Extension of the electrokinematics theorem to the electromagnetic field and quantum mechanics

Summary A recent electrokinematics theorem leads to a general equation that, through an arbitrary irrotational fieldF, connects the motion of the electric-charge carriers, the internal potential and the dielectric properties of a physical system with its external currents, voltages and powers. It has been proved for quasi-electrostatic fields,i.e. when the vector potential may be disregarded, and on the basis of classical mechanics. Here the theorem is extended to any type of electromagnetic field and to quasi-relativistic quantum mechanics, in the case of many-particle systems for which, moreover, the probability current density is suitably computed. The new equation so obtained, throughF, connects the external currents again with the internal electric permittivity and the scalar potential, in the same way as in the preceding approach, and with the carrier velocity that, however, has to be computed according to quantum mechanics. Moreover, it contains two new contributions, one deriving from the vector potential and the other from a current density arising from the electron spin. By means of proper choices ofF, new expressions of the external currents of the system are determined as functions of the motion of its internal carriers. In particular, the electrokinematics theorem is exploited to compute the output current in two-terminal nanoelectronic devices in which, owing to the small sizes, quantum effects cannot be disregarded. Finally, such results, when they are applied to the double-barrier tunnelling structures, allow us to show the splitting of the electron pulse into two uncorrelated pulses, and as a consequence, to obtain a possible shot noise suppression, up to fifty per cent of the full shot noise.     

In search of elementary spin 0 particles

The Standard Model of strong and electroweak interactions uses point-like spin 1/2 particles as the building bricks of matter and point-like spin 1 particles as the force carriers. One of the most important questions to be answered by the present and future particle physics experiments is whether the elementary spin 0 particles exist, and if they do, what are their interactions with the spin 1/2 and spin 1 particles. Spin 0 particles have been searched extensively over the last decades. Several initial claims of their discoveries were finally disproved in the final experimental scrutiny process. The recent observation of the excess of events at the LHC in the final states involving a pair of vector bosons, or photons, is commonly interpreted as the discovery of the first elementary scalar particle, the Higgs boson. In this paper we recall examples of claims and subsequent disillusions in precedent searches spin 0 particles. We address the question if the LHC Higgs discovery can already be taken for granted, or, as it turned out important in the past, whether it requires a further experimental scrutiny before the existence of the first ever found elementary scalar particle is proven beyond any doubt. An example of the Double Drell–Yan process for which such a scrutiny is indispensable is discussed in some detail.     

Zeeman and spin–orbit effects on the spin-Hall conductance

We show that when a two-dimensional interacting electron gas is submitted to a perpendicular magnetic field, the application of an in-plane electric field E induces a spin current perpendicular to E whose conductivity is quantized. This current can lead to spin accumulation that might be detected by means of optical experiments. The appearance of this intrinsic spin-Hall effect is crucially based on the validity of Kohn's theorem and on the presence of the Zeeman term in the electron Hamiltonian. The possibility of resonant effects in the spin-Hall conductivity due to the combined effect of Rashba and Dresselhaus spin–orbit couplings is discussed.     

On quantization of free fields in stationary space-times

In Section 1 we analyse the structure of the infinite-dimensional Hamiltonian system described by the Klein-Gordon equation (free real scalar field) in stationary space-times with closed space sections; we give an existence and uniqueness theorem for the Lichnerowicz distribution kernelG ₁ together with its proper Fourier expansion, and we construct the Hilbert spaces of frequency-part solutions defined by means ofG ₁.In Section 2 an analysis, a theorem and a construction similar to the above are formulated for thefree real field spin 1, massm>0, in one kind of static space-times.In this letter, only results are given. For detailed proofs and further results, see reference [9], [10] and [11].     

Exponential Rates of Convergence in the Ergodic Theorem: A Constructive Approach

We prove that, once an algorithm of perfect simulation for a stationary and ergodic random field F taking values in S^\mathbbZdS^{\mathbb{Z}^{d}}, S a bounded subset of R ⁿ , is provided, the speed of convergence in the mean ergodic theorem occurs exponentially fast for F. Applications from (non-equilibrium) statistical mechanics and interacting particle systems are presented.     

