Decay of accelerated protons and the existence of the Fulling-Davies-Unruh effect

We investigate the weak decay of uniformly accelerated protons in the context of standard quantum field theory. Because the mean proper lifetime of a particle is a scalar, the same value for this observable must be obtained in the inertial and coaccelerated frames. We are only able to achieve this equality by considering the Fulling-Davies-Unruh effect. This reflects the fact that the Fulling-Davies-Unruh effect is mandatory for the consistency of quantum field theory.     

Asymptotic Completeness for Infraparticles in Two-Dimensional Conformal Field Theory

We formulate a new concept of asymptotic completeness for two-dimensional massless quantum field theories in the spirit of the theory of particle weights. We show that this concept is more general than the standard particle interpretation based on Buchholz’ scattering theory of waves. In particular, it holds in any chiral conformal field theory in an irreducible product representation and in any completely rational conformal field theory. This class contains theories of infraparticles to which the scattering theory of waves does not apply.     

The physical meaning of quantization

After analyzing the difficulties for a local realistic interpretation of quantum theory, it is argued that such an interpretation might be possible if some new postulates are added to the standard ones. We propose a stochastic interpretation of quantum theory, which involves the need of joint probability distributions for all relevant observables. The well known problems for the existence of joint distributions are solved by assuming that neither all Hermitian operators correspond to observables nor all density matrices represent physical states. A research program along these lines is presented studying in particular the Maxwell quantum field and the Dirac field.     

Hyperfunction Quantum Field Theory: Localized Fields Without Localized Test Functions

This note addresses the problem of localization in quantum field theory; more specifically we contribute to the ongoing discussion about the most appropriate concept of localization which one should use in relativistic quantum field theory: through localized test functions or through the fields directly without localized test functions. In standard quantum field theory, i.e., in relativistic quantum field theory in terms of tempered distributions according to Gårding and Wightman, this is done through localized test functions. In hyperfunction quantum field theory (HFQFT), i.e., relativistic quantum field theory in terms of Fourier hyperfunctions this is done through the fields themselves. In support of the second approach we show here that it has a much wider range of applicability. It can even be applied to relativistic quantum field theories which do not admit compactly supported test functions at all. In our construction of explicit models we rely on basic results from the theory of quasi-analytic functions.     

A renormalization group analysis of leading logarithms in ChPT

We give strong evidence that the linear sigma model at small external momenta is an effective theory for the leading logarithms of chiral perturbation theory. Based on this evidence an attempt is made to sum the leading logarithms of chiral perturbation theory to all orders. We illustrate why this summation nonetheless fails when one uses standard renormalization group techniques of renormalizable quantum field theories.     

A Consistency Check for the Free Scalar Field Theory Realization of the Doubly Spacial Relativity *

We study a free scalar field theory in the framework of the Magueijo-Smolin model of the "Doubly Special Relativity" (DSR) which is a non-linear realization of the action of the Lorentz group on momentum space admitting an invariant energy cutoff. We show that unlike the standard quantum field theory, the Klein-Gordon equation obtained via Euler-Lagrange field equation and Heisenberg picture equation of motion of the field are not equivalent in this framework, at least up to the first order of the Planck length scale.     

Bose-Einstein condensates beyond mean field theory: quantum backreaction as decoherence

We propose an experiment to measure the slow log(N) convergence to mean field theory (MFT) around a dynamical instability. Using a density matrix formalism instead of the standard macroscopic wave function approach, we derive equations of motion which go beyond MFT and provide accurate predictions for the quantum break time. The leading quantum corrections appear as decoherence of the reduced single-particle quantum state.     

Covariant canonical quantization of fields and Bohmian mechanics

We propose a manifestly covariant canonical method of field quantization based on the classical De Donder-Weyl covariant canonical formulation of field theory. Owing to covariance, the space and time arguments of fields are treated on an equal footing. To achieve both covariance and consistency with standard non-covariant canonical quantization of fields in Minkowski spacetime, it is necessary to adopt a covariant Bohmian formulation of quantum field theory. A preferred foliation of spacetime emerges dynamically owing to a purely quantum effect. The application to a simple time-reparametrization invariant system and quantum gravity is discussed and compared with the conventional non-covariant Wheeler-DeWitt approach.Received: 11 October 2004, Published online: 6 July 2005PACS: 04.20.Fy, 04.60.Ds, 04.60.Gw, 04.60.-m     

A Proposal for a Bohmian Ontology of Quantum Gravity

The paper shows how the Bohmian approach to quantum physics can be applied to develop a clear and coherent ontology of non-perturbative quantum gravity. We suggest retaining discrete objects as the primitive ontology also when it comes to a quantum theory of space-time and therefore focus on loop quantum gravity. We conceive atoms of space, represented in terms of nodes linked by edges in a graph, as the primitive ontology of the theory and show how a non-local law in which a universal and stationary wave-function figures can provide an order of configurations of such atoms of space such that the classical space-time of general relativity is approximated. Although there is as yet no fully worked out physical theory of quantum gravity, we regard the Bohmian approach as setting up a standard that proposals for a serious ontology in this field should meet and as opening up a route for fruitful physical and mathematical investigations.     

