An Algebraic Version of Haag’s Theorem

Under natural conditions (such as split property and geometric modular action of wedge algebras) it is shown that the unitary equivalence class of the net of local (von Neumann) algebras in the vacuum sector associated to double cones with bases on a fixed space-like hyperplane completely determines an algebraic QFT model. More precisely, if for two models there is a unitary connecting all of these algebras, then — without assuming that this unitary also connects their respective vacuum states or spacetime symmetry representations — it follows that the two models are equivalent. This result might be viewed as an algebraic version of the celebrated theorem of Rudolf Haag about problems regarding the so-called “interaction-picture” in QFT. Original motivation of the author for finding such an algebraic version came from conformal chiral QFT. Both the chiral case as well as a related conjecture about standard half-sided modular inclusions will be also discussed.     

An algebraic spin and statistics theorem

A spin-statistics theorem and a PCT theorem are obtained in the context of the superselection sectors in Quantum Field Theory on a 4-dimensional spacetime. Our main assumption is the requirement that the modular groups of the von Neumann algebras of local observables associated with wedge regions act geometrically as pure Lorentz transformations. Such a property, satisfied by the local algebras generated by Wightman fields because of the Bisognano-Wichmann theorem, is regarded as a natural primitive assumption.Dedicated to Hans Borchers on the occasion of his seventieth birthdaySupported in part by MURST and CNR-GNAFA.     

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     

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.     

Where Infinite Spin Particles are Localizable

Particle states transforming in one of the infinite spin representations of the Poincaré group (as classified by E. Wigner) are consistent with fundamental physical principles, but local fields generating them from the vacuum state cannot exist. While it is known that infinite spin states localized in a spacelike cone are dense in the one-particle space, we show here that the subspace of states localized in any double cone is trivial. This implies that the free field theory associated with infinite spin has no observables localized in bounded regions. In an interacting theory, if the vacuum vector is cyclic for a double cone local algebra, then the theory does not contain infinite spin representations. We also prove that if a Doplicher–Haag–Roberts representation (localized in a double cone) of a local net is covariant under a unitary representation of the Poincaré group containing infinite spin, then it has infinite statistics. These results hold under the natural assumption of the Bisognano–Wichmann property, and we give a counter-example (with continuous particle degeneracy) without this property where the conclusions fail. Our results hold true in any spacetime dimension s + 1 where infinite spin representations exist, namely \({s\geq 2}\).     

Spacelike parallels and evolutes in Minkowski pseudo-spheres

We consider extrinsic differential geometry on spacelike hypersurfaces in Minkowski pseudo-spheres (hyperbolic space, de Sitter space and the lightcone). In the previous paper [S. Izumiya, Legendrian dualities and spacelike hypersurfaces in the lightcone, Preprint] we have shown a basic Legendrian duality theorem between pseudo-spheres. We define the spacelike parallels by using the basic Legendrian duality theorem. This definition unifies the notions of parallels of spacelike hypersurfaces in pseudo-spheres. We also define the evolute as the locus of singularities of the spacelike parallels. These notions are investigated as applications of Lagrangian or Legendrian singularity theory. We consider geometric properties of non-singular spacelike hypersurfaces corresponding to singularities of spacelike parallels or evolutes.     

Duality and modular invariance in rational conformal field theories

We investigate the polynomial equations which should be satisfied by the duality data for a rational conformal field theory. We show that by these duality data we can construct some vector spaces which are isomorphic to the spaces of conformal blocks. One can construct explicitly the inner product for the former if one deals with a unitary theory. These vector spaces endowed with an inner product are the algebraic reminiscences of the Hilbert spaces in a Chern-Simons theory. As by-products, we show that the polynomial equations involving the modular transformations for the one-point blocks on the torus are not independent. We discuss the solution of structure constants for a physical theory. Making some assumption, we obtain a neat solution. And this solution in turn implies that the quantum groups of the left sector and of the right sector must be the same, although the chiral algebras need not be the same. Some examples are given. Finally, we discuss the reconstruction of the quantum group in a rational conformal theory.     

On timelike,lightlike, and spacelike realizations of Poincaré generators

A general restatement of existing realizations of Poincaré generators is presented when the translation operators are diagonalized (linear momentum bases). New forms are established for timelike, lightlike, and spacelike irreducible unitary representations. All these realizations are equivalent through explicitly given unitary transformations. Six manageable tables of explicit forms are given, and their extra- and intraconnections are specified.     

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.     

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.     