The Newton-Wigner and Wightman localization of the photon

A quantum theory of the photon is developed in a natural manner. Newton-Wigner and Wightman demonstrated that the photon could not be strictly localized according to natural criteria. These investigations involved the identification of an elementary system with a uirrep of the Poincare group. We identify a particle with the localized measurement of the states satisfying the uirrep. In the case of zero mass and unit spin, the photon is identified with those components of the state that can be localized. A c-number four-vector potential and Lorentz condition are derived from the relativistic wave equation. The Wightman localization is demonstrated for the three independent space components of the vector potential, and the photon is identified with these components. A position operator and probability density follow immediately from the localization. A consequence of the subjective definition of a photon is that the transformations of the vector potential are unitary, and hence the unitary scalar product can be obtained for the four-vector potential. A Hilbert space is defined for the three space components of the vector potential. A position operator and probability density are derived from the scalar product, which compare directly with those obtained from the localization and the non-relativistic theory. As the longitudinal and scalar polarizations do not contribute to the measured transition probability, they are considered virtual. Lastly, a conserved four-vector current is derived from the scalar product. The possibility of observing a strict localization of the photon in the laboratory is suggested.     

Structure of elementary particles in a nonlinear field theory

Characteristics of nonlinear gauge-invariant singularity-free field theories of elementary particles are discussed. It is shown that the electromagnetic field, in conjunction with a scalar field which is required for gauge invariance, provides a potential mechanism for the creation of the spin and magnetic moment of the particle, in addition to its mass and charge.     

Edge spin currents in two-dimensional electron gas with spin-orbit interaction

Edge spin currents existing in two-dimensional electron gas near the boundary between the regions with spin-orbit interaction and without it are st udied for nonequilibrium conditions due to an electron current flowing parallel or normal to the boundary. The parallel current generates an edge spin density, whereas the normal one changes the edge spin current by a value proportional to the particle current.     

Propagator of a Charged Particle with a Spin in Uniform Magnetic and Perpendicular Electric Fields

We construct an explicit solution of the Cauchy initial value problem for the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for a charged particle with a spin moving in a uniform magnetic field and a perpendicular electric field varying with time. The corresponding Green function (propagator) is given in terms of elementary functions and certain integrals of the fields with a characteristic function, which should be found as an analytic or numerical solution of the equation of motion for the classical oscillator with a time-dependent frequency. We discuss a particular solution of a related nonlinear Schrödinger equation and some special and limiting cases are outlined.     

Path integral for a neutral spinning particle in interaction with a rotating magnetic field and a scalar potential

In this paper we consider a neutral spinning particle in interaction with a linear increasing rotating magnetic field and a scalar harmonic potential using the path integral formalism. The Pauli matrices which describe the spin dynamics are replaced by two fermionic oscillators via the Schwinger’s model. The calculations are carried out explicitly using fermionic exterior current sources. The problem is then reduced to that of a spinning forced harmonic particle whose spin is coupled to exterior derivative current sources. The result of the propagator is given as a series which is exactly summed up by means of the Laplace transformation and the use of some recurrence formula of the oscillator wave functions. The energy spectrum and the corresponding wave functions are also deduced.     

Gross-Pitaevskii non-linear dynamics for pseudo-spinor condensates

We derive the equations for the non-linear effective dynamics of a so called pseudo-spinor Bose-Einstein condensate, which emerges from the linear many-body Schrödinger equation at the leading order in the number of particles. The considered system is a three-dimensional diluted gas of identical bosons with spin, possibly confined in space, and coupled with an external time-dependent magnetic field; particles also interact among themselves through a short-scale repulsive interaction. The limit of infinitely many particles is monitored in the physically relevant Gross-Pitaevskii scaling. In our main theorem, if at time zero the system is in a phase of complete condensation (at the level of the reduced one-body marginal) and with energy per particle fixed by the Gross-Pitaevskii functional, then such conditions persist also at later times, with the one-body orbital of the condensate evolving according to a system of non-linear cubic Schrödinger equations coupled among themselves through linear (Rabi) terms. The proof relies on an adaptation to the spinor setting of Pickl’s projection counting method developed for the scalar case. Quantitative rates of convergence are available, but not made explicit because evidently non-optimal. In order to substantiate the formalism and the assumptions made in the main theorem, in an introductory section we review the mathematical formalisation of modern typical experiments with pseudo-spinor condensates.     

