Non-interacting Field Research Articles

Evolution of strictly localized states in noninteracting quantum field theories with background fields

Evolution of strictly localized states in noninteracting quantum field theories with background fields

Nonlocal Static and Dynamical Vacuum Field Correlations and Casimir-Polder Interactions.

In this review, we investigate several aspects and features of spatial field correlations for the massless scalar field and the electromagnetic field, both in stationary and nonstationary conditions, and show how they manifest in two- and many-body static and dynamic dispersion interactions (van der Waals and Casimir-Polder). We initially analyze the spatial field correlations for noninteracting fields, stressing their nonlocal behavior, and their relation to two-body dispersion interactions. We then consider how field correlations are modified by the presence of a field source, such as an atom or in general a polarizable body, firstly in a stationary condition and then in a dynamical condition, starting from a nonstationary state. We first evaluate the spatial field correlation for the electric field in the stationary case, in the presence of a ground-state or excited-state atom, and then we consider its time evolution in the case of an initially nonstationary state. We discuss in detail their nonlocal features, in both stationary and nonstationary conditions. We then explicitly show how the nonlocality of field correlations can manifest itself in van der Waals and Casimir-Polder interactions between atoms, both in static and dynamic situations. We discuss how this can allow us to indirectly probe the existence and the properties of nonlocal vacuum field correlations of the electromagnetic field, a research subject of strong actual interest, also in consequence of recent measurements of spatial field correlations exploiting electro-optical sampling techniques. The subtle and intriguing relation between nonlocality and causality is also discussed.

Correlation length of the angular mode for an approximate U(1) symmetry during inflation

It is known that a light scalar field obtains fluctuations in the de Sitter inflationary background. Such fluctuations could provide an initial condition for baryogenesis through the Affleck-Dine mechanism, where an approximate U(1)B symmetry is usually assumed. However, an interpretation of the baryon number generation in this way is strongly related to the correlation length of the angular mode. In this work, we calculate the correlation length of the angular mode for a model exhibiting an approximate U(1) symmetry. We find that for a massive nearly non-interacting field, the correlation length of the angular mode is determined by the mass parameter of the model and it is similar to H−1exp⁡(H2/m2). Applying this result to baryogenesis via the Affleck-Dine mechanism with a stochastic origin, we find that only for m≪O(0.1)H (assuming N⁎=60) can the correlation length of the baryon number density be much larger than our current horizon size, such that we live in the baryon-rich region. If this is not true, at early times our universe would consist of numerous patches of baryon-rich and anti-baryon-rich regions with the average baryon number being nearly zero.

Pseudogauge dependence of the spin polarization and of the axial vortical effect

The mean spin polarization vector of spin 1/2 particles in a relativistic fluid at local thermal equilibrium (LTE) in different pseudogauges (PGs), i.e., with different choices for the decomposition of orbital and spin angular momentum, is obtained. The spin polarization obtained in the canonical PG differs from the one obtained in the Belinfante PG. It is found that this difference can not be written by replacing the thermal vorticity with the spin potential in the usual polarization formula. Other PG choices affect the contribution of thermal shear to the spin polarization. Therefore, the choice of a PG affects the predictions for the polarization measured in heavy-ion collisions. In general, it is shown that the Wigner function of a noninteracting Dirac field at LTE is affected by the PG transformations. Explicit expressions of the mean axial current are also calculated and it is found that even the axial vortical effect conductivity depends on the PG.

Continuous entanglement renormalization on the circle

The continuous multiscale entanglement renormalization ansatz (cMERA) is a variational class of states for quantum fields. As originally formulated, the cMERA applies to infinite systems only. In this paper we generalize the cMERA formalism to a finite circle, which we achieve by wrapping the action of the so-called entangler around the circle. This allows us to transform a cMERA on the line into a cMERA on the circle. In addition, in the case of a Gaussian cMERA for noninteracting quantum fields, the method of images allows us to prove the following result: If on the line a cMERA state is a good approximation to a ground state of a local quantum field theory (QFT) Hamiltonian, then (under mild assumptions on their correlation functions) the resulting cMERA on a circle is also a good approximation to the ground state of the same local QFT Hamiltonian on the circle.

