Field operators for anyons and plektons

Given its superselection sectors with non-abelian braid group statistics, we extend the algebraA of local observables into an algebra containing localized intertwiner fields which carry the superselection charges. The construction of the inner degrees of freedom, as well as the study of their transformation properties (quantum symmetry), are entirely in terms of the superselection structure of the observables. As a novel and characteristic feature for braid group statistics, Clebsch-Gordan and commutation coefficients generically take values in the algebra of symmetry operators, much as it is the case with quasi-Hopf symmetry.A, , and are allC ^* algebras, i.e. represented by bounded operators on a Hilbert space with positive metric.     

Localized endomorphisms of the chiral Ising model

Based on the treatment of the chiral Ising model by Mack and Schomerus, we present examples of localized endomorphisms ? ₁ ^loc and ? _1/2 ^loc . It is shown that they lead to the same superselection sectors as the global ones in the sense that unitary equivalence π₀ ο ? ₁ ^loc ? π₁ and π₀ ο ? _1/2 ^loc ? π_1/2 holds. Araki's formalism of the selfdual CAR algebra is used for the proof. We prove local normality and extend representations and localized endomorphisms to a global algebra of observables which is generated by local von Neumann algebras on the punctured circle. In this framework, we manifestly prove fusion rules and derive statistics operators.     

Level 1 WZW superselection sectors

The superselection structure of the Wess-Zumino-Witten theory based on the affine Lie algebra at level one is investigated for arbitraryN. By making use of the free fermion representation of the affine algebra, the endomorphisms which represent the superselection sectors on the observable algebra can be constructed as endomorphisms of the underlying Majorana algebra. These endomorphisms do not close on the chiral algebra of the theory, but we are able to obtain a larger algebra on which the endomorphisms close. The composition of equivalence classes of the endomorphisms reproduces the WZW fusion rules.     

Normal product states for fermions and twisted duality for CCR- and CAR-type algebras with application to the Yukawa2 quantum field model

We present sufficient conditions that imply duality for the algebras of local observables in all Abelian sectors of all locally normal, irreducible representations of a field algebra if twisted duality obtains in one of these representations. It is verified that the Yukawa₂ model satisfies these conditions, yielding the first proof of duality for the observable algebra in all coherent charge sectors in this model. This paper also constitutes the first verification of the assumptions of the axiomatic study of the structure of superselection sectors by Doplicher, Haag and Roberts in an interacting model with nontrivial sectors. The existence of normal product states for the free Fermi field algebra and, thus, the verification of the funnel property for the associated net of local algebras are demonstrated.     

Why there is a field algebra with a compact gauge group describing the superselection structure in particle physics

Given the local observables in the vacuum sector fulfilling a few basic principles of local quantum theory, we show that the superselection structure, intrinsically determined a priori, can always be described by a unique compact global gauge group acting on a field algebra generated by field operators which commute or anticommute at spacelike separations. The field algebra and the gauge group are constructed simultaneously from the local observables. There will be sectors obeying parastatistics, an intrinsic notion derived from the observables, if and only if the gauge group is non-Abelian. Topological charges would manifest themselves in field operators associated with spacelike cones but not localizable in bounded regions of Minkowski space. No assumption on the particle spectrum or even on the covariance of the theory is made. However the notion of superselection sector is tailored to theories without massless particles. When translation or Poincaré covariance of the vacuum sector is assumed, our construction leads to a covariant field algebra describing all covariant sectors.Research supported by Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione and CNR-GNAFA     

2+1 gravity for genus >1

In [1] we analysed the algebra of observables for the simple case of a genus 1 initial data surface ² for 2+1 De Sitter gravity. Here we extend the analysis to higher genus. We construct for genus 2 the group of automorphismsH of the homotopy group ₁ induced by the mapping class group. The groupH induces a groupD of canonical transformations on the algebra of observables which is related to the braid group for 6 threads.     

Unitary Positive-Energy Representations of Scalar Bilocal Quantum Fields

The superselection sectors of two classes of scalar bilocal quantum fields in D ≥ 4 dimensions are explicitly determined by working out the constraints imposed by unitarity. The resulting classification in terms of the dual of the respective gauge groups U(N) and O(N) confirms the expectations based on general results obtained in the framework of local nets in algebraic quantum field theory, but the approach using standard Lie algebra methods rather than abstract duality theory is complementary. The result indicates that one does not lose interesting models if one postulates the absence of scalar fields of dimension D−2 in models with global conformal invariance. Another remarkable outcome is the observation that, with an appropriate choice of the Hamiltonian, a Lie algebra embedded into the associative algebra of observables completely fixes the representation theory.     