Spinor Structure and Matter Spectrum

Classification of relativistic wave equations is given on the ground of interlocking representations of the Lorentz group. A system of interlocking representations is associated with a system of eigenvector subspaces of the energy operator. Such a correspondence allows one to define matter spectrum, where the each level of this spectrum presents a some state of elementary particle. An elementary particle is understood as a superposition of state vectors in nonseparable Hilbert space. Classification of indecomposable systems of relativistic wave equations is produced for bosonic and fermionic fields on an equal footing (including Dirac and Maxwell equations). All these fields are equivalent levels of matter spectrum, which differ from each other by the value of mass and spin. It is shown that a spectrum of the energy operator, corresponding to a given matter level, is non-degenerate for the fields of type (l, 0) ⊕ (0, l), where l is a spin value, whereas for arbitrary spin chains we have degenerate spectrum. Energy spectra of the stability levels (electron and proton states) of the matter spectrum are studied in detail. It is shown that these stability levels have a nature of threshold scales of the fractal structure associated with the system of interlocking representations of the Lorentz group.     

A symmetry relating certain processes in 2-and 4-dimensional space-times and the value α0 = 1/4π of the bare fine structure constant

The symmetry manifests itself in exact relations between the Bogoliubov coefficients for processes induced by an accelerated point mirror in 1 + 1 dimensional space and the current (charge) densities for the processes caused by an accelerated point charge in 3 + 1 dimensional space. The spectra of pairs of Bose (Fermi) massless quanta emitted by the mirror coincide with the spectra of photons (scalar quanta) emitted by the electric (scalar) charge up to the factor e ²/ħc. The integral relation between the propagator of a pair of oppositely directed massless particles in 1 + 1 dimensional space and the propagator of a single particle in 3 + 1 dimensional space leads to the equality of the vacuum-vacuum amplitudes for the charge and the mirror if the mean number of created particles is small and the charge e = √ħc. Due to the symmetry, the mass shifts of electric and scalar charges (the sources of Bose fields with spin 1 and 0 in 3 + 1 dimensional space) for the trajectories with a subluminal relative velocity β₁₂ of the ends and the maximum proper acceleration w ₀ are expressed in terms of the heat capacity (or energy) spectral densities of Bose and Fermi gases of massless particles with the temperature w ₀/2π in 1 + 1 dimensional space. Thus, the acceleration excites 1-dimensional oscillation in the proper field of a charge, and the energy of oscillation is partly deexcited in the form of real quanta and partly remains in the field. As a result, the mass shift of an accelerated electric charge is nonzero and negative, while that of a scalar charge is zero. The symmetry is extended to the mirror and charge interactions with the fields carrying spacelike momenta and defining the Bogoliubov coefficients α^B,F. The traces trα^B,F, which describe the vector and scalar interactions of the accelerated mirror with a uniformly moving detector, were found in analytic form for two mirror trajectories with subluminal velocities of the ends. The symmetry predicts one and the same value e ₀ = √ħc for the electric and scalar charges in 3 + 1 dimensional space. Arguments are adduced in favor of the conclusion that this value and the corresponding value α₀ = 1/4π of the fine structure constant are the bare, nonrenormalized values. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Quantum theory of particles with spin zero and one half in external fields

The unitary (pseudo unitary) time-evolution operator for a particle with spin half (zero) in an external time-dependent electromagnetic (scalar) field is used to generate a Bogoliubov automorphism on the algebra of the free in field. For the case of an electric external field (scalar field) a finite expression for _out is given and theS-matrix constructed. The latter is unitary and implements the Bogoliubov automorphism. Theorems by Shale and Stinespring are rederived.Supported in part by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission under Contract No. AT-30-1-3829.     