Neural networks and quantum field theory

We propose a theoretical understanding of neural networks in terms of Wilsonian effective field theory. The correspondence relies on the fact that many asymptotic neural networks are drawn from Gaussian processes (GPs), the analog of non-interacting field theories. Moving away from the asymptotic limit yields a non-Gaussian process (NGP) and corresponds to turning on particle interactions, allowing for the computation of correlation functions of neural network outputs with Feynman diagrams. Minimal NGP likelihoods are determined by the most relevant non-Gaussian terms, according to the flow in their coefficients induced by the Wilsonian renormalization group. This yields a direct connection between overparameterization and simplicity of neural network likelihoods. Whether the coefficients are constants or functions may be understood in terms of GP limit symmetries, as expected from ’t Hooft’s technical naturalness. General theoretical calculations are matched to neural network experiments in the simplest class of models allowing the correspondence. Our formalism is valid for any of the many architectures that becomes a GP in an asymptotic limit, a property preserved under certain types of training.

The Lagrangian Formulation and Gauge Theory of the Standard Model

Study of gauge symmetry is carried over the different interacting and non-interacting field theoretical models through a prescription based on Lagrangian formulation. And the prescription is capable of testing whether a given model possesses a gauge symmetry or not. It can successfully formulate the gauge transformation generator in all the cases whatever subtleties are involved in it. It is found that the prescription has the ability to show a direction how to extend the phase space using auxiliary fields to restore the gauge invariance of a theory. Like the usual phase space, the prescription is found to be equally powerful in the extended phase space of a theory.

Space-time-resolved quantum electrodynamics description of Compton scattering

The standard method for approaching quantum electrodynamic (QED) field theory uses a perturbative $S$-matrix approach. This approach is explicitly nondynamical and provides only a one-time, static map between an initial state to be evolved by the ``full propagator'' of a bona-fide interacting field theory and an asymptotically equivalent effective initial state to be evolved by the ``free propagator'' of the corresponding noninteracting field theory. We provide a detailed derivation of a nonperturbative and dynamical approach to QED that allows one to study the space-time dynamics of electron-photon interactions directly. As an example of this method, we compute the time-resolved dynamics of Compton scattering for a system with a nontrivial spatial structure in only one dimension while restricting to the case of a single electron and at most one photon. This approach retains the massless photon of quantum electrodynamics in contrast to previous approaches that resorted to using massive bosons [T. Cheng, E. R. Gospodarczyk, Q. Su, and R. Grobe, Ann. Phys. 325, 265 (2010)] to represent the photon. The dynamics of Compton scattering are illustrated using joint probability distributions that evolve in time. This information is compared to that provided by the $S$ matrix.

Light pseudoscalar and axial spectroscopy using AdS/QCD modified soft wall model

We describe the mass spectrum of light pseudoscalar and axial mesons in the context of the modified soft wall model with an extra UV cutoff. In order to include the pseudoscalar and axial states, we define an anomalous dimension that shifts the conformal dimension of the non-interacting bulk fields such that the parity behavior of those states is included, thus inducing chiral symmetry breaking. This idea contrasts with the usual approach that uses interacting scalar, vector and axial bulk fields to give rise the spectrum. Using the extra UV cutoff approach, we can fit six η and six a1 organized in radial trajectories with an RMS error close to 21.1%. We also confirm that chiral symmetry is restored in this model after checking that highly excited ρ and a1 states become degenerate.

A C*-algebraic Approach to Interacting Quantum Field Theories

A novel C*-algebraic framework is presented for relativistic quantum field theories, fixed by a Lagrangean. It combines the postulates of local quantum physics, encoded in the Haag–Kastler axioms, with insights gained in the perturbative approach to quantum field theory. Key ingredients are an appropriate version of Bogolubov’s relative S-operators and a reformulation of the Schwinger–Dyson equations. These are used to define for any classical relativistic Lagrangean of a scalar field a non-trivial local net of C*-algebras, encoding the resulting interactions at the quantum level. The construction works in any number of space-time dimensions. It reduces the longstanding existence problem of interacting quantum field theories in physical spacetime to the question of whether the C*-algebras so constructed admit suitable states, such as stable ground and equilibrium states. The method is illustrated on the example of a non-interacting field and it is shown how to pass from it within the algebra to interacting theories by relying on a rigorous local version of the interaction picture.