Measurement and “beables” in quantum mechanics

It is argued that the measurement problem reduces to the problem of modeling quasi-classical systems in a modified quantum mechanics with superselection rules. A measurement theorem is proved, demonstrating, on the basis of a principle for selecting the quantities of a system that are determinate (i.e., have values) in a given state, that after a suitable interaction between a systemS and a quasi-classical systemM, essentially only the quantity measured in the interaction and the indicator quantity ofM are determinate. The theorem justifies interpreting the noncommutative algebra of observables of a quantum mechanical system as an algebra of beables, in Bell's sense.     

Classical probabilities for Majorana and Weyl spinors

We construct a map between the quantum field theory of free Weyl or Majorana fermions and the probability distribution of a classical statistical ensemble for Ising spins or discrete bits. More precisely, a Grassmann functional integral based on a real Grassmann algebra specifies the time evolution of the real wave function q_τ(t) for the Ising states τ. The time dependent probability distribution of a generalized Ising model obtains as . The functional integral employs a lattice regularization for single Weyl or Majorana spinors. We further introduce the complex structure characteristic for quantum mechanics. Probability distributions of the Ising model which correspond to one or many propagating fermions are discussed explicitly. Expectation values of observables can be computed equivalently in the classical statistical Ising model or in the quantum field theory for fermions.     

Superselection sectors in low dimensional quantum field theory

The occurence of braid group statistics in low dimensions is reviewed and an extension of the general theory to solitonic sectors is described where the DHR endomorphisms are replaced by homomorphisms between different extensions of the algebra of observables.     

Fusion Rules for the Continuum Sectors of the Virasoro Algebra with c=1

The Virasoro algebra with c = 1 has a continuum of superselection sectors characterized by the ground state energy h 0. Only the discrete subset of sectors with h = s ², s ₀, arises by restriction of representations of the SU(2) current algebra at level k=1. The remaining continuum of sectors is obtained with the help of (localized) homomorphisms into the current algebra. The fusion product of continuum sectors with discrete sectors is computed. A new method of determining the sector of a state is used.     

Bicovariant quantum algebras and quantum Lie algebras

A bicovariant calculus of differential operators on a quantum group is constructed in a natural way, using invariant maps from Fun toU _q g, given by elements of the pure braid group. These operators—the reflection matrixYL ⁺ SL ^– being a special case—generate algebras that linearly close under adjoint actions, i.e. they form generalized Lie algebras. We establish the connection between the Hopf algebra formulation of the calculus and a formulation in compact matrix form which is quite powerful for actual computations and as applications we find the quantum determinant and an orthogonality relation forY inSO _q (N).This work was supported in part by the Director, Office of Energy Research, Office of High Energy and Nuclear Physics, Division of High Energy Physics of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC03-76SF00098 and in part by the National Science Foundation under grant PHY90-21139     

Space-time fields and exchange fields

We derive discrete symmetries of braid group statistics related to charge conjugation and outer automorphisms of the local algebra. The structure of the latter (which are abelian superselection charges) is analyzed in some detail. We use the results to study in great generality a phenomenon recently observed in conformal quantum field theories: the existence of two-dimensional space-time fields with conventional (local, fermionic, dual) commutation relations, expressible as bilinear sums over light-cone fields with exchange algebra commutation relations.     

Operator algebras and conformal field theory

We define and study two-dimensional, chiral conformal field theory by the methods of algebraic field theory. We start by characterizing the vacuum sectors of such theories and show that, under very general hypotheses, their algebras of local observables are isomorphic to the unique hyperfinite type III₁ factor. The conformal net determined by the algebras of local observables is proven to satisfy Haag duality. The representation of the Moebius group (and presumably of the entire Virasoro algebra) on the vacuum sector of a conformal field theory is uniquely determined by the Tomita-Takesaki modular operators associated with its vacuum state and its conformal net. We then develop the theory of Moebius covariant representations of a conformal net, using methods of Doplicher, Haag and Roberts. We apply our results to the representation theory of loop groups. Our analysis is motivated by the desire to find a background-independent formulation of conformal field theories.     

