Quantum relativity theory and quantum space-time

A quantum relativity theory formulated in terms of Davis' quantum relativity principle is outlined. The first task in this theory as in classical relativity theory is to model space-time, the arena of natural processes. It is shown that the quantum space-time models of Banai introduced in another paper is formulated in terms of Davis' quantum relativity. The recently proposed classical relativistic quantum theory of Prugoveki and his corresponding classical relativistic quantum model of space-time open the way to introduce, in a consistent way, the quantum space-time model (the quantum substitute of Minkowski space) of Banai proposed in the paper mentioned. The goal of quantum mechanics of quantum relativistic particles living in this model of space-time is to predict the rest mass system properties of classically relativistic (massive) quantum particles (elementary particles). The main new aspect of this quantum mechanics is that provides a true mass eigenvalue problem, and that the excited mass states of quantum relativistic particles can be interpreted as elementary particles. The question of field theory over quantum relativistic model of space-time is also discussed. Finally it is suggested that quarks should be considered as quantum relativistic particles.Supported by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.     

A self-consistent approach to quantum field theory for extended particles

A notion of quantum space-time is introduced, physically defined as the totality of all flows of quantum test particles in free fall. In quantum space-time the classical notion of deterministic inertial frames is replaced by that of stochastic frames marked by extended particles. The same particles are used both as markers of quantum space-time points as well as natural clocks, each species of quantum test particle thus providing a standard for space-time measurements. In the considered flat-space case, the fluctuations in coordinate values with respect to stochastic frames are described by coordinate probability amplitudes related to irreducible stochastic phase space representations of the Poincaré group. Lagrangian field theory on quantum space-time is formulated. The ensuing equations of motion for interacting fields contain no singularities in their nonlinear terms, and therefore can be handled by methods borrowed from classical nonlinear analysis.Supported in part by an NSERC grant.     

Particle Weights and Their Disintegration I

The notion of Wigner particles is attached to irreducible unitary representations of the Poincaré group, characterized by parameters m and s of mass and spin, respectively. However, the Lorentz symmetry is broken in theories with long-range interactions, rendering this approach inapplicable (infraparticle problem). A unified treatment of both particles and infraparticles via the concept of particle weights can be given within the framework of local quantum physics. They arise as temporal limits of physical states in the vacuum sector and describe the asymptotic particle content. In this paper their definition and characteristic properties, already presented in [9] and [14], are worked out in detail. The existence of the temporal limits is established by use of suitably defined seminorms which are also essential in proving the characteristic features of particle weights.     

Quantum Transport of Particles and Entropy

A unified view on macroscopic thermodynamics and quantum transport is presented. Thermodynamic processes with an exchange of energy between two systems necessarily involve the flow of other balancable quantities. These flows are first analyzed using a simple drift-diffusion model, which includes the thermoelectric effects, and connects the various transport coefficients to certain thermodynamic susceptibilities and a diffusion coefficient. In the second part of the paper, the connection between macroscopic thermodynamics and quantum statistics is discussed. It is proposed to employ not particles, but elementary Fermi- or Bose-systems as the elementary building blocks of ideal quantum gases. In this way, the transport not only of particles but also of entropy can be derived in a concise way, and is illustrated both for ballistic quantum wires, and for diffusive conductors. In particular, the quantum interference of entropy flow is in close correspondence to that of electric current.     

A new theory of elementary matter

This is the first of a series of articles that reviews and expands upon a new theory of elementary matter. This paper presents an exposition of the philosophical approach and its general implications. The ensuing explicit form of the mathematical expression of the theory and several applications in the atomic and elementary particle domains will be developed in the succeeding parts of this series.The theory is based on three axioms: the principle of general relativity, a generalized Mach principle, and a correspondence principle. The approach is basically a deterministic, relativistic field theory which fully incorporates the idea that any realistic physical system is in facta closed system, without separable parts. It is shown that the most primitive mathematical expression of this theory, following as anecessary consequence of its axioms, is in terms of a set of coupled nonlinear spinor field equations. Nevertheless, the exact formalism is constructed to asymptotically approach the quantum mechanical formalism for a many-particle system, in the limit of sufficiently small energy-momentum transfer among the components of the considered closed system. Thus, all of the mathematical predictions of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics are contained in this theory, as a mathematical approximation. However, predictions follow from the exact form of this theory (where energy-momentum transfer can be arbitrarily large) that are not contained in the quantum theory.     

Newton-Leibniz integration for ket-bra operators in quantum mechanics (V)—Deriving normally ordered bivariate-normal-distribution form of density operators and developing their phase space formalism

We show that Newton-Leibniz integration over Dirac’s ket-bra projection operators with continuum variables, which can be performed by the technique of integration within ordered product (IWOP) of operators [Hong-yi Fan, Hai-liang Lu, Yue Fan, Ann. Phys. 321 (2006) 480], can directly recast density operators and generalized Wigner operators into normally ordered bivariate-normal-distribution form, which has resemblance in statistics. In this way the phase space formalism of quantum mechanics can be developed. The Husimi operator, entangled Husimi operator and entangled Wigner operator for entangled particles with different masses are naturally introduced by virtue of the IWOP technique, and their physical meanings are explained.     