Symmetries of Relativistic Hydrogen Atom

The Dirac equation in the external Coulomb field is proved to possess the symmetry determined by 31 operators, which form the 31-dimensional algebra. Two different fermionic realizations of the SO(1,3) algebra of the Lorentz group are found. Two different bosonic realizations of this algebra are found as well. All generators of the above-mentioned algebras commute with the operator of the Dirac equation in an external Coulomb field and, therefore, determine the algebras of invariance of such Dirac equation. Hence, the spin s = (1, 0) Bose symmetry of the Dirac equation for the free spinor field, proved recently in our papers, is extended here for the Dirac equation interacting with an external Coulomb field. A relativistic hydrogen atom is modeled by such Dirac equation. We are able to prove for the relativistic hydrogen atom both the fermionic and bosonic symmetries known from our papers in the case of a non-interacting spinor field. New symmetry operators are found on the basis of new gamma matrix representations of the Clifford and SO(8) algebras, which are known from our recent papers as well. Hidden symmetries were found both in the canonical Foldy–Wouthuysen and covariant Dirac representations. The found symmetry operators, which are pure matrix ones in the Foldy–Wouthuysen representation, become non-local in the Dirac model.

Hidden symmetries of relativistic hydrogen atom

The spin s=(1,0) Bose symmetry of the Dirac equation for the free spinor field, proved recently in our papers, is extended for the Dirac equation interacting with external Coulomb field. Relativistic hydrogen atom is modeling here by such Dirac equation. We are able to present both the fermionic and bosonic symmetries known from our papers about the case of non-interacting spinor field. New symmetry operators were found on the basis of new gamma matrix representations of the Clifford and SO(8) algebras, which were found recently in our papers. Hidden symmetries were found both in the canonical Foldy-Wouthuysen and in the covariant Dirac representations. The symmetry operators, which are simple and graceful in the Foldy-Wouthuysen representation, become non-local in the Dirac model.

A gauge theory of quantum gravity: quantization of the non-interacting field

The non-interacting field belonging to a new SO(1,3) gauge field theory equivalent to general relativity is canonically quantized in the Lorentz gauge and the physical Fock space for non-interacting gauge particles is constructed. To assure both Lorentz covariance and positivity of the norm and energy expectation value for physical states restrictions needed in the construction of the physical Fock space are put consequentially on state vectors, and not on the algebra of creation and annihilation operators as usual—alltogether providing the second step in consistently quantizing gravitation

A mechanism for holography for non-interacting fields on anti-de Sitter spacetimes

In the setting of non-interacting Klein–Gordon fields on asymptotically anti-de Sitter spacetimes, we show that algebras of observables localized in a neighborhood of the boundary are subalgebras of a boundary algebra. The underlying mechanism is directly related to holography for classical fields. In particular, the proof relies on unique continuation theorems at the conformal boundary.

The Non-Relativistic Limit of the DKP Equation in Non-Commutative Phase-Space

The non-relativistic limit of the relativistic DKP equation for both of zero and unity spin particles is studied through the canonical transformation known as the Foldy–Wouthuysen transformation, similar to that of the case of the Dirac equation for spin-1/2 particles. By considering only the non-commutativity in phases with a non-interacting fields case leads to the non-commutative Schrödinger equation; thereafter, considering the non-commutativity in phase and space with an external electromagnetic field thus leads to extract a phase-space non-commutative Schrödinger–Pauli equation; there, we examined the effect of the non-commutativity in phase-space on the non-relativistic limit of the DKP equation. However, with both Bopp–Shift linear transformation through the Heisenberg-like commutation relations, and the Moyal–Weyl product, we introduced the non-commutativity in phase and space.

