Partial and complete observables for Hamiltonian constrained systems

We will pick up the concepts of partial and complete observables introduced by Rovelli in Conceptional Problems in Quantum Gravity, Birkhäuser, Boston (1991); Class Quant Grav, 8:1895 (1991); Phys Rev, D65:124013 (2002); Quantum Gravity, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2007) in order to construct Dirac observables in gauge systems. We will generalize these ideas to an arbitrary number of gauge degrees of freedom. Different methods to calculate such Dirac observables are developed. For background independent field theories we will show that partial and complete observables can be related to Kucha?’s Bubble-Time Formalism (J Math Phys, 13:768, 1972). Moreover one can define a non-trivial gauge action on the space of complete observables and also state the Poisson brackets of these functions. Additionally we will investigate, whether it is possible to calculate Dirac observables starting with partially invariant partial observables, for instance functions, which are invariant under the spatial diffeomorphism group.     

The question of gauge dependence of transition probabilities in quantum mechanics: Facts,myths and misunderstandings

We show that, in terms of physical observables, transition probabilities in quantum mechanics can be calculated in a truly gauge invariant way, i.e., independent of the choice of gauge and that recent arguments for the preference of a particular gauge are due to misconceptions.     

Topological particle field theory,general coordinate invariance and generalized Chern-Simons actions

We show that recently proposed generalized Chern-Simons action can be identified with the field theory action of a topological point particle. We find the crucial correspondence which makes it possible to derive the field theory actions from a special version of the generalized Chern-Simons actions. We provide arguments that the general coordinate invariance in the target space and the flat connection condition as a topological field theory can be accommodated in a very natural way. We propose series of new gauge invariant observables.     

A Gauge Invariant Description for the General Conic Constrained Particle from the FJBW Iteration Algorithm

We consider a second-degree algebraic curve describing a general conic constraint imposed on the motion of a massive spinless particle. The problem is trivial at classical level but becomes involved and interesting concerning its quantum counterpart with subtleties in its symplectic structure and symmetries. We start with a second-class version of the general conic constrained particle, which encompasses previous versions of circular and elliptical paths discussed in the literature. By applying the symplectic FJBW iteration program, we proceed on to show how a gauge invariant version for the model can be achieved from the originally second-class system. We pursue the complete constraint analysis in phase space and perform the Faddeev-Jackiw symplectic quantization following the Barcelos-Wotzasek iteration program to unravel the essential aspects of the constraint structure. While in the standard Dirac-Bergmann approach there are four second-class constraints, in the FJBW they reduce to two. By using the symplectic potential obtained in the last step of the FJBW iteration process, we construct a gauge invariant model exhibiting explicitly its BRST symmetry. We obtain the quantum BRST charge and write the Green functions generator for the gauge invariant version. Our results reproduce and neatly generalize the known BRST symmetry of the rigid rotor, clearly showing that this last one constitutes a particular case of a broader class of theories.     

Lattice Chern-Simons gravity via the Ponzano-Regge model

We propose a lattice version of Chem-Simons gravity and show that the partition function coincides with the Ponzano-Regge model and the action leads to the Chem-Simons gravity in the continuum limit. The action is explicitly constructed by the lattice dreibein and spin connection and is shown to be invariant under lattice local Lorentz transformations and gauge diffeomorphisms. The action includes the constraint which can be interpreted as a gauge fixing condition of the lattice gauge diffeomorphism.     

Making classical and quantum canonical general relativity computable through a power series expansion in the inverse cosmological constant

We consider general relativity with a cosmological constant as a perturbative expansion around a completely solvable diffeomorphism invariant field theory. This theory is the lambda --> infinity limit of general relativity. This allows an explicit perturbative computational setup in which the quantum states of the theory and the classical observables can be explicitly computed. An unexpected relationship arises at a quantum level between the discrete spectrum of the volume operator and the allowed values of the cosmological constant.     

Hardy Uncertainty Principle,Convexity and Parabolic Evolutions

A projective geometry is an equivalence class of torsion free connections sharing the same unparametrised geodesics; this is a basic structure for understanding physical systems. Metric projective geometry is concerned with the interaction of projective and pseudo-Riemannian geometry. We show that the BGG machinery of projective geometry combines with structures known as Yang–Mills detour complexes to produce a general tool for generating invariant pseudo-Riemannian gauge theories. This produces (detour) complexes of differential operators corresponding to gauge invariances and dynamics. We show, as an application, that curved versions of these sequences give geometric characterizations of the obstructions to propagation of higher spins in Einstein spaces. Further, we show that projective BGG detour complexes generate both gauge invariances and gauge invariant constraint systems for partially massless models: the input for this machinery is a projectively invariant gauge operator corresponding to the first operator of a certain BGG sequence. We also connect this technology to the log-radial reduction method and extend the latter to Einstein backgrounds.     