Two elementary proofs of the Wigner theorem on symmetry in quantum mechanics

In quantum theory, symmetry has to be defined necessarily in terms of the family of unit rays, the state space. The theorem of Wigner asserts that a symmetry so defined at the level of rays can always be lifted into a linear unitary or an antilinear antiunitary operator acting on the underlying Hilbert space. We present two proofs of this theorem which are both elementary and economical. Central to our proofs is the recognition that a given Wigner symmetry can, by post-multiplication by a unitary symmetry, be taken into either the identity or complex conjugation. Our analysis often focuses on the behaviour of certain two-dimensional subspaces of the Hilbert space under the action of a given Wigner symmetry, but the relevance of this behaviour to the larger picture of the whole Hilbert space is made transparent at every stage.     

Covariant Wigner function approach to the relativistic quantum electron gas in a strong magnetic field

This paper is concerned with a unified approach to some equilibrium properties of the relativistic quantum electron plasma embedded in a strong external magnetic field. This unified approach rests on the systematic use of a covariant Wigner function. The equilibrium Wigner function of the noninteracting gas is derived and its main properties are studied. In particular, it satisfies equations that are the complete analog of the usual Liouville equation and thus can be termed “relativistic quantum Liouville equation” whose properties are considered. The equations of state are rederived in this formalism and the results obtained earlier by Canuto and Chiu are found anew. Also, the covariant Wigner funetion of the magnetized vacuum is derived: it is needed, in this formalism, in order to obtain, e.g., the vacuum polarization tensor. Since we are also interested in the plasma modes, the fluctuations of one-particle quantities—and their spectrum—(in particular, of the four current) are calculated in view of their use in the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. We also outline a microscopic proof of this theorem, on the basis of a BBGKY hierarchy for the covariant Wigner functions, and point out the existence of an effective plasma frequency.     

INDISTINGUISHABLE PARTICLES AND HIDDEN VARIABLES: PART II

In a previous work it was shown that it is possible to deal with collections of indistinguishable elementary particles in a set-theoretical framework, by using hidden variables. We propose in the present paper a set-theoretical axiomatics for collections of indiscernibles with no explicit mention to hidden variables. We also show, in this context, the fundamental role of the (micro) state in the process of individuation of classical and quantum particles. Finally, we discuss the importance of the axiom of choice in Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory in the context of quantum distributions of bosons and fermions.     

Measurement of quantum states and the Wigner function

In quantum mechanics, the state of an individual particle (or system) is unobservable, i.e., it cannot be determined experimentally, even in principle. However, the notion of measuring a state is meaningful if it refers to anensemble of similarly prepared particles, i.e., the question may be addressed: Is it possible to determine experimentally the state operator (density matrix) into which a given preparation procedure puts particles. After reviewing the previous work on this problem, we give simple procedures, in the line of Lamb's operational interpretation of quantum mechanics, for measuring a translational state operator (whether pure or mixed), via its Wigner function. These procedures closely parallel methods that might be used in classical mechanics to determine a true phase space probability distribution; thus, the Wigner function simulates such a distribution not only formally, but operationally also.

E. P. Wigner⁽¹⁾

     

Features and states of microscopic particles in nonlinear quantum-mechanics systems

In this paper, we present the elementary principles of nonlinear quantum mechanics (NLQM), which is based on some problems in quantum mechanics. We investigate in detail the motion laws and some main properties of microscopic particles in nonlinear quantum systems using these elementary principles. Concretely speaking, we study in this paper the wave-particle duality of the solution of the nonlinear Schr?dinger equation, the stability of microscopic particles described by NLQM, invariances and conservation laws of motion of particles, the Hamiltonian principle of particle motion and corresponding Lagrangian and Hamilton equations, the classical rule of microscopic particle motion, the mechanism and rules of particle collision, the features of reflection and the transmission of particles at interfaces, and the uncertainty relation of particle motion as well as the eigenvalue and eigenequations of particles, and so on. We obtained the invariance and conservation laws of mass, energy and momentum and angular momentum for the microscopic particles, which are also some elementary and universal laws of matter in the NLQM and give further the methods and ways of solving the above questions. We also find that the laws of motion of microscopic particles in such a case are completely different from that in the linear quantum mechanics (LQM). They have a lot of new properties; for example, the particles possess the real wave-corpuscle duality, obey the classical rule of motion and conservation laws of energy, momentum and mass, satisfy minimum uncertainty relation, can be localized due to the nonlinear interaction, and its position and momentum can also be determined, etc. From these studies, we see clearly that rules and features of microscopic particle motion in NLQM is different from that in LQM. Therefore, the NLQM is a new physical theory, and a necessary result of the development of quantum mechanics and has a correct representation of describing microscopic particles in nonlinear systems, which can solve problems disputed for about a century by scientists in the LQM field. Hence, the NLQM built is very necessary and correct. The NLQM established can promote the development of physics and can enhance and raise the knowledge and recognition levels to the essences of microscopic matter. We can predict that nonlinear quantum mechanics has extensive applications in physics, chemistry, biology and polymers, etc.      

