On the holomorphic factorization for superconformal fields

For a generic value of the central charge, we prove the holomorphic factorization of partition functions for free superconformal fields which are defined on a compact Riemann surface without boundary. The partition functions are viewed as functionals of the Beltrami coefficients and their fermionic partners, which variables parametrize superconformal classes of metrics.     

Dispersive Calculation of the Massless Multi-loop Sunrise Diagram

The massless sunrise diagram with an arbitrary number of loops is calculated in a simple but formal manner. The result is then verified by rigorous mathematical treatment. Pitfalls in the calculation with distributions are highlighted and explained. The result displays the high energy behaviour of the massive sunrise diagrams, whose calculation is involved already for the two-loop case.     

The gravitational anomalies in de Sitter space

All solutions to the consistency equations are determined which have to be satisfied by anomalies in gravitational theories with a de Sitter-invariant groundstate. They turn out to be identical with the solutions for a Poincaré-invariant groundstate.     

Absence of species doubling in finite-element quantum electrodynamics

In this Letter, it will be demonstrated explicitly that the finite-element formulation of quantum electrodynamics is free from fermion doubling. We do this by (1) examining the lattice fermion propagator and using it to compute the one-loop vacuum polarization on the lattice, and (2) by an explict computation of vector and axial-vector current anomalies for an arbitrary rectangular lattice in the Schwinger model. There it is shown that requiring that the vector current be conserved necessitates the use of a square lattice, in which case the axial-vector current is anomalous.     

Causal Construction of the Massless Vertex Diagram

The massless one-loop vertex diagram is constructed by exploiting the causal structure of the diagram in configuration space, which can be translated directly into dispersive relations in momentum space.     

Nuclearity,split property,and duality for the Klein-Gordon field in curved spacetime

Nuclearity, split property and duality are established for the nets of von Neumann algebras associated with the representations of distinguished states of the massive Klein-Gordon field propagating in particular classes of curved spacetimes.Supported by the DFG.     

Remarks on the thermodynamics and the vacuum energy of a quantum Maxwell gas on compact and closed manifolds

The quantum Maxwell theory at finite temperature at equilibrium is studied on compact and closed manifolds in both the functional integral and Hamiltonian formalism. The aim is to shed some light onto the interrelation between the topology of the spatial background and the thermodynamic properties of the system. The quantization is not unique and gives rise to inequivalent quantum theories which are classified by θ-vacua. Based on explicit parametrizations of the gauge orbit space in the functional integral approach and of the physical phase space in the canonical quantization scheme, the Gribov problem is resolved and the equivalence of both quantization schemes is elucidated. Using zeta-function regularization the free energy is determined and the effect of the topology of the spatial manifold on the vacuum energy and on the thermal gauge field excitations is clarified. The general results are then applied to a quantum Maxwell gas on an n-dimensional torus providing explicit formulae for the main thermodynamic functions in the low- and high-temperature regimes, respectively.     

Krichever-Novikov formulation of topological conformal field theory

The Krichever-Novikov (KN) global operator formalism is applied to construct a topological conformal field theory on a compact Riemann surface from an N=2 super-conformal field theory. The topological version of the KN algebra is derived and the BRST charge is shown to be genus-dependent in this formulation. This leads to an interesting cohomology structure for the physical subspace of the Hilbert space.     

Sp(2) renormalization

The renormalization of general gauge theories on flat and curved space–time backgrounds is considered within the Sp(2)-covariant quantization method. We assume the existence of a gauge-invariant and diffeomorphism invariant regularization. Using the Sp(2)-covariant formalism one can show that the theory possesses gauge-invariant and diffeomorphism invariant renormalizability to all orders in the loop expansion and the extended BRST-symmetry after renormalization is preserved. The advantage of the Sp(2) method compared to the standard Batalin–Vilkovisky approach is that, in reducible theories, the structure of ghosts and ghosts for ghosts and auxiliary fields is described in terms of irreducible representations of the Sp(2) group. This makes the presentation of solutions to the master equations in more simple and systematic way because they are Sp(2)-scalars.     