Removal of Chiral Anomalies in Abelian Gauge Theories

It is shown that chiral anomalies can be removed in abelian gauge theories. After a discussion of the two dimensional case where exact solutions are available we study the four dimensional theory. We use perturbation theory, i. e. analyse the triangle Feynman integrals, and determine the general subtraction structure of the gauge current. Then we show that gauges exist for which current conservation holds and the theory is gauge invariant. As far as the generating functional is concerned the anomaly is employed first as gauge fixing condition. After rewriting the interaction in a gauge invariant form the gauge fixing condition can be imposed as usual. In our approach the integration over the gauge group remains trivial.     

Lattice cut-off effects and their reduction in studies of QCD thermodynamics at non-zero temperature and chemical potential

We clarify the relation between the improvement of dispersion relations in the fermion sector of lattice regularized QCD and the improvement of bulk thermodynamic observables. We show that in the infinite temperature limit the cut-off dependence in dispersion relations can be eliminated up to (aⁿ) corrections, if the quark propagator is chosen to be rotationally invariant up to this order. In bulk thermodynamic observables this eliminates cut-off effects up to the same order at vanishing as well as non-vanishing chemical potential. We furthermore show that in the infinite temperature, ideal gas limit the dependence of finite cut-off corrections on the chemical potential is given by Bernoulli polynomials which are universal as they do not depend on a particular discretization scheme. We explicitly calculate leading and next-to-leading order cut-off corrections for some staggered and Wilson fermion type actions and compare these with exact evaluations of the free fermion partition functions. This also includes the chirally invariant overlap and domain wall fermion formulations. PACS  11.15.Ha; 11.10.Wx; 12.38.Gc; 12.38.Mh     

Equivalent Theories and Changing Hamiltonian Observables in General Relativity

Change and local spatial variation are missing in Hamiltonian general relativity according to the most common definition of observables as having 0 Poisson bracket with all first-class constraints. But other definitions of observables have been proposed. In pursuit of Hamiltonian–Lagrangian equivalence, Pons, Salisbury and Sundermeyer use the Anderson–Bergmann–Castellani gauge generator G, a tuned sum of first-class constraints. Kucha? waived the 0 Poisson bracket condition for the Hamiltonian constraint to achieve changing observables. A systematic combination of the two reforms might use the gauge generator but permit non-zero Lie derivative Poisson brackets for the external gauge symmetry of General Relativity. Fortunately one can test definitions of observables by calculation using two formulations of a theory, one without gauge freedom and one with gauge freedom. The formulations, being empirically equivalent, must have equivalent observables. For de Broglie-Proca non-gauge massive electromagnetism, all constraints are second-class, so everything is observable. Demanding equivalent observables from gauge Stueckelberg–Utiyama electromagnetism, one finds that the usual definition fails while the Pons–Salisbury–Sundermeyer definition with G succeeds. This definition does not readily yield change in GR, however. Should GR’s external gauge freedom of general relativity share with internal gauge symmetries the 0 Poisson bracket (invariance), or is covariance (a transformation rule) sufficient? A graviton mass breaks the gauge symmetry (general covariance), but it can be restored by parametrization with clock fields. By requiring equivalent observables, one can test whether observables should have 0 or the Lie derivative as the Poisson bracket with the gauge generator G. The latter definition is vindicated by calculation. While this conclusion has been reported previously, here the calculation is given in some detail.     

Gauge invariant and gauge fixed actions for various higher-spin fields from string field theory

We propose a systematic procedure for extracting gauge invariant and gauge fixed actions for various higher-spin gauge field theories from covariant bosonic open string field theory. By identifying minimal gauge invariant part for the original free string field theory action, we explicitly construct a class of covariantly gauge fixed actions with BRST and anti-BRST invariance. By expanding the actions with respect to the level N   of string states, the actions for various massive fields including higher-spin fields are systematically obtained. As illustrating examples, we explicitly investigate the level N?3$N?3$ part and obtain the consistent actions for massive graviton field, massive 3rd rank symmetric tensor field, or anti-symmetric field. We also investigate the tensionless limit of the actions and explicitly derive the gauge invariant and gauge fixed actions for general rank n symmetric and anti-symmetric tensor fields.     

