General aspects of stochastic quantum field theory for extended particles

Theories of free fields describing spin zero and1/2 extended particles are derived within the stochastic quantum field theory (SQFT) framework. Covariant SQFT analogs of free Schwinger functions and Feynman propagators are obtained, and explicit expressions for charge and four-momentum operators are derived which exhibit a remarkable formal resemblance to their local counterparts. It is shown that the essential results of the LSZ formalism for interacting fields also have their counterpart in SQFT, and that the same holds true of Wightman's reconstruction theorem. Fields on quantum space-time do not obey the local (anti)-commutativity postulate, but we argue that due to the uncertainty principle this postulate cannot be operationally justified as an expression of microcausality despite the customary identification of the two notions. An operationally consistent microcausality condition is proposed instead.This work was supported in part by an NRC research grant.     

On the Stability of a Quantum Dynamics of a Bose-Einstein Condensate Trapped in a One-Dimensional Toroidal Geometry

We rigorously analyze the stability of the “quasi-classical” dynamics of a Bose-Einstein condensate with repulsive and attractive interactions, trapped in an effective 1D toroidal geometry. The “classical” dynamics, which corresponds to the Gross-Pitaevskii mean field theory, is stable in the case of repulsive interaction, and unstable (under some conditions) in the case of attractive interaction. The corresponding quantum dynamics for observables is described by using a closed system of linear partial differential equations. In both cases of stable and unstable quasi-classical dynamics the quantum effects represent a singular perturbation to the quasi-classical solutions, and are described by the terms in these equations which consist of a small quasi-classical parameter which multiplies high-order “spatial” derivatives. We demonstrate that as a result of the quantum singularity for observables a convergence of quantum solutions to the corresponding classical solutions exists only for limited times, and estimate the characteristic time-scales of the convergence.     

Permion spectrum in a confined SU(n) quark model

An explicit form of a colour-singlet Fermion field is constructed from the operator solution of SU(n) Thirring model where the quark-fields are known to be confined in LSZ sense. In simple cases of massless quarks these ferions are free with zero mass and can be expressed as the antisymmetric composites of constituent quark fields. This simple exercise suggests an alternative to conventional two-dimensional QCD which seems to confine all Fermion including baryons by Schwinger mechanism.     

Supersymmetry and the Parisi-Sourlas dimensional reduction: A rigorous proof

Functional integrals that are formally related to the average correlation functions of a classical field theory in the presence of random external sources are given a rigorous meaning. Their dimensional reduction to the Schwinger functions of the corresponding quantum field theory in two fewer dimensions is proven. This is done by reexpressing those functional integrals as expectations of a supersymmetric field theory. The Parisi-Sourlas dimensional reduction of a supersymmetric field theory to a usual quantum field theory in two fewer dimensions is proven.Partially supported by the NSF under grant MCS-8301889Partially supported by FAPESP     

Schwinger Formula Revisited

We apply the formal W.K.B. method in the complex plane to the quantum field theory to obtain the Schwinger formula for spin and spinless particles; i.e., we obtain the probability that the vacuum state remains unchanged in presence of a constant electric field. Finally, from Schwinger formula we calculate the probability that n pairs are produced.     

Transformation theory ofq-quantum mechanics

Although there is no empirical motivation for replacing the commutators of dynamically conjugate operators in quantum mechanics byq-commutators, it appears possible to construct a consistent mathematical formulism based on this idea. To examine such a possibility further, we have studied the relation of this proposal to the Schwinger action principle, since the entire quantum mechanical formulism may be inferred from this principle. In particular, we have discussed the quantum transformation theory within this framework.To Julian Schwinger, 1918–1994, one of the creators of quantum field theory, and a giant of twentieth-century physics     

Variations on a theme of Schwinger and Weyl

The theme of doing quantum mechanics on all Abelian groups goes back to Schwinger and Weyl. This theme was studied earlier from the point of view of approximating quantum systems in infinite-dimensional spaces by those associated to finite Abelian groups. This Letter links this theme to deformation quantization, and explores the set of noncommutative associative algebra structures on the Schwartz-Weil algebra of any locally compact separable Abelian group. If the group is a vector space of even dimension over a non-Archimedean local fieldK, there exists a family of noncommutative (Moyal) structures parametrized by the local field and containing membersarbitrarily close to the classical one, although the classical algebra is rigid in the sense of deformation theory. The-products are defined by Fourier integral operators. The problem of constructing sucharithmetic Moyal structures on the algebra of Schwartz-Bruhat functions on manifolds that are locally likeK ²ⁿ is raised.In memory of Julian Schwinger     

Functional approach to scattering in quantum field theory

A functional approach to scattering theory in quantum field theory is developed by deriving an explicit functional expression fortransition amplitudes. In applications, the formalism avoids dealing with noncommutativity problems of field operators, avoids solving the field equations, avoids dealing with the often quite complicated continual (path) integrals, and avoids combinatoric problems associated with Feynman rules and the old-fashioned Wick's theorem. Finally, it avoids explicitly taking mass shell limits as in the LSZ formalism. The basic idea of the formalism is to use the quantum action principle followed by a systematic analysis of the concept of stimulated emissions as applied to particles of any spin, and is a generalization of an earlier method applied by the author to the much simpler situation of quantum mechanics.     

