Quantum Double Actions on Operator Algebras and Orbifold Quantum Field Theories

Starting from a local quantum field theory with an unbroken compact symmetry group G in 1+1-dimensional spacetime we construct disorder fields implementing gauge transformations on the fields (order variables) localized in a wedge region. Enlarging the local algebras by these disorder fields we obtain a nonlocal field theory, the fixpoint algebras of which under the appropriately extended action of the group G are shown to satisfy Haag duality in every simple sector. The specifically 1+1 dimensional phenomenon of violation of Haag duality of fixpoint nets is thereby clarified. In the case of a finite group G the extended theory is acted upon in a completely canonical way by the quantum double D(G) and satisfies R-matrix commutation relations as well as a Verlinde algebra. Furthermore, our methods are suitable for a concise and transparent approach to bosonization. The main technical ingredient is a strengthened version of the split property which is expected to hold in all reasonable massive theories. In the appendices (part of) the results are extended to arbitrary locally compact groups and our methods are adapted to chiral theories on the circle. Received: 4 September 1996 / Accepted: 6 May 1997     

A New Light on Nets of C*-Algebras and Their Representations

The present paper deals with the question of representability of nets of C*-algebras whose underlying poset, indexing the net, is not upward directed. A particular class of nets, called C*-net bundles, is classified in terms of C*-dynamical systems having as group the fundamental group of the poset. Any net of C*-algebras has a canonical morphism into a C*-net bundle, the enveloping net bundle, which generalizes the notion of universal C*-algebra given by Fredenhagen to nonsimply connected posets. This allows a classification of nets; in particular, we call injective those nets such that the canonical morphism is faithful. Injectivity turns out to be equivalent to the existence of faithful representations. We further relate injectivity to a generalized Čech cocycle of the net, and this allows us to give examples of nets exhausting the above classification.     

Punctured Haag Duality in Locally Covariant Quantum Field Theories

We investigate a new property of nets of local algebras over 4-dimensional globally hyperbolic spacetimes, called punctured Haag duality. This property consists in the usual Haag duality for the restriction of the net to the causal complement of a point p of the spacetime. Punctured Haag duality implies Haag duality and local definiteness. Our main result is that, if we deal with a locally covariant quantum field theory in the sense of Brunetti, Fredenhagen and Verch, then also the converse holds. The free Klein-Gordon field provides an example in which this property is verified.     

Localization in algebraic field theory

The algebra of observables has two distinct local structures. The first, derived from the localization of measurements, gives rise to an additive net structure. The second, derived from the support properties of infinitestimal operations, gives rise to a sheaf structure. It is also shown how an additive net of field algebras acted on by a compact gauge group of the first kind generates an additive net of observable algebras.     

Thermal States in Conformal QFT. II

We continue the analysis of the set of locally normal KMS states w.r.t. the translation group for a local conformal net of von Neumann algebras on . In the first part we have proved the uniqueness of the KMS state on every completely rational net. In this second part, we exhibit several (non-rational) conformal nets which admit continuously many primary KMS states. We give a complete classification of the KMS states on the U(1)-current net and on the Virasoro net Vir₁ with the central charge c = 1, whilst for the Virasoro net Vir _c with c > 1 we exhibit a (possibly incomplete) list of continuously many primary KMS states. To this end, we provide a variation of the Araki-Haag-Kastler-Takesaki theorem within the locally normal system framework: if there is an inclusion of split nets and is the fixed point of w.r.t. a compact gauge group, then any locally normal, primary KMS state on extends to a locally normal, primary state on , KMS w.r.t. a perturbed translation. Concerning the non-local case, we show that the free Fermi model admits a unique KMS state.     

Role of Dilations in Diffeomorphism-Covariant Algebraic Quantum Field Theory

A generalization of algebraic quantum field theory on differentiable manifoldsis given in terms of nets of *-algebras over open sets of the manifold. The presentinvestigations are motivated by diffeomorphism invariance and finite localizationas they appear, e.g., in quantum gravity. A possible generalization of Haag-Kastleraxioms for differentiable manifolds is discussed and a minimal framework basedon isotony, covariance, and a state-dependent GNS construction is presented.Possible adaptions of Haag's commutant duality are discussed in a specific settingof one-parameter families of finite and nondegenerate nested localization domainsof the net, with universal minimal and maximal algebras for the small and largelimits of the net, respectively. For von Neumann algebras the modular group isdiscussed. The geometric interpretation of a one-parameter subgroup of outerisomorphisms is related to dilations of the open sets of the net.     