Isocurvature perturbations during two-field inflation and reheating

We use Hamilton–Jacobi formalism to study the curvature and isocurvature perturbations during inflation. This formalism is suitable for going beyond slow roll regime. We solve the equation of fields’ perturbations for some two-field models, and calculate their spectra. We next use $$\delta N$$ formalism to calculate the curvature and isocurvature non-Gaussianity for a non-separable form of the Hubble expansion rate. Finally, using the sudden decay approximation, we obtain the link between the perturbations during inflation and after reheating for noninteracting fields.

Out-of-equilibrium 2D Ising spin glass: almost, but not quite, a free-field theory

We consider the spatial correlation function of two-dimensional Ising spin glass under out-of-equilibrium conditions. We pay special attention to the scaling limit reached upon approaching zero temperature. The field-theory of a non-interacting field makes a surprisingly good job of describing the spatial shape of the correlation function of the out-of-equilibrium Edwards–Anderson Ising model in two dimensions.

Expansion in higher harmonics of boson stars using a generalized Ruffini-Bonazzola approach. Part 1. Bound states

The method pioneered by Ruffini and Bonazzola (RB) to describe boson stars involves an expansion of the boson field which is linear in creation and annihilation operators. In the nonrelativistic limit, the equation of motion of RB is equivalent to the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Further, the RB expansion constitutes an exact solution to a non-interacting field theory, and has been used as a reasonable ansatz for an interacting one. In this work, we show how one can go beyond the RB ansatz towards an exact solution of the interacting operator Klein-Gordon equation, which can be solved iteratively to ever higher precision. Our Generalized Ruffini-Bonazzola approach takes into account contributions from nontrivial harmonic dependence of the wavefunction, using a sum of terms with energy k E0, where k⩾1 and E0 is the chemical potential of a single bound axion. The method critically depends on an expansion in a parameter Δ ≡ √1 − E02/m2 < 1, where m is the mass of the boson. In the case of the axion potential, we calculate corrections which are relevant for axion stars in the transition or dense branches of solutions. We find with high precision the local minimum of the mass, Mmin≈ 463 f2/m, at Δ≈0.27, where f is the axion decay constant. This point marks the crossover from the transition branch to the dense branch of solutions, and a corresponding crossover from structural instability to stability.

Quantum Fields from Global Propagators on Asymptotically Minkowski and Extended de Sitter Spacetimes

We consider the wave equation on asymptotically Minkowski spacetimes and the Klein–Gordon equation on even asymptotically de Sitter spaces. In both cases, we show that the extreme difference of propagators (i.e., retarded propagator minus advanced, or Feynman minus anti-Feynman), defined as Fredholm inverses, induces a symplectic form on the space of solutions with wave front set confined to the radial sets. Furthermore, we construct isomorphisms between the solution spaces and symplectic spaces of asymptotic data. As an application of this result, we obtain distinguished Hadamard two-point functions from asymptotic data. Ultimately, we prove that non-interacting Quantum Field Theory on asymptotically de Sitter spacetimes extends across the future and past conformal boundary, i.e., to a region represented by two even asymptotically hyperbolic spaces. Specifically, we show this to be true both at the level of symplectic spaces of solutions and at the level of Hadamard two-point functions.

Hawking radiation and interacting fields

Hawking radiation is generally derived using a non-interacting field theory. Some time ago, Leahy and Unruh showed that, in two dimensions with a Schwarzschild geometry, a scalar field theory with a quartic interaction gets the coupling switched off near the horizon of the black hole. This would imply that interaction has no effect on Hawking radiation and free theory for particles can be used. Recently, a set of exact classical solutions for the quartic scalar field theory has been obtained. These solutions display a massive dispersion relation even if the starting theory is massless. When one considers the corresponding quantum field theory, this mass gap becomes a tower of massive excitations and, at the leading order, the theory is trivial. We apply these results to Hawking radiation for a Kerr geometry and prove that the Leahy-Unruh effect is at work. Approaching the horizon the scalar field theory has the mass gap going to zero. We devise a technique to study the interacting scalar theory very near the horizon increasing the coupling. As these solutions are represented by a Fourier series of plane waves, Hawking radiation can be immediately obtained with well-known techniques. These results open a question about the behavior of the Standard Model of particles very near the horizon of a black hole where the interactions turn out to be switched off and the electroweak symmetry could be restored.