Toward a rigorous quantum field theory

This paper outlines a framework that may provide a mathematically rigorous quantum field theory. The framework relies upon the methods of nonstandard analysis. A theory of nonstandard inner product spaces and operators on these spaces is first developed. This theory is then applied to construct nonstandard Fock spaces which extend the standard Fock spaces. Then a rigorous framework for the field operators of quantum field theory is presented. The results are illustrated for the case of Klein-Gordon fields.     

Unparticle example in 2D

We discuss what can be learned about unparticle physics by studying simple quantum field theories in one space and one time dimension. We argue that the exactly soluble 2D theory of a massless fermion coupled to a massive vector boson, the Sommerfield model, is an interesting analog of a Banks-Zaks model, approaching a free theory at high energies and a scale-invariant theory with nontrivial anomalous dimensions at low energies. We construct a toy standard model coupling to the fermions in the Sommerfield model and study how the transition from unparticle behavior at low energies to free particle behavior at high energies manifests itself in interactions with the toy standard model particles.     

Bohmian mechanics and quantum field theory

We discuss a recently proposed extension of Bohmian mechanics to quantum field theory. For more or less any regularized quantum field theory there is a corresponding theory of particle motion, which, in particular, ascribes trajectories to the electrons or whatever sort of particles the quantum field theory is about. Corresponding to the nonconservation of the particle number operator in the quantum field theory, the theory describes explicit creation and annihilation events: the world lines for the particles can begin and end.     

Rules of probability in quantum mechanics

We show that the quantum mechanical rules for manipulating probabilities follow naturally from standard probability theory. We do this by generalizing a result of Khinchin regarding characteristic functions. From standard probability theory we obtain the methods usually associated with quantum theory; that is, the operator method, eigenvalues, the Born rule, and the fact that only the eigenvalues of the operator have nonzero probability. We discuss the general question as to why quantum mechanics seemingly necessitates different methods than standard probability theory and argue that the quantum mechanical method is much richer in its ability to generate a wide variety of probability distributions which are inaccessibe by way of standard probability theory.It is a pleasure to dedicate this paper to David Bohm in honor of his 70th birthday.This work is supported in part by The City University Research Award Program.     

On the meaning of a non-renormalizable theory of gravitation

The renormalizability of quantum gravity remains an open question while it has been established recently that quantum gravity in the presence of standard sources is non-renormalizable. In view of traditional confusion and ambiguities surrounding non-renormalizable quantum field theories, it has been felt that physical theories must be renormalizable. Recently a new, nonperturbative view of non-renormalizable theories has been suggested that may have relevance for various interactions including gravity and various sources. In a path integral approach to quantum field theory such a view attributes ‘hard cores’ in the space of field histories to non-renormalizable interactions. Just as with more familiar ‘hard cores’, turning off the interaction does not completely remove all effects of the potential. Consequently the interacting theory is not even continuously connected to the usual free theory, but rather to an alternative ‘pseudo-free’ theory that incorporates the vestiges of the ‘hard cores’. Some insight into what is the significance and interpretation of non-renormalizable interactions can be gleaned from exactly soluble models. Application of this philosophy of non-renormalizable interactions is discussed for the gravitational field in interaction with some standard sources.     

量子信息研究进展

量子信息论是经典信息论与量子力学相结合的新兴交叉学科。本文综述了量子信息领域的研究进展。即包括了为人们所熟知的量子通信与量子计算领域 ,也包括了刚刚兴起的但却有巨大潜力的量子对策论等领域。本文以介绍量子信息论的基本理论框架为主 ,同时也介绍了量子信息领域的实验研究进展。     

量子信息研究进展

量子信息论是经典信息论与量子力学相结合的新兴交叉学科,本综述了最子信息领域的研究进展。即包括了为人们所熟知的量子通信与量子计算领域,也包括了刚刚兴起的但却有巨大潜力的量子对策论等领域。本以介绍量子信息论的基本理论框架为主,同时也介绍了量子信息领域的实验研究进展。     

Axiomatic Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime

The usual formulations of quantum field theory in Minkowski spacetime make crucial use of features—such as Poincaré 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 constructed in a local and covariant manner from the spacetime metric and other background structure, such as time and space orientations), 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.     

受激拉曼增益介质中的量子噪声特性研究

研究了三能级原子系综与相干控制场以及量子探测场的相互作用下的受激拉曼系统.运用量子理论推导出了该受激拉曼系统中由于量子场真空涨落引起的量子噪声以及受激散射的量子化光场噪声谱,并且数值计算了注入拥有非经典涨落的量子探测场,真空涨落所引起的量子噪声谱. 关键词： 受激拉曼增益 量子噪声 噪声谱     

Particles,Cutoffs and Inequivalent Representations

We critically review the recent debate between Doreen Fraser and David Wallace on the interpretation of quantum field theory, with the aim of identifying where the core of the disagreement lies. We show that, despite appearances, their conflict does not concern the existence of particles or the occurrence of unitarily inequivalent representations. Instead, the dispute ultimately turns on the very definition of what a quantum field theory is. We further illustrate the fundamental differences between the two approaches by comparing them both to the Bohmian program in quantum field theory.