Operator algebras and conformal field theory

We define and study two-dimensional, chiral conformal field theory by the methods of algebraic field theory. We start by characterizing the vacuum sectors of such theories and show that, under very general hypotheses, their algebras of local observables are isomorphic to the unique hyperfinite type III₁ factor. The conformal net determined by the algebras of local observables is proven to satisfy Haag duality. The representation of the Moebius group (and presumably of the entire Virasoro algebra) on the vacuum sector of a conformal field theory is uniquely determined by the Tomita-Takesaki modular operators associated with its vacuum state and its conformal net. We then develop the theory of Moebius covariant representations of a conformal net, using methods of Doplicher, Haag and Roberts. We apply our results to the representation theory of loop groups. Our analysis is motivated by the desire to find a background-independent formulation of conformal field theories.     

Modular Intersections of von Neumann Algebras in Quantum Field Theory

We show that modular intersections of von Neumann algebras occur naturally in quantum field theory. An example are local observable algebras associated with wedge regions, which have a lightray in common, see also [Bo 2, Wi 3]. Conversely, starting from a set of four algebras lying in a specified modular position relative to each other we construct a net of local observables of a 2+1 dimensional quantum field theory. Received: 26 February 1996/ Accepted: 30 August 1997     

The modular automorphism group of a Poisson manifold

The modular flow of Poisson manifold is a 1-parameter group of automorphisms determined by the choice of a smooth density on the manifold. When the density is changed, the generator of the group changes by a hamiltonian vector field, so one has a 1-parameter group of “outer automorphisms” intrinsically attached to any Poisson manifold. The group is trivial if and only if the manifold admits a measure which is invariant under all hamiltonian flows.

The notion of modular flow in Poisson geometry is a classical limit of the notion of modular automorphism group in the theory of von Neumann algebras. In addition, the modular flow of a Poisson manifold is related to modular cohomology classes for associated Lie algebroids and symplectic groupoids. These objects have recently turned out to be important in Poincaré duality theory for Lie algebroids.     

Endomorphism semigroups and lightlike translations

Borchers and Wiesbrock have studied the one-parameter semigroups of endomorphisms of von Neumann algebras that appear as lightlike translations in the theory of algebras of local observables, showing that they automatically transform under the appropriate modular automorphisms as under velocity transformations. Here, these results are abstracted and analyzed as essentially operator-theoretic. Criteria are then established for a spatial derivation of a von Neumann algebra to generate a one-parameter semigroup of endomorphisms, and all of this is combined to establish a von Neumann-algebraic converse to the Borchers and Wiesbrock results. This sort of analysis is then applied to questions of isotony and covariance for local algebras, to show that Poincaré covariance together with a domain condition for the translations can imply isotony.This research was partly supported by a fellowship from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.     

Half-sided modular inclusion and the construction of the Poincaré group

In this note we will give a construction of the Poincaré group out of the modular groups of the wedge algebras provided the groups act on the algebra of every double cone like the associated Lorentz boosts. This construction will use the concept of half-sided modular inclusions instead of the first and second cohomology of the Poincaré group as used by Brunetti, Guido and Longo. By our method we obtain directly the Poincaré group and not its covering group.     

Covariant Sectors with Infinite Dimension¶and Positivity of the Energy

Let ? be a local conformal net of von Neumann algebras on S ¹ and ρ a M?bius covariant representation of ?, possibly with infinite dimension. If ρ has finite index, ρ has automatically positive energy. If ρ has infinite index, we show the spectrum of the energy always to contain the positive real line, but, as seen by an example, it may contain negative values. We then consider nets with Haag duality on ℝ, or equivalently sectors with non-solitonic extension to the dual net; we give a criterion for irreducible sectors to have positive energy, namely this is the case iff there exists an unbounded M?bius covariant left inverse. As a consequence the class of sectors with positive energy is stable under composition, conjugation and direct integral decomposition. Received: 21 April 1997 / Accepted: 23 September 1997     

A construction of thec<1 modular invariant partition functions

Decomposition theorems for certain representations of Kac-Moody algebras which are needed for the construction of modular invariant unitary conformal models are proved. It is shown that allc<1 modular invariant models can then be recovered from gauged free fermionic models, including the exceptional cases.This work was supported in part by the Director, Office of Energy Research, Office of High Energy and Nuclear Physics, Division of High Energy Physics of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC03-76SF00098 and in part by the National Science Foundation under grant PHY85-15857Supported by the Swiss National Science FoundationSupported in part by the American-Israeli Binational Science Foundation and the Israeli Academy of Sciences     

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