannot be said about the
subsequent attempts to formulate particle physics as a pure S-matrix project.
The feasibility of a pure S-matrix approach are critically analyzed and their
serious shortcomings are highlighted. Whereas the conceptual/mathematical
demands of renormalized perturbation theory are modest and misunderstandings
could easily be corrected, the correct understanding about the origin of the
crossing property requires the use of the mathematical theory of modular
localization and its relation to the thermal KMS condition. These new concepts,
which combine localization, vacuum polarization and thermal properties under
the roof of modular theory, will be explained and their potential use in a new
constructive (nonperturbative) approach to QFT will be indicated. The S-matrix
still plays a predominant role but, different from Heisenberg's and
Mandelstam's proposals, the new project is not a pure S-matrix approach. The
S-matrix plays a new role as a "relative modular invariant"..Comment: 47 pages expansion of arguments and addition of references,
corrections of misprints and bad formulation