Instanton Expansion of Noncommutative Gauge Theory in Two Dimensions

We show that noncommutative gauge theory in two dimensions is an exactly solvable model. A cohomological formulation of gauge theory defined on the noncommutative torus is used to show that its quantum partition function can be written as a sum over contributions from classical solutions. We derive an explicit formula for the partition function of Yang-Mills theory defined on a projective module for an arbitrary noncommutativity parameter which is manifestly invariant under gauge Morita equivalence. The energy observables are shown to be smooth functions of . The construction of noncommutative instanton contributions to the path integral is described in some detail. In general, there are infinitely many gauge inequivalent contributions of fixed topological charge, along with a finite number of quantum fluctuations about each instanton. The associated moduli spaces are combinations of symmetric products of an ordinary two-torus whose orbifold singularities are not resolved by noncommutativity. In particular, the weak coupling limit of the gauge theory is independent of and computes the symplectic volume of the moduli space of constant curvature connections on the noncommutative torus.     

Theory of nonlinear optical response of gauge invariant currents to linear and nonlinear couplings

When a gauge field interacts with a quantum condensed matter system, at first order of the gauge field it couples to the current operator of the electrons. Higher orders of the gauge field couple to electrons through other operators such as the stress tensor, etc. On the other hand, when one performs a measurement on a quantum system, not only the current operator, but also stress tensor operator of the electrons, etc. are hidden in the measurement, as they contribute to the gauge invariant current. We formulate a general problem of nonlinear optical response of the gauge invariant currents in presence of nonlinear couplings. We show that the new couplings along with new responses arising from field current have a very simple structure which can be formulated as time ordered multi-particle correlation functions. We also obtain their Lehman representation and thereby show that one need not use non-equilibrium formulations to deal with them. These new correlation functions suggest that in nonlinear optical response many new processes are possible. The experimental detection of the new terms in the current operator, and application corresponding multi-photon processes needs further theoretical and experimental investigations.     

BRST Renormalization

We consider the renormalization of general gauge theories on curved space-time background, with the main assumption being the existence of a gauge-invariant and diffeomorphism invariant regularization. Using the Batalin-Vilkovisky (BV) formalism one can show that the theory possesses gauge invariant and diffeomorphism invariant renormalizability at quantum level, up to an arbitrary order of the loop expansion.     

Background independent duals of the harmonic oscillator

We show that a class of topological field theories are quantum duals of the harmonic oscillator. This is demonstrated by establishing a correspondence between the creation and annihilation operators and nonlocal gauge invariant observables of the topological field theory. The example is used to discuss some issues concerning background independence and the relation of vacuum energy to the problem of time in quantum gravity.     

Gauge invariance and the dirac equation

The gauge invariance of the Dirac equation is reviewed and gauge-invariant operators are defined. The Hamiltonian is shown to be gauge dependent, and an energy operator is defined which is gauge invariant. Gauge-invariant operators corresponding to observables are shown to satisfy generalized Ehrenfest theorems. The time rate of change of the expectation value of the energy operator is equal to the expectation value of the power operator. The virial theorem is proved for a relativistic electron in a time-varying electromagnetic field. The conventional approach to probability amplitudes, using the eigenstates of the unperturbed Hamiltonian, is shown in general to be gauge dependent. A gaugeinvariant procedure for probability amplitudes is given, in which eigenstates of the energy operator are used. The two methods are compared by applying them to an electron in a zero electromagnetic field in an arbitrary gauge. Presented at the Dirac Symposium, Loyola University, New Orleans, May 1981.     

Confinement from spontaneous breaking of scale symmetry

We show that one can obtain naturally the confinement of static charges from the spontaneous symmetry breaking of scale invariance in a gauge theory. At the classical level a confining force is obtained and at the quantum level, using a gauge invariant but path-dependent variables formalism, the Cornell confining potential is explicitly obtained. Our procedure answers completely to the requirements by 't Hooft for “perturbative confinement”.     

Comments on the Morita equivalence

It is known that the noncommutative Yang-Mills (YM) theory with periodical boundary conditions on a torus at a rational noncommutativity parameter value is Morita equivalent to the ordinary YM theory with twisted boundary conditions on a dual torus. We give a simple derivation of this fact. We describe the one-to-one correspondence between these two theories and the corresponding gauge invariant observables. In particular, we show that under the Morita map, the Polyakov loops in the ordinary YM theory are converted to the open noncommutative Wilson loops discovered by Ishibashi, Iso, Kawai, and Kitazawa.