Relativistic Few-Body Physics

I discuss different formulations of the relativistic few-body problem with an emphasis on how they are related. I first discuss the implications of some of the differences with non-relativistic quantum mechanics. Then I point out that the principle of special relativity in quantum mechanics implies that the quantum theory has a Poincaré symmetry, which is realized by a unitary representation of the Poincaré group. This representation can always be decomposed into direct integrals of irreducible representations and the different formulations differ only in how these irreducible representations are realized. I discuss how these representations appear in different formulations of relativistic quantum mechanics and discuss some applications in each of these frameworks.     

Poincaré-Invariant Coupled-Channel Models for Meson Photoproduction

A general procedure for constructing Poincaré-invariant mass operators in a helicity basis is presented. The procedure is developed in the framework of the instant form of relativistic quantum mechanics, but it can be easily extended to other forms. The method is used to extend a previously developed Poincaré-invariant coupled-channel model for the pion-nucleon system to include a photon-nucleon channel. This makes it possible to carry out calculations on photoproduction from nucleons that satisfy exactly the requirements of special relativity. Methods are given for deriving potentials that couple the photon-nucleon channel to the pion-nucleon channel. These potentials are invariant under gauge transformations of the photon's polarization vector. Amplitudes obtained by solving the Lippmann-Schwinger equations that arise from the Poincaré-invariant mass operators satisfy unitarity, and hence Watson's theorem for photoproduction amplitudes. The methods presented can also be used to develop models for the photoproduction of and mesons, as well as vector mesons. Received April 14, 1997; revised September 24, 1997; accepted for publication October 15, 1997     

Modal-Hamiltonian Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics and Casimir Operators: The Road Toward Quantum Field Theory

The general aim of this paper is to extend the Modal-Hamiltonian interpretation of quantum mechanics to the case of relativistic quantum mechanics with gauge U(1) fields. In this case we propose that the actual-valued observables are the Casimir operators of the Poincaré group and of the group U(1) of the internal symmetry of the theory. Moreover, we also show that the magnitudes that acquire actual values in the relativistic and in the non-relativistic cases are correctly related through the adequate limit.     

Relativistic geometromechanics

Relativistic geometromechanics is developed whose kinematics in the quantum period of the Universe is significantly modified as compared with that of canonical mechanics and is coincident with that of relativistic Poincaré – Einstein mechanics in the absence of vacuum-like scalar field.     

Poincaré's theorem and unitary transformations for classical and quantum systems

Poincaré's celebrated theorem on the nonexistence of analytical invariants of motion is extended to the case of a continuous spectrum to deal with large classical and quantum systems. It is shown that Poincaré's theorem applies to situations where there exist continuous sets of resonances. This condition is equivalent to the nonvanishing of the asymptotic collision operator as defined in modern kinetic theory. Typical examples are systems presenting relaxation processes or exhibiting unstable quantum levels. As the result of Poincaré's theorem, the unitary transformation, leading to a cyclic Hamiltonian in classical mechanics or to the diagonalization of the Hamiltonian operator in quantum mechanics, diverges. We obtain therefore a dynamical classification of large classical or quantum systems. This is of special interest for quantum systems as, historically, quantum mechanics has been formulated following closely the patterns of classical integrable systems. The well known results of Friedrichs concerning the coupling of discrete states with a continuum are recovered. However, the role of the collision operator suggests new ways of eliminating the divergence in the unitary transformation theory.     

Electromagnetic and Axial Form Factors of Octet and Decuplet Baryons

We report from a study of the elastic electromagnetic and axial form factors of all lowest baryon states with flavors up, down, and strange along relativistic constituent-quark models. We consider the baryons as relativistic bound states of three constituent quarks and solve the eigenvalue problem of the invariant mass operator. The corresponding eigenstates are employed to calculate manifestly covariant form factors within the point form of Poincaré-invariant quantum mechanics. The electromagnetic and axial current operators are constructed along the spectator model in point-form relativistic dynamics. We have thus obtained covariant predictions for the electroweak form factors, for momentum transfers up to Q ² ~ 4 GeV², as well as the electric radii, magnetic moments, and axial charges. The theoretical results in general agree very well with existing phenomenological data. In cases, where no experimental information is yet available, the results are well compatible with data from lattice quantum chromodynamics.     

Hadron Structure Within the Point Form of Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

We present an outline of recent developments in the field of hadron form-factor calculations within constituent-quark models using the point form of relativistic quantum mechanics. Our method to calculate currents and form factors is exemplified by means of the weak B → D transition. We present results for weak B → D transition form factors in the space- and the time-like momentum-transfer region. We discuss how wrong cluster properties, which one has to deal with when employing relativistic quantum mechanics, affect these form factors and we estimate the role non-valence, Z-graph contributions may play for decay kinematics.     