Steps Towards the Axiomatic Foundations of the Relativistic Quantum Field Theory: Spin-Statistics, Commutation Relations, and CPT Theorems

A realistic physical axiomatic approach of the relativistic quantum field theory is presented. Following the action principle of Schwinger, a covariant and general formulation is obtained. The correspondence principle is not invoked and the commutation relations are not postulated but deduced. The most important theorems such as spin-statistics, and CPT are proved. The theory is constructed form the notion of basic field and system of basic fields. In comparison with others formulations, in our realistic approach fields are regarded as real things with symmetry properties. Finally, the general structure is contrasted with other formulations.     

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.     

Probability representation and quantumness tests for qudits and two-mode light states

Using the tomographic-probability representation of spin states, the quantum behavior of qudits is examined. For a general j-qudit state, we propose an explicit formula for quantumness witness whose negative average value is incompatible with classical statistical model. The probability representations of quantum and classical (2j + 1)-level systems are compared within the framework of quantumness tests. In view of the Jordan–Schwinger map, the method is extended for checking the quantumness of two-mode light states.     

Quantum mechanics as a matrix symplectic geometry

The main purpose of this work is to describe the quantum analog of the usual classical symplectic geometry and then to formulate quantum mechanics as a noncommutative symplectic geometry. First, we describe a discrete Weyl-Schwinger realization of the Heisenberg group and we develop a discrete version of the Weyl-Wigner-Moyal formalism. We also study the continuous limit and the case of higher degrees of freedom. In analogy with the classical case, we present the noncommutative (quantum) symplectic geometry associated with the matrix algebraM _N (C) generated by the Schwinger matrices.     

Quantum mechanics on Riemannian manifold in Schwinger's quantization approach III

Using the extended Schwinger quantization approach, quantum mechanics on a Riemannian manifold M with the given action of an intransitive group of isometries is developed. It was shown that quantum mechanics can be determined unequivocally only on submanifolds of M where G acts simply transitively (orbits of G action). The remaining part of the degrees of freedom can be described unequivocally after introducing some additional assumptions. Being logically unmotivated, these assumptions are similar to the canonical quantization postulates. Besides this ambiguity which is of a geometrical nature there is an undetermined gauge field of the order of (or higher), vanishing in the classical limit . Received: 19 February 2001 / Revised version: 10 May 2001 / Published online: 6 July 2001     

Null surface quantization and quantum theory of massless fields in asymptotically flat space-time

The quantum theory of massless fields in an asymptotically simple space-time is developed. The Schwinger dynamical principle and the Penrose conformal technique are exploited to derive the commutation relations on proper null surfaces in a curved space-time and on null infinities. The explicit expression for theS matrix in an asymptotically simple space-time is presented. The general expression for a density matrix describing particles created in an external field is also given and its possible applications are discussed briefly.     

Conformal transformations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-matrix in scalar field theory

In this paper, three methods for describing the conformal transformations of the S-matrix in quantum field theory are proposed. They are illustrated by applying the algebraic renormalization procedure to the quantum scalar field theory, defined by the LSZ reduction mechanism in the BPHZ renormalization scheme. Central results are shown to be independent of scheme choices and derived to all orders in loop expansions. Firstly, the local Callan-Symanzik equation is constructed, in which the insertion of the trace of the energy-momentum tensor is related to the beta function and the anomalous dimension. With this result, the Ward identities for the conformal transformations of the Green functions are derived. Then the conformal transformations of the S-matrix defined by the LSZ reduction procedure are calculated. Secondly, the conformal transformations of the S-matrix in the functional formalism are related to charge constructions. The commutators between the charges and the S-matrix operator are written in a compact way to represent the conformal transformations of the S-matrix. Lastly, the massive scalar field theory with local coupling is introduced in order to control breaking of the conformal invariance further. The conformal transformations of the S-matrix with local coupling are calculatedReceived: 3 June 2003, Revised: 24 July 2003, Published online: 2 October 2003Yong Zhang: Supported by Graduiertenkolleg Quantenfeldtheorie: Mathematische Struktur und physikalische Anwendungen, University Leipzig.     

Quantum net dynamics

The quantum net unifies the basic principles of quantum theory and relativity in a quantum spacetime having no ultraviolet infinities, supporting the Dirac equation, and having the usual vacuum as a quantum condensation. A correspondence principle connects nets to Schwinger sources and further unifies the vertical structure of the theory, so that the functions of the many hierarchic levels of quantum field theory (predicate algebra, set theory, topology,..., quantum dynamics) are served by one in quantum net dynamics.     

Classical probabilities for Majorana and Weyl spinors

We construct a map between the quantum field theory of free Weyl or Majorana fermions and the probability distribution of a classical statistical ensemble for Ising spins or discrete bits. More precisely, a Grassmann functional integral based on a real Grassmann algebra specifies the time evolution of the real wave function q_τ(t) for the Ising states τ. The time dependent probability distribution of a generalized Ising model obtains as . The functional integral employs a lattice regularization for single Weyl or Majorana spinors. We further introduce the complex structure characteristic for quantum mechanics. Probability distributions of the Ising model which correspond to one or many propagating fermions are discussed explicitly. Expectation values of observables can be computed equivalently in the classical statistical Ising model or in the quantum field theory for fermions.     

$\mathcal{PT}$-Symmetric Quantum Electrodynamics—$\mathcal{PT}$QED

The construction of PT\mathcal{PT}-symmetric quantum electrodynamics is reviewed. In particular, the massless version of the theory in 1+1 dimensions (the Schwinger model) is solved. Difficulties with unitarity of the S-matrix are discussed.