A monopole-like classical solution to a purely fermionic model of even dimensions

We present a static solution to the classical field equations of a purely spinorial model with SO(2n) internal symmetry in 2n dimensions. The model contains composite vector fields which have solutions of the Wu-Yang monopole type.     

Modular inclusion,the Hawking temperature,and quantum field theory in curved spacetime

A recent result by Borchers connecting geometric modular action, modular inclusion and spectrum condition, is applied in quantum field theory on spacetimes with a bifurcate Killing horizon (these are generalizations of black-hole spacetimes, comprising the familiar black-hole spacetime models). Within this framework, we give sufficient, model-independent conditions ensuring that the temperature of thermal equilibrium quantum states is the Hawking temperature.     

On the topological theory of self-dual connections over noncompact Riemann surfaces

A topological action for self-dual connections over noncompact Riemann surfaces is proposed. TheJ formulation and the associated linear system are obtained. A new connection is constructed, depending on a Kac-Moody parameter such that its flatness condition is theJ-equation associated to the self-dual problem. The algebra of infinitesimal Bäcklund transformations depending on this Kac-Moody parameter is constructed.     

Classical solutions to a quadratically nonlinear gauge theory

We present some classical solutions to a gauge theory based on quadratically nonlinear Lie algebras without a central term. We observe that instanton-like and meron-like solutions force the internal fields to behave like solitons.     

Fermion number creation via electromagnetism

Let an external current, whose support is confined to the space-like slab |x ⁰| < T in two-dimensional spacetime, build up a localized charge density which vanishes for times |x ⁰| > T. We show that the zero mass Dirac quantum field reacts to this current by a c-number shift of the fermion number, i.e. Q _out=Q _in+Q, with , where q(x ⁰) denotes the total external charge. For the shift of the axial charge we obtain an extension of existing results.     

Self-dual Yang-Mills fields in eight dimensions

Strongly self-dual Yang-Mills fields in even-dimensional spaces are characterised by a set of constraints on the eigenvalues of the Yang-Mills fieldsF . We derive a topological bound on R⁸, , wherep1 is the first Pontryagin class of the SO(n) Yang-Mills bundle, andk is a constant. Strongly self-dual Yang-Mills fields realise the lower bound.     

Resummation of Mass Terms in Perturbative Massless Quantum Field Theory

The neutral massless scalar quantum field Φ in four-dimensional space-time is considered, which is subject to a simple bilinear self-interaction. Is is well-known from renormalization theory that adding a term of the form to the Lagrangean has the formal effect of shifting the particle mass from the original zero value to m after resummation of all two-leg insertions in the Feynman graphs appearing in the perturbative expansion of the S-matrix. However, this resummation is accompanied by some subtleties if done in a proper mathematical manner. Although the model seems to be almost trivial, is shows many interesting features which are useful for the understanding of the convergence behavior of perturbation theory in general. Some important facts in connection with the basic principles of quantum field theory and distribution theory are highlighted, and a remark is made on possible generalizations of the distribution spaces used in local quantum field theory. A short discussion how one can view the spontaneous breakdown of gauge symmetry in massive gauge theories within a massless framework is presented.      

An example of cancellation of infinities in the star-quantization of fields

Within the *-quantization framework, it is shown how to remove some of the divergences occurring in theø ₂ ⁴ -theory by introducing a-dependent *-product cohomologically equivalent to the normal *-product.     

The finite gauge transformations in closed string field theory

The finite gauge transformations for the classical nonpolynomial closed string field theory are constructed by iteration of infinitesimal transformations. A simple rule for the determination of the coefficients of the arising series is found.Supported by funds provided by the Max Kade Foundation.     

On the classical lump of Yang-Mills fields

It is shown that for pure Yang-Mills fields there is no lump phenomena if the total energy is infinite and diverges mildly in a certain sense. This improves the well-known classical result on the absence of a lump for the finite total energy case. Some exact lump solutions are obtained showing that the energy condition cannot be removed. The results are valid for more general fields.This work was supported by the Chinese Natural Science Foundation, the Chinese Fund of Doctor Programs, and the University of Paris VI, and University of Bourgogne.