Covariant canonical quantization

We present a manifestly covariant quantization procedure based on the de Donder–Weyl Hamiltonian formulation of classical field theory. This procedure agrees with conventional canonical quantization only if the parameter space is d=1 dimensional time. In d>1 quantization requires a fundamental length scale, and any bosonic field generates a spinorial wave function, leading to the purely quantum-theoretical emergence of spinors as a byproduct. We provide a probabilistic interpretation of the wave functions for the fields, and we apply the formalism to a number of simple examples. These show that covariant canonical quantization produces both the Klein–Gordon and the Dirac equation, while also predicting the existence of discrete towers of identically charged fermions with different masses. Covariant canonical quantization can thus be understood as a “first” or pre-quantization within the framework of conventional QFT. PACS 04.62.+v; 11.10.Ef; 12.10.Kt     

Introduction to Majorana masses

We present a pedogogical review of Majorana masses and Majorana's theory of two-component massive fermions. We discuss the difference between Majorana and Dirac masses and show that Majorana masses are formion-number violating. We discuss the connection between Majorana and, Weyl spinors and show that the massive Majorana and Weyl field theories are equivalent. We study the second quantization of the massive Weyl theory in detail.     

Opening the Pandora’s box of quantum spinor fields

Lounesto’s classification of spinors is a comprehensive and exhaustive algorithm that, based on the bilinears covariants, discloses the possibility of a large variety of spinors, comprising regular and singular spinors and their unexpected applications in physics and including the cases of Dirac, Weyl, and Majorana as very particular spinor fields. In this paper we pose the problem of an analogous classification in the framework of second quantization. We first discuss in general the nature of the problem. Then we start the analysis of two basic bilinear covariants, the scalar and pseudoscalar, in the second quantized setup, with expressions applicable to the quantum field theory extended to all types of spinors. One can see that an ampler set of possibilities opens up with respect to the classical case. A quantum reconstruction algorithm is also proposed. The Feynman propagator is extended for spinors in all classes.     

Geometric quantization and quantum field theory in curved space-time

The Kostant-Souriau geometric quantization theory is applied to the problem of constructing a generally covariant quantum field theory. The occupation number formalism for a scalar field is introduced as a semiclassical approximation which is valid in low curvature regions of space-time and which depends on making a particular choice of polarization in the classical phase space of a single massive particle. The application of the formalism to particle creation problems is outlined.     

Euclidean Majorana and Weyl Spinors

The complex form algebra of Schwinger functions of a Dirac field on a Euclidean R ^d with arbitrary dimension d is decomposed into the form algebras of Majorana spinors and of Weyl spinors. The existence of real form algebras is investigated. The reality condition leads to severe restrictions in the case of Majorana forms which do not agree with the results of classical field theory. For all real form algebras Euclidean spinors are constructed as elements of a measure space.     

Principal null directions of the neutrino and derived Maxwell fields

Bineutrino fields are constructed from neutrinos described by the two-component Weyl equation. If we demand that the bineutrino fields fulfil the set of Maxwell equations, we have a classical version of the “neutrino theory of light”. With the help of the spin coefficient formalism, it is established that the energy tensor of the neutrino fields cannot be positively definite, and that the principal null direction of the bineutrino Maxwell fields does not coincide with the principal null direction of the underlying neutrino fields.     

Path integral quantization of field theories with second-class constraints

Faddeev's Hamiltonian path integral method for singular Lagrangians is generalized to the case when second-class constraints appear in the theory. The general formalism is then applied to several problems: quantization of the massive Yang-Mills field theory, light-cone quantization of the self-interacting scalar field theory, and quantization of a local field theory of magnetic monopoles.     

Angular quantization and form factors in massive integrable models

We discuss an application of the method of angular quantization to the reconstruction of form factors of local fields in massive integrable models. The general formalism is illustrated with examples of the Klein-Gordon, sinh-Gordon and Bullough-Dodd models. For the latter two models the angular quantization approach makes it possible to obtain free field representations for form factors of exponential operators. We discuss an intriguing relation between the free field representations and deformations of the Virasoro algebra. The deformation associated with the Bullough-Dodd models appears to be different from the known deformed Virasoro algebra.     