Rare kaon decays in the 1/N c-expansion

The average action is a new tool for investigating spontaneous symmetry breaking in elementary particle theory and statistical mechanics beyond the validity of standard perturbation theory. The aim of this work is to provide techniques for an investigation of models with fermions and scalars by means of the average potential. In the phase with spontaneous symmetry breaking, the inner region of the average potential becomes flat as the averaging extends over infinite volume and the average potential becomes flat as the averaging extends over infinite volume and the average potential approaches the convex effective potential. Fermion fluctuations in this region necessitate a calculation of the fermion determinant in a spin wave background. We also compute the fermionic contribution to the wave function renormalization in the scalar kinetic term.     

Formation and dynamics of many-boson fragmented states in one-dimensional attractive ultracold gases

The dynamics of attractive ultracold bosonic clouds in one dimension is studied by solving the many-particle time-dependent Schr?dinger equation. The initially coherent wave packet can dynamically dissociate into two parts when its energy exceeds a threshold value. Noticeably, the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii theory does not show up the splitting. We call the split object fragmenton. It possesses remarkable properties; in particular, it is macroscopically fragmented. A simple static model predicts the existence of fragmented states responsible for the formation and dynamics of fragmentons.     

Conservation of the Energy-Momentum

In Relativity the sum of 4?vectors in different points does not generally represent a 4?vector. By using this result, it is shown by simple methods that the total energy-momentum of a system of point particles represents a well-defined 4?vector if the particles do not interact. It is proved that this is equivalent to the no-interaction theorem in Classical Physics. This theorem difficulties the study of a system of interacting particles since it is not even possible to define the total energy-momentum nor the reference frame where the system is at rest. This impediment is avoided by adding to the energy-momentum tensor the stress tensor describing the interaction. As an example, this is applied to a system of charged particles. In the process, the equation of motion for a charged particle including the self-force is formally obtained. However, when a thermodynamic system is analyzed from two different reference frames with a relativistic relative velocity, the interaction between the particles and the walls of the volume cannot be described by means of a covariant stress tensor and consequently the proposed technique is not feasible. Despite the above mentioned drawbacks, a covariant theory of the relativistic transformation laws of the thermodynamic quantities is developed.     

Hestenes' Tetrad and Spin Connections

Defining a spin connection is necessary for formulating Dirac's bispinor equation in a curved space-time. Hestenes has shown that a bispinor field is equivalent to an orthonormal tetrad of vector fields together with a complex scalar field. In this paper, we show that using Hestenes' tetrad for the spin connection in a Riemannian space-time leads to a Yang-Mills formulation of the Dirac Lagrangian in which the bispinor field Ψ is mapped to a set of SL(2,R)× U(1) gauge potentials F_α^K and a complex scalar field ρ. This result was previously proved for a Minkowski space-time using Fierz identities. As an application we derive several different non-Riemannian spin connections found in the literature directly from an arbitrary linear connection acting on the tensor fields (F_α^K, ρ). We also derive spin connections for which Dirac's bispinor equation is form invariant. Previous work has not considered form invariance of the Dirac equation as a criterion for defining a general spin connection.     

Electrical generation of pure spin current with oscillating spin-orbit interaction

We propose an electrical scheme for the generation of a pure spin current without a charge current in a two-terminal device, which consists of a scattering region of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) with Rashba (R) and/or Dresselhaus (S) spin-orbit interaction (SOI) and two normal leads. The SOI is modulated by a time-dependent gate voltage to pump a spin current. Based on a tight-binding model and the Keldysh Green’s function technique, we obtain the analytical expression of the spin current. It is shown that a pure spin current can be pumped out, and its magnitude could be modulated by device parameters such as the oscillating frequency of the SOI, as well as the SOI strength. Moreover, the spin polarisation direction of the spin current could also be tuned by the strength ratio between RSOI and DSOI. Our proposal provides not only a fully electrical means to generate a pure spin current but also a way to control the spin polarisation direction of the generated spin current.     

Relativistic quantum field theory with fractional spin and statistics

We construct a relativistic quantum field theory in 2 + 1 dimensions whose Fock states provide a multivalued representation of the Poincaré group. We add a topological term to the action of a scalar field theory and we show that this endows the path integral of the theory with an operator-valued cocycle which modifies the transformation properties of physical states. We demonstrate that one-particle states carry (in general) fractional spin. We determine the spin of many-particle states and we prove a generalized spin-statistics relation. We propose an equation of motion for on-shell states which generalizes naturally the Dirac equation.