What Is Temperature? Modern Outlook on the Concept of Temperature

The meaning and evolution of the notion of “temperature” (which is a key concept for the condensed and gaseous matter theories) are addressed from different points of view. The concept of temperature has turned out to be much more fundamental than conventionally thought. In particular, the temperature may be introduced for systems built of a “small” number of particles and particles at rest. The Kelvin temperature scale may be introduced into quantum and relativistic physics due to the fact that the efficiency of the quantum and relativistic Carnot cycles coincides with that of the classical one. The relation of temperature with the metrics of the configurational space describing the behavior of systems built from non-interacting particles is demonstrated. The role of temperature in constituting inertia and gravity forces treated as entropy forces is addressed. The Landauer principle asserts that the temperature of a system is the only physical value defining the energy cost of the isothermal erasure of a single bit of information. The fundamental role of the temperature of the cosmic microwave background in modern cosmology is discussed. The range of problems and controversies related to the negative absolute temperature is treated.     

Mass of the fundamental fermion and degeneracy of the vacuum

Within the framework of the Heisenberg variant of the unified nonlinear spinor theory of elementary particles an attempt is made to calculate the mass of the fundamental fermion (nucleon). The guiding principle is the notion of the existence of a relation between the helicity properties of particles and their masses. In this case it proves necessary to take into account the possibility of degeneracy of the vacuum of the system of interacting fields in certain quantum numbers, A program is outlined for constructing a realistic scheme of elementary particles to include their Isotropic and strange properties. The possibility of eliminating divergences from the nonlinear theory, while preserving its applicability, by means of a somewhat modified perturbation theory is briefly discussed.The author is grateful to Professor D. Ivanenko for his constant interest and helpful advice.     

Entanglement Rule of Wigner Operators at a Beamsplitter

It is known that beamsplitter can be used to produce quantum entanglement, in this paper we examine this topic from the point of view of Wigner operators. Using Weyl-ordering of the Wigner operator and the Weyl ordering invariance of Weyl ordered operators under similarity transformation we derive the entanglement rule of Wigner operators at a beamsplitter.     

On the Moyal Formulation of Quantum Identical Particles

Wigner functions of permutation operators are obtained and are used as a basis for a phase space formulation of quantum identical particles. Non-spin systems as well as 1/2 spin systems are considered. The general results are applied to a couple of examples.     

Evolution equation of the optical tomogram for arbitrary quantum Hamiltonian and optical tomography of relativistic classical and quantum systems

The dynamic equation for the optical tomogram of nonrelativistic quantum system with an arbitrary Hamiltonian is obtained. The kinetic equation in the classical relativistic kinetics is discussed, and its optical tomography representation is obtained. Dynamic equations for the Wigner functions of relativistic spinless quantum particles in electromagnetic and scalar fields are obtained. Optical tomographic-distribution functions of weakly relativistic spinless quantum particles are introduced, and dynamic equations for these functions in weak electric and scalar fields are obtained.     

Semiclassical elementary particle models

Some simple models of elementary particles are discussed; they may be described as semiclassical, quark, shell models. Particles are assumed to be composed of spherical concentric charged shells. Three basic types of shell are allowed, quantum numbers are associated with each type such as to establish a quantum number correspondence between the shell types and the (p, n, ) quarks. Particles are identified through the quantum numbers of their constituent shells (quarks).The basic assumptions underlying the models considered are relationships between the electromagnetic energy associated with elementary particles (quark systems) and particle masses. The electromagnetic energy is represented classically; the models are semiclassical in that the shell radii are related to particle Compton wavelengths.Particle mass and magnetic moment formulas are derived, possible values for quark masses are suggested, and possible connections of the models considered with particle symmetry schemes are discussed.     

Covariant Relativistic Statistical Mechanics of Many Particles

In this paper the quantum covariant relativistic dynamics of many bodies is reconsidered. It is emphasized that this is an event dynamics. The events are quantum statistically correlated by the global parameter τ. The derivation of an event Boltzmann equation emphasizes this. It is shown that this Boltzmann equation may be viewed as exact in a dilute event limit ignoring three event correlations. A quantum entropy principle is obtained for the marginal Wigner distribution function. By means of event linking (concatenations) particle properties such as the equation of state may be obtained. We further reconsider the generalized quantum equilibrium ensemble theory and the free event case of the Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions, and some consequences. The ultra-relativistic limit differs from the non-covariant theory and is a test of this point of view.