A note on essential duality

By considering some simple models, it is shown that the essential duality condition for local nets of von Neumann algebras associated with Wightman fields need not be fulfilled if Lorentz covariance is dropped. These models illustrate a point made by Borchers in the proof of his two-dimensional CPT theorem for local nets: The Lorentz covariant net constructed from the wedge algebras of a given two-dimensional net may not be unique. It is also shown that in higher dimensions, the Lorentz boosts constructed by means of the modular groups of wedge algebras may act nonlocally in the directions parallel to the edge of the wedge.     

Models in Boundary Quantum Field Theory Associated with Lattices and Loop Group Models

In this article we give new examples of models in boundary quantum field theory, i.e. local time-translation covariant nets of von Neumann algebras, using a recent construction of Longo and Witten, which uses a local conformal net on the real line together with an element of a unitary semigroup associated with . Namely, we compute elements of this semigroup coming from H?lder continuous symmetric inner functions for a family of (completely rational) conformal nets which can be obtained by starting with nets of real subspaces, passing to its second quantization nets and taking local extensions of the former. This family is precisely the family of conformal nets associated with lattices, which as we show contains as a special case the level 1 loop group nets of simply connected, simply laced groups. Further examples come from the loop group net of at level 2 using the orbifold construction.     

Multi-Interval Subfactors and Modularity¶of Representations in Conformal Field Theory

We describe the structure of the inclusions of factors ?(E)⊂?(E′)′ associated with multi-intervals E⊂ℝ for a local irreducible net ? of von Neumann algebras on the real line satisfying the split property and Haag duality. In particular, if the net is conformal and the subfactor has finite index, the inclusion associated with two separated intervals is isomorphic to the Longo–Rehren inclusion, which provides a quantum double construction of the tensor category of superselection sectors of ?. As a consequence, the index of ?(E)⊂?(E′)′ coincides with the global index associated with all irreducible sectors, the braiding symmetry associated with all sectors is non-degenerate, namely the representations of ? form a modular tensor category, and every sector is a direct sum of sectors with finite dimension. The superselection structure is generated by local data. The same results hold true if conformal invariance is replaced by strong additivity and there exists a modular PCT symmetry. Received: 7 July 1999 / Accepted: 13 January 2001     

Normal product states for fermions and twisted duality for CCR- and CAR-type algebras with application to the Yukawa2 quantum field model

We present sufficient conditions that imply duality for the algebras of local observables in all Abelian sectors of all locally normal, irreducible representations of a field algebra if twisted duality obtains in one of these representations. It is verified that the Yukawa₂ model satisfies these conditions, yielding the first proof of duality for the observable algebra in all coherent charge sectors in this model. This paper also constitutes the first verification of the assumptions of the axiomatic study of the structure of superselection sectors by Doplicher, Haag and Roberts in an interacting model with nontrivial sectors. The existence of normal product states for the free Fermi field algebra and, thus, the verification of the funnel property for the associated net of local algebras are demonstrated.     

Thermal momentum distribution from path integrals with shifted boundary conditions

For a thermal field theory formulated in the grand canonical ensemble, the distribution of the total momentum is an observable characterizing the thermal state. We show that its cumulants are related to thermodynamic potentials. In a relativistic system, for instance, the thermal variance of the total momentum is a direct measure of the enthalpy. We relate the generating function of the cumulants to the ratio of (a) a partition function expressed as a Matsubara path integral with shifted boundary conditions in the compact direction and (b) the ordinary partition function. In this form the generating function is well suited for Monte Carlo evaluation, and the cumulants can be extracted straightforwardly. We test the method in the SU(3) Yang-Mills theory and obtain the entropy density at three different temperatures.     

