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.     

Radiative processes as a condensation phenomenon and the physical meaning of deformed canonical structures

We study the radiative corrections of QED₃ from the dual point of view and show that this process is the exact dual to the Julia–Toulouse mechanism introduced by Quevedo and Trugenberger [F. Quevedo, C.A. Trugenberger, Nucl. Phys. B 501 (1997) 143] some years ago. We discuss the physics behind this mechanism that involves condensation of topological defects. It is shown that the dual Stuckelberg mechanism is responsible for the “rank-jump” phenomenon that transforms the scalar field (dual to Maxwell in this dimensionality) into the vectorial self-dual field. This phenomenon is studied using the ideas of noncommutative fields theory that examines possible deformations of the canonical structure of some well-known models in (2+1)D$(2+1)\mathrm{D}$. A deformation is constructed linking the massless scalar field theory with the self-dual theory. This is the exact dual of the known deformation connecting the Maxwell theory with the Maxwell–Chern–Simons theory. Duality, radiative corrections, the Julia–Toulouse mechanism and canonical deformations are then used to establish a web of relations between the mentioned theories and to propose a physical picture of the deformation procedure adopted.     

Covariant canonical quantization of the green-schwarz superstring

Introducing a new type of D = 10 harmonic superspace with two generations of harmonic coordinates, we reduce the Green-Schwarz (GS) superstring to a system whose constraints are Lorentz covariant and functionally independent. These features allow us to impose Lorentz-covariant gauge fixing conditions for the reparametrization and the fermionic κ-invariances. The resulting Q_BRST corresponds to the finite-dimensional Lie algebra of the remaining purely harmonic constraints. The super-Poincaré symmetry acts in a manifestly Lorentz-covariant form and is apparently anomaly free.     

Nonstandard canonical quantization of local field theories

A recent new approach to classical local field theories (CLFT) offers a new, alternative quantization procedure of fields. A brief discussion of this nonstandard field quantization is given.Presented at the International Conference Selected Topics in Quantum Field Theory and Mathematical Physics, Bechyn, Czechoslovakia, June 23–27, 1986.     

Equivalence of stochastic and canonical quantization in perturbation theory

It is shown that the stochastic quantization method introduced by Parisi and Wu reproduces, order by order, the ordinary perturbation expansion. The proof is valid for any field theory, including gauge theories, provided one considers gauge-invariant quantities.     

The physical meaning of Fermi coordinates

Fermi coordinates (FC) are supposed to be the natural extension of Cartesian coordinates for an arbitrary moving observer in curved space-time. Since their construction cannot be done on the whole space or even in the whole past of the observer we examine which construction principles are responsible for this effect and how they may be modified. A proposal for a modification is made and applied to the observer with constant acceleration in the two- and four-dimensional Minkowski space. The two-dimensional case shows some surprising similarities to Kruskal space which generalize those found by Rindler for the outer region of Kruskal space and the Rindler wedge. In perturbational approaches the modification also leads to different predictions for certain physical systems. As an example we consider atomic interferometry and derive the deviation of the acceleration-induced phase shift from the standard result in Fermi coordinates.     

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     

On the meaning of the canonical ensemble

Thermal equilibrium between (quantum) systems is taken to mean stability for the combined system. Necessary and sufficient conditions for such stability are found and used to show that any system in equilibrium with suitably complex second system (heat bath) will be characterized by a canonical ensemble. Thus the notion of temperature is derived directly from that of equilibrium, without, for example, recourse to microcanonical ensembles or information theory. Discussed briefly are the generalization of these results to grand canonical ensembles and their application to the equilibrium between a black hole and the surrounding radiation field.     

The physical meaning of the de Sitter invariants

We study the Lie algebras of the covariant representations transforming the matter fields under the de Sitter isometries. We point out that the Casimir operators of these representations can be written in closed forms and we deduce how their eigenvalues depend on the field’s rest energy and spin. For the scalar, vector and Dirac fields, which have well-defined field equations, we express these eigenvalues in terms of mass and spin obtaining thus the principal invariants of the theory of free fields on the de Sitter spacetime. We show that in the flat limit we recover the corresponding invariants of the Wigner irreducible representations of the Poincaré group.     

Consistent canonical quantization of general relativity in the space of vassiliev invariants

We present a quantization of the Hamiltonian and diffeomorphism constraint of canonical quantum gravity in the spin network representation. The novelty consists in considering a space of wave functions based on the Vassiliev invariants. The constraints are finite, well defined, and reproduce at the level of quantum commutators the Poisson algebra of constraints of the classical theory. A similar construction can be carried out in 2+1 dimensions leading to the correct quantum theory.     

On the space-time interpretation of classical canonical systems II: Relativistic canonical systems

Relativistic canonical systems and their symmetries are defined and classified within the class of canonical systems treated in a previous paper. Their algebra of variables contains a subset of monotone variables which satisfy a certain uniqueness condition and are later shown to increase strictly in the course of the dynamical evolution of the system on all physically acceptable states. This leads to a unique space-time interpretation of relativistic canonical systems. Finally we study space-time factorizations of such systems and introduce the appropriate notion of states. For a certain simple class of states the theory is shown to describe the motion of relativistic matter in some external gravitational and electromagnetic field.     

Accelerated observers,canonical quantization and the role of event horizons

We find that the particle detector and canonical quantization approaches to quantum field theory for non-inertial observers must necessarily yield consistent answers and that claims otherwise originate in an incorrect choice of rest frame coordinates. Event horizons in the coordinate system are thus a sufficient but not a necessary condition for the Fulling-Davies-Unruh effect of inequivalent vacua and particle detection.