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.      

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.     

q-field theory

One may attempt to implementq-symmetry in field theory by replacing commutators byq-commutators. The quantized field is then described byq-oscillators. This program encounters a basic difficulty, however, when one demands either causality or consistency between the twin requirements of causality and positive energy. Independent of the preceding remark, one notes that the Einstein-Bose and Fermi-Dirac thermal distributions appear as limiting cases of the quantizedq-field whenq = ± 1.     

Sigma-models having supermanifolds as target spaces

We study a topological sigma-model (A-model) in the case when the target space is an (m ₀|m ₁)-dimensional supermanifold. We prove under certain conditions that such a model is equivalent to an A-model having an (m ₀–m ₁)-dimensional manifold as a target space. We use this result to prove that in the case when the target space of A-model is a complete intersection in a toric manifold, this A-model is equivalent to an A-model having a toric supermanifold as a target space.Research supported in part by NSF grant No. DMS-9201366.     

Topological representations of U q (sl2(ℂ)) on the torus and the mapping class group

We compute the mapping class group action on cycles on the configuration space of the torus with one puncture, with coefficients in a local system arising in conformal field theory. This action commutes with the topological action of the quantum group U _q (sl₂()), and is given in vertex form.     

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.     

Evidence for nonperturbative string symmetries

String theory appears to admit a group of discrete field transformations — calledS dualities — as exact nonperturbative quantum symmetries. Mathematically, they are rather analogous to the better-knownT duality symmetries, which hold perturbatively. In this Letter the evidence forS duality is reviewed and some speculations are presented.     

On haag dual nets over compact spaces

The purpose of this Letter is to analyze some concepts and methods used in papers of Fredenhagenet al. in order to prepare further results on the interplay between algebraic properties of nets of von Neumann algebras on compact spaces and their topological properties.Partly supported by DFG, SFB 288 Differentialgeometrie und Quantenphysik.     

Dyons in topological field theories

We examine a class of topological field theories defined by Lagrangians that under certain conditions can be written as the sum of two characteristic numbers or winding numbers. Therefore, the action or the energy is a topological invariant and stable under perturbations. The sufficient conditions required for stability take the form of first-order field equations, analogous to the self-duality and Bogomol'nyi equations in Yang-Mills(-Higgs) theory. Solutions to the first-order equations automatically satisfy the full field equations. We show the existence of nontrivial, nonsingular, minimum energy spherically symmetric dyon solutions and that they are stable. We also discuss evidence for a dual field theory to Yang-Mills-Higgs in topological field theory. The existence of dual field theories and electric monopoles is predicted by Montonen and Olive.     

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.     

A note on strongly additive conformal field theory and half-sided modular conormal standard inclusions

Given a half-sided modular standard inclusion (N , ) of von-Neumann algebras which is conormal, we construct a chiral conformal quantum field theory on the circle. Conversely, a conformal quantum field theory on the circle which fulfills, in addition, the property of strong additivity, yields such data in a natural way.Partly supported by the DFG, SFB 288 Differentialgeometrie und Quantenphysik.     

Algebraic fermion bosonization

By exploiting the construction of charged field algebras as canonical extensions of CCR current algebras in 1+1 dimensions and nonregular representations of extended algebras, we provide an algebraic construction of local Fermi fields as ultrastrong limits of bosonic variables in all representations which are locally Fock with respect to the ground-state representation of the massless scalar field.     

A topological theory of the electromagnetic field

It is shown that Maxwell equations in vacuum derive from an underlying topological structure given by a scalar field which represents a map S ³×RS ² and determines the electromagnetic field through a certain transformation, which also linearizes the highly nonlinear field equations to the Maxwell equations. As a consequence, Maxwell equations in vacuum have topological solutions, characterized by a Hopf index equal to the linking number of any pair of magnetic lines. This allows the classification of the electromagnetic fields into homotopy classes, labeled by the value of the helicity. Although the model makes use of only c-number fields, the helicity always verifies A·Bd³ r=n, n being an integer and an action constant, which necessarily appears in the theory, because of reasons of dimensionality.     

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.     

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.     

Yang—Mills instantons over Riemann surfaces

Exact solutions to the self-dual Yang—Mills equations over Riemann surfaces of arbitrary genus are constructed. They are characterized by the conformal class of the Riemann surface. They correspond to U(1) instantonic solutions for an Abelian-Higgs system. A functional action of a genus g Riemann surface is constructed, with minimal points being the two-dimensional self-dual connections. The exact solutions may be interpreted as connecting initial and final nontrivial vacuum states of a conformal theory, in the sense of Segal, with a Feynman functor constructed from the functional integral of the action.     

The explicit form of the vertex operator fields in two-dimensional quantum SL(2, ℂ) field theory

The explicit form of the vertex operator fields in two-dimensional quantum sl(2, ) field theory is found.     

The indecomposable representation of SO0(2, 2) on the one-particle space of the massless field in 1 + 1 dimension

In the continuum O(3) sigma model in two spatial dimensions, there are topological solitons whose size can be stabilized by adding Skyrme and potential terms. This Letter describes a lattice version, namely a natural way of modifying the 2D Heisenberg model to achieve topological stability on the lattice.     

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.     

Quantum fields in 1+1-dimension carrying a true ray representation of the Poincaré group

In 1+1 spacetime dimensions there are genuine ray representations of the Poincaré group P ₊ ^sup . We shall construct a free relativistic quantum field theory, such that the fields _d are covariant under P ₊ ^sup and transform with a nontrivial infinitesimal exponent d.