Pion charge form factor and constraints from space-time translations

The role of Poincaré covariant space-time translations is investigated in the case of a relativistic quantum mechanics approach to the pion charge form factor.It is shown that the related constraints are generally inconsistent with the assumption of a single-particle current,which is most often referred to.The only exception is the front-form approach with q + = 0.How accounting for the related constraints,as well as restoring the equivalence of different RQM approaches in estimating form factors,is discussed.Some extensions of this work and,in particular,the relationship with a dispersion-relation approach,are presented.Conclusions relative to the underlying dynamics are given.     

Covariant Hamiltonian dynamics with negative-energy states

A relativistic quantum mechanics is studied for bound hadronic systems in the framework of the point form relativistic Hamiltonian dynamics. Negative-energy states are introduced taking into account the restrictions imposed by a correct definition of the Poincaré group generators. We obtain nonpathological, manifestly covariant wave equations that dynamically contain the contributions of the negative-energy states. Auxiliary negative-energy states are also introduced, specially for studying the interactions of the hadronic systems with external probes.     

Poincaré-Lie algebra and noncommutative differential calculus

A realization of Poincaré-Lie algebra in terms of noncommutative differential calculus was constructed. Corresponding relativistic quantum mechanics was considered.     

Meson-Cloud Effects in the Electromagnetic Nucleon Structure

We study how the electromagnetic structure of the nucleon is influenced by a pion cloud. To this aim we make use of a constituent-quark model with instantaneous confinement and a pion that couples directly to the quarks. To derive the invariant 1-photon-exchange electron-nucleon scattering amplitude we employ a Poincaré-invariant coupled-channel formulation which is based on the point-form of relativistic quantum mechanics. We argue that the electromagnetic nucleon current extracted from this amplitude can be reexpressed in terms of pure hadronic degrees of freedom with the quark substructure of the pion and the nucleon being encoded in electromagnetic and strong vertex form factors. These are form factors of bare particles, i.e. eigenstates of the pure confinement problem. First numerical results for (bare) photon-nucleon and pion-nucleon form factors, which are the basic ingredients of the further calculation, are given for a simple 3-quark wave function of the nucleon.     

A Relativistic Coupled-Channel Formalism for Electromagnetic Form Factors of 2-Body Bound States

We discuss a Poincaré invariant coupled-channel formalism which is based on the point-form of relativistic quantum mechanics. Electromagnetic scattering of an electron by a 2-body bound state is treated as a 2-channel problem for a Bakamjian-Thomas-type mass operator. In this way retardation effects in the photon-exchange interaction are fully taken into account. The electromagnetic current of the 2-body bound state is then extracted from the one-photon-exchange optical potential. As an application we calculate electromagnetic pion and deuteron form factors. Wrong cluster properties, inherent in the Bakamjian-Thomas framework, are seen to cause spurious (unphysical) contributions in the current. These are separated and eliminated in an unambiguous way such that one is left with a current that has all the desired properties.     

On the quantum electrodynamics of moving bodies

A new synthesis of the principles of relativity and quantum mechanics is developed by replacing the Poincaré group for the de Sitter one. The new relativistic quantum mechanics is an indefinite-mass theory which is reduced to the standard theory on the mass shell. The charge conjugation acquires a geometrical meaning and the Stueckelberg interpretation for antiparticles naturally arises in the formalism. So the idea of the Dirac sea in the second-quantized formalism proves to be superfluous. The off-shell theory is free from ultraviolet divergences, which only appear in the process of mass-shell reduction.     

Point-form quantum field theory and meson form factors

We comment on canonical quantization of relativistic field theories on a Lorentz-invariant surface of the form x ² = τ². By this choice of the quantization surface all components of the four-momentum operator become interaction dependent, whereas the generators of Lorentz transformations stay free of interactions – a feature characteristic for Dirac’s “point-form” of relativistic dynamics. In the sequel we demonstrate how field theoretical concepts may enter the framework of relativistic quantum mechanics. To this aim we employ a Poincaré-invariant approximation scheme, which allows to reduce a field theoretical many-body problem to a multichannel problem for a Bakamjian-Thomas-type mass operator. As an application of this multichannel formalism we will discuss the scattering of an electron by a (confined) quark-antiquark pair. It will be sketched how an electromagnetic meson form factor can be extracted from the one-photon exchange optical potential.     