Canonical quantization and chromodynamics in a spherical cavity

The canonical quantization formalism is applied to the Lagrange density of chromodynamics, which includes gauge fixing and Faddeev-Popov ghost terms in a general covariant gauge. We develop the quantum theory of the interacting fields in the Dirac picture, based on the Gell-Mann and Low theorem and the Dyson expansion of the time evolution operator. The physical states are characterized by their invariance under Becchi-Rouet-Stora transformations. Subsequently, confinement is introduced phenomenologically by imposing, on the quark, gluon, and ghost field operators, the linear boundary conditions of the MIT bag model at the surface of a spherically symmetric and static cavity. Based on this formalism, we calculate, in the Feynman gauge, all nondivergent Feynman diagrams of second order in the strong coupling constantg. Explicit values of the matrix elements are given for low-lying quark and gluon cavity modes.     

The role of singular spinor fields in a torsional gravity,Lorentz-violating,framework

In this work, we consider a generalization of quantum electrodynamics including Lorentz violation and torsional-gravity, in the context of general spinor fields as classified in the Lounesto scheme. Singular spinor fields will be shown to be less sensitive to the Lorentz violation, as far as couplings between the spinor bilinear covariants and torsion are regarded. In addition, we prove that flagpole spinor fields do not admit minimal coupling to the torsion. In general, mass dimension four couplings are deeply affected when singular—flagpoles—spinors are considered, instead of the usual Dirac spinors. We also construct a mapping between spinors in the covariant framework and spinors in Lorentz symmetry breaking scenarios, showing how one may transliterate spinors of different classes between the two cases. Specific examples concerning the mapping of Dirac spinor fields in Lorentz violating scenarios into flagpole and flag-dipole spinors with full Lorentz invariance (including the cases of Weyl and Majorana spinors) are worked out.     

Superspace,dimensional reduction,and stochastic quantization

The equivalence between a 6-dimensional stochastic classical scalar field theory and the corresponding 4-dimensional quantum field theory has been shown to stem from a hidden supersymmetry of the former. This has led to a formulation of quantum field theory in a superspace of 6 commuting and 2 anticommuting dimensions. We study gauge and spinor field theories defined on this superspace, showing that the dimensional reduction is a consequence of the geometry of the superspace, and that the stochastic formalism for gauge theories is a natural consequence of the structure of the superspace theory. This allows us to extend the stochastic formalism to include spinors.     

Weyl-Wigner-Moyal formalism for Fermi classical systems

The Weyl-Wigner-Moyal formalism of fermionic classical systems with a finite number of degrees of freedom is considered. The Weyl correspondence is studied by computing the relevant Stratonovich-Weyl quantizer. The Moyal -product, Wigner functions and normal ordering are obtained for generic fermionic systems. Finally, this formalism is used to perform the deformation quantization of the Fermi oscillator and the supersymmetric quantum mechanics.     

The quantum state of the universe from deformation quantization and classical-quantum correlation

In this paper we study the quantum cosmology of homogeneous and isotropic cosmology, via the Weyl–Wigner–Groenewold–Moyal formalism of phase space quantization, with perfect fluid as a matter source. The corresponding quantum cosmology is described by the Moyal–Wheeler-DeWitt equation which has exact solutions in Moyal phase space, resulting in Wigner quasiprobability distribution functions peaking around the classical paths for large values of scale factor. We show that the Wigner functions of these models are peaked around the non-singular universes with quantum modified density parameter of radiation.     

Classical geometry to quantum behavior correspondence in a virtual extra dimension

In the Lorentz invariant formalism of compact space–time dimensions the assumption of periodic boundary conditions represents a consistent semi-classical quantization condition for relativistic fields. In Dolce (2011) [18] we have shown, for instance, that the ordinary Feynman path integral is obtained from the interference between the classical paths with different winding numbers associated with the cyclic dynamics of the field solutions. By means of the boundary conditions, the kinematical information of interactions can be encoded on the relativistic geometrodynamics of the boundary, see Dolce (2012) [8]. Furthermore, such a purely four-dimensional theory is manifestly dual to an extra-dimensional field theory. The resulting correspondence between extra-dimensional geometrodynamics and ordinary quantum behavior can be interpreted in terms of AdS/CFT correspondence. By applying this approach to a simple Quark–Gluon–Plasma freeze-out model we obtain fundamental analogies with basic aspects of AdS/QCD phenomenology.