Quantum Kinematic Theory of the Poincare Group in Two-Dimensional Spacetime

Non-Abelian quantum kinematics is applied to thePoincare group P ₊ (1, 1),as an example of the quantization-through-the-symmetryapproach to quantum mechanics. Upon quantizing thegroup, generalized Heisenberg commutation relations are obtained, and aclosed Heisenberg–Weyl algebra follows. Then,according to the general theory, the three basicquantum-kinematic invariant operators are calculated;these afford the superselection rules for diagonalizing theincoherent rigged Hilbert space H(P ₊ ) of the regularrepresentation. This paper examines only one of thesediagonalization schemes, while introducing a irreducible spacetime representation carried by isotopicplane-wave eigenvectors of two compatible superselectionoperators (which define a Poincare-invariant linear2-momentum). Thereafter, the principle of microcausality produces massive 2-spinor isotopic states in 1+ 1 Minkowski space. The Dirac equation is thus deducedwithin the quantum kinematic formalism, and the familiarJordan–Pauli propagation kernel in 2-dimensional spacetime is also obtained as a Hurwitzinvariant integral over the group manifold. The maininterest of this approach lies in the adoptedgroup-quantization technique, which is a strictlydeductive method and uses exclusively the assumed Poincaresymmetry.     

Spectral stochastic processes arising in quantum mechanical models with a non-L 2 ground state

A functional integral representation is given for a large class of quantum mechanical models with a non-L ² ground state. As a prototype, the particle in a periodic potential is discussed: a unique ground state is shown to exist as a state on the Weyl algebra, and a functional measure (spectral stochastic process) is constructed on trajectories taking values in the spectrum of the maximal Abelian subalgebra of the Weyl algebra isomorphic to the algebra of almost periodic functions. The thermodynamical limit of the finite-volume functional integrals for such models is discussed, and the superselection sectors associated to an observable subalgebra of the Weyl algebra are described in terms of boundary conditions and/or topological terms in the finite-volume measures.Supported by DFG, Nr. Al 374/1-2     

Characterizing invariants for local extensions of current algebras

ParisA of local quantum field theories are studied, whereA is a chiral conformal quantum field theory and is a local extension, either chiral or two-dimensional. The local correlation functions of fields from have an expansion with respect toA into conformal blocks, which are non-local in general. Two methods of computing characteristic invariant ratios of structure constants in these expansions are compared: (a) by constructing the monodromy representation of the braid group in the space of solutions of the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov differential equation, and (b) by an analysis of the local subfactors associated with the extension with methods from operator algebra (Jones theory) and algebraic quantum field theory. Both approaches apply also to the reverse problem: the characterization and (in principle) classification of local extensions of a given theory.     

Kochen–Specker Theorem for von Neumann Algebras

The Kochen–Specker theorem has been discussed intensely ever since its original proof in 1967. It is one of the central no-go theorems of quantum theory, showing the non-existence of a certain kind of hidden states models. In this paper, we first offer a new, non-combinatorial proof for quantum systems with a type I_n factor as algebra of observables, including I_∞. Afterwards, we give a proof of the Kochen–Specker theorem for an arbitrary von Neumann algebra without summands of types I₁ and I₂, using a known result on two-valued measures on the projection lattice . Some connections with presheaf formulations as proposed by Isham and Butterfield are made.     

Braided matrix structure of the Sklyanin algebra and of the quantum Lorentz group

Braided groups and braided matrices are novel algebraic structures living in braided or quasitensor categories. As such they are a generalization of super-groups and super-matrices to the case of braid statistics. Here we construct braided group versions of the standard quantum groupsU _q (g). They have the same FRT generatorsl ^± but a matrix braided-coproductL=LL, whereL=l ⁺ Sl ^–, and are self-dual. As an application, the degenerate Sklyanin algebra is shown to be isomorphic to the braided matricesBM _q(2); it is a braided-commutative bialgebra in a braided category. As a second application, we show that the quantum doubleD(U _q (sl ₂)) (also known as the quantum Lorentz group) is the semidirect product as an algebra of two copies ofU _q (sl ₂), and also a semidirect product as a coalgebra if we use braid statistics. We find various results of this type for the doubles of general quantum groups and their semi-classical limits as doubles of the Lie algebras of Poisson Lie groups.