Use of the poincare sphere in polarization optics and classical and quantum mechanics. Review

The method of the Poincaré sphere, which was proposed by Henri Poincaré in 1891–1892, is a convenient approach to represent polarized light. This method is graphical: each point on the sphere corresponds to a certain polarization state. Apart from the obvious representation of polarized light, the method of the Poincaré sphere permits efficient solution of problems that result from the use of a set of phase plates or a combination of phase plates and ideally homogeneous polarizers. Recently, to calculate the geometric phase (which is often called the Berry phase) in polarization optics and quantum and classical mechanics, the method of the Poincaré sphere has drawn much attention, since it allows us to carry out these calculations very efficiently and intuitively using the solid angle resting, on a closed curve on the Poincaré sphere that corresponds to the change in the state of light polarization or in the state of spin of an elementary particle or its orientation in space from the viewpoint of systems in classical mechanics. The review considers papers on the above problems. Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 265–307, March. 1997.     

The Scattering Matrix and Associated Formulas in Hamiltonian Mechanics

We prove two new identities in scattering theory in Hamiltonian mechanics and discuss the analogy between these identities and their counterparts in quantum scattering theory. These identities involve the Poincaré scattering map, which is analogous to the scattering matrix. The first of our identities states that the Calabi invariant of the Poincaré scattering map can be expressed as the regularised phase space volume. This is analogous to the Birman-Krein formula. The second identity relates the Poincaré scattering map to the total time delay and is analogous to the Eisenbud-Wigner formula.     

Relativistic and separable classical hamiltonian particle dynamics

We show within the Hamiltonian formalism the existence of classical relativistic mechanics of N scalar particles interacting at a distance which satisfies the requirements of Poincaré invariance, separability, world-line invariance and Einstein causality. The line of approach which is adopted here uses the methods of the theory of systems with constraints applied to manifestly covariant systems of particles. The study is limited to the case of scalar interactions remaining weak in the whole phase space and vanishing at large space-like separation distances of the particles. Poincaré invariance requires the inclusion of many-body, up to N-body, potentials. Separability requires the use of individual or two-body variables and the construction of the total interaction from basic two-body interactions. Position variables of the particles are constructed in terms of the canonical variables of the theory according to the world-line invariance condition and the subsidiary conditions of the non-relativistic limit and separability. Positivity constraints on the interaction masses squared of the particles ensure that the velocities of the latter remain always smaller than the velocity of light.     

Point-Form Hamiltonian Dynamics and Applications

This short review summarizes recent developments and results in connection with point-form dynamics of relativistic quantum systems. We discuss a Poincaré invariant multichannel formalism which describes particle production and annihilation via vertex interactions that are derived from field theoretical interaction densities. We sketch how this rather general formalism can be used to derive electromagnetic form factors of confined quark?Cantiquark systems. As a further application it is explained how the chiral constituent quark model leads to hadronic states that can be considered as bare hadrons dressed by meson loops. Within this approach hadron resonances acquire a finite (non-perturbative) decay width. We will also discuss the point-form dynamics of quantum fields. After recalling basic facts of the free-field case we will address some quantum field theoretical problems for which canonical quantization on a space?Ctime hyperboloid could be advantageous.     

A Possible Way for Constructing Generators of the Poincaré Group in Quantum Field Theory

Starting from the instant form of relativistic quantum dynamics for a system of interacting fields, where amongst the ten generators of the Poincaré group only the Hamiltonian and the boost operators carry interactions, we offer an algebraic method to satisfy the Poincaré commutators.We do not need to employ the Lagrangian formalism for local fields with the N?ether representation of the generators. Our approach is based on an opportunity to separate in the primary interaction density a part which is the Lorentz scalar. It makes possible apply the recursive relations obtained in this work to construct the boosts in case of both local field models (for instance with derivative couplings and spins ≥ 1) and their nonlocal extensions. Such models are typical of the meson theory of nuclear forces, where one has to take into account vector meson exchanges and introduce meson-nucleon vertices with cutoffs in momentum space. Considerable attention is paid to finding analytic expressions for the generators in the clothed-particle representation, in which the so-called bad terms are simultaneously removed from the Hamiltonian and the boosts. Moreover, the mass renormalization terms introduced in the Hamiltonian at the very beginning turn out to be related to certain covariant integrals that are convergent in the field models with appropriate cutoff factors.     

The microcanonical ensemble of the ideal relativistic quantum gas with angular momentum conservation

We derive the microcanonical partition function of the ideal relativistic quantum gas with fixed intrinsic angular momentum as an expansion over fixed multiplicities. We developed a group theoretical approach by generalizing known projection techniques to the Poincaré group. Our calculation is carried out in a quantum field framework and applies to particles with any spin. It extends known results in the literature in that it does not introduce any large volume approximation, and it takes particle spin fully into account. We provide expressions of the microcanonical partition function at fixed multiplicities in the limiting classical case of large volumes and large angular momenta and in the grand-canonical ensemble. We also derive the microcanonical partition function of the ideal relativistic quantum gas with fixed parity.