Internal gauge symmetries and the gravitational field

It is shown that gravitationlike gauge fields can result from compact, internal symmetry groups. In particular, when the global duality invariance of the vacuum Maxwell's equations is made into a local symmetry using the methods of Yang and Mills, the gauge field is found to have certain properties characteristic of gravity. It is conjectured that a realistic theory of gravity can be constructed as a gauge theory based on a compact, internal symmetry group.     

Homological unimodularity and Calabi–Yau condition for Poisson algebras

In this paper, we show that the twisted Poincaré duality between Poisson homology and cohomology can be derived from the Serre invertible bimodule. This gives another definition of a unimodular Poisson algebra in terms of its Poisson Picard group. We also achieve twisted Poincaré duality for Hochschild (co)homology of Poisson bimodules using rigid dualizing complex. For a smooth Poisson affine variety with the trivial canonical bundle, we prove that its enveloping algebra is a Calabi–Yau algebra if the Poisson structure is unimodular.     

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.     

Quantum Chains of Hopf Algebras with Quantum Double Cosymmetry

Given a finite dimensional C ^*-Hopf algebra H and its dual Ĥ we construct the infinite crossed product and study its superselection sectors in the framework of algebraic quantum field theory. is the observable algebra of a generalized quantum spin chain with H-order and Ĥ-disorder symmetries, where by a duality transformation the role of order and disorder may also appear interchanged. If is a group algebra then becomes an ordinary G-spin model. We classify all DHR-sectors of – relative to some Haag dual vacuum representation – and prove that their symmetry is described by the Drinfeld double . To achieve this we construct localized coactions and use a certain compressibility property to prove that they are universal amplimorphisms on . In this way the double can be recovered from the observable algebra as a universal cosymmetry. Received: 4 September 1995\,/\,Accepted: 3 December 1996     

Abelian Duality and Abelian Wilson Loops

We consider a pure U(1) quantum gauge field theory on a general Riemannian compact four manifold. We compute the partition function with Abelian Wilson loop insertions. We find its duality covariance properties and derive topological selection rules. Finally, we show that, to have manifest duality, one must assume the existence of twisted topological sectors besides the standard untwisted one.     

Classification of Subsystems for Local Nets¶with Trivial Superselection Structure

Let ℱ be a local net of von Neumann algebras in four spacetime dimensions satisfying certain natural structural assumptions. We prove that if ℱ has trivial superselection structure then every covariant, Haag-dual subsystem ℬ is of the form ℱ₁ ^G ⊗I for a suitable decomposition ℱ=ℱ₁⊗ℱ₂ and a compact group action. Then we discuss some application of our result, including free field models and certain theories with at most countably many sectors. Received: 26 January 2000 / Accepted: 28 September 2000     

Flux compactifications of string theory on twisted tori

Global aspects of Scherk‐Schwarz dimensional reduction are discussed and it is shown that it can usually be viewed as arising from a compactification on the compact space obtained by identifying a (possibly non‐compact) group manifold 𝒢 under a discrete subgroup Γ, followed by a truncation. This allows a generalisation of Scherk‐Schwarz reductions to string theory or M‐theory as compactifications on 𝒢/Γ, but only in those cases in which there is a suitable discrete subgroup of 𝒢. We analyse such compactifications with flux and investigate the gauge symmetry and its spontaneous breaking. We discuss the covariance under O(d,d), where d is the dimension of the group 𝒢, and the relation to reductions with duality twists. The compactified theories promote a subgroup of the O(d,d) that would arise from a toroidal reduction to a gauge symmetry, and we discuss the interplay between the gauge symmetry and the O(d,d,ℤ T‐duality group, suggesting the role that T‐duality should play in such compactifications.     

Comparison of Finite Volume Canonical and Grand Canonical Gibbs Measures: The Continuous Case

We consider a continuous gas with finite range positive pair potential and we assume that the cluster expansion convergence condition holds. We prove a sharp bound on the difference between the finite volume grand canonical and canonical expectation of local observable. The bound is given in terms of the support of the observable, of its grand canonical variance and of the volume on which the system is confined.