Statistical Quantum Field Theory Research Articles

A note on oscillating neutrino states in quantum field theory

In a recent paper [Eur. Phys. J. C 80, 68 (2020)], a definition of oscillating neutrino states in quantum field theory was proposed. We show that such definition can be derived as a particular case of the Blasone–Vitiello approach, when mass vacuum is chosen as the physical vacuum. We discuss some problems of such an approach, which appears to be mathematically inconsistent and physically not acceptable.

:THE COSMOLOGICAL OTOC: Formulating New Cosmological Micro-Canonical Correlation Functions for Random Chaotic Fluctuations in Out-Of-Equilibrium Quantum Statistical Field Theory

The out-of-time-ordered correlation (OTOC) function is an important new probe in quantum field theory which is treated as a significant measure of random quantum correlations. In this paper, using for the first time the slogan “Cosmology meets Condensed Matter Physics”, we demonstrate a formalism to compute the Cosmological OTOC during the stochastic particle production during inflation and reheating following the canonical quantization technique. In this computation, two dynamical time scales are involved—out of them, at one time scale, the cosmological perturbation variable, and for the other, the canonically conjugate momentum, is defined, which is the strict requirement to define the time scale-separated quantum operators for OTOC and is perfectly consistent with the general definition of OTOC. Most importantly, using the present formalism, not only one can study the quantum correlation during stochastic inflation and reheating, but can also study quantum correlation for any random events in Cosmology. Next, using the late time exponential decay of cosmological OTOC with respect to the dynamical time scale of our universe which is associated with the canonically conjugate momentum operator in this formalism, we study the phenomenon of quantum chaos by computing the expression for the Lyapunov spectrum. Furthermore, using the well known Maldacena Shenker Stanford (MSS) bound on the Lyapunov exponent, λ≤2π/β, we propose a lower bound on the equilibrium temperature, T=1/β, at the very late time scale of the universe. On the other hand, with respect to the other time scale with which the perturbation variable is associated, we find decreasing, but not exponentially decaying, behaviour, which quantifies the random quantum correlation function out-of-equilibrium. We have also studied the classical limit of the OTOC and checked the consistency with the large time limiting behaviour of the correlation. Finally, we prove that the normalized version of OTOC is completely independent of the choice of the preferred definition of the cosmological perturbation variable.

One Particle States in Curved Spacetime

The traditional particle interpretation of states of quantum field theory in Minkowski spacetime relies on the Minkowski spacetime symmetry, i.e., the Poincare group uplifted to the Hilbert space. We argue that Weinberg’s approach to particles and interactions in Minkowski spacetime utilizes the representations of the inhomogeneous Lorentz transformations in the Hilbert space dissociated from the spacetime symmetry. Thus it provides a particle interpretation of states in general nonstationary curved spacetimes straightaway. We give Lagrangians for scalars, spinors and vector fields supporting the argument and show that these classical fields contribute to the cosmological constant.

From spin chains to real-time thermal field theory using tensor networks

One of the most interesting directions in theoretical high-energy and condensed-matter physics is understanding dynamical properties of collective states of quantum field theories. The most elementary tool in this quest is retarded equilibrium correlators governing the linear response theory. In this article we examine tensor networks as a way of determining them in a fully ab initio way in a class of (1+1)-dimensional quantum field theories arising as infrared descriptions of quantum Ising chains.We show that, complemented with signal analysis using the Prony method, tensor network calculations for intermediate times provide a powerful way to explore the structure of singularities of the correlator in the complex frequency plane and to make predictions about the thermal response to perturbations in a class of nonintegrable interacting quantum field theories.

Deformation and the Complexity=Volume Conjecture

AbstractComplexity in quantum physics measures how difficult a state can be reached from a reference state and more precisely it is the number of fundamental unitary gates we have to operate to transform the reference state to the state we are considering. In the holographic context, based on several explicit calculations and arguments, it is conjectured that certain bulk volume calculates the boundary field theory subregion complexity. In this paper, we will show that the deformation shows a strong signal of the correctness of this complexity equals volume conjecture. A bonus is a way to look at the deformation, by its reversibility, as operating a unitary quantum circuit which prepares states in quantum field theory.

Quantum information bound on the energy

According to the classical Penrose inequality, the mass at spatial infinity is bounded from below by a function of the area of certain trapped surfaces. We exhibit quantum field theory states that violate this relation at the semiclassical level. We formulate a Quantum Penrose Inequality, by replacing the area with the generalized entropy of the lightsheet of an appropriate quantum trapped surface. We perform a number of nontrivial tests of our proposal, and we consider and rule out alternative formulations. We also discuss the relation to weak cosmic censorhip.

A novel view on successive quantizations, leading to increasingly more “miraculous” states

A series of successive quantizations is considered, starting with the quantization of a non-relativistic or relativistic point particle: (1) quantization of a particle’s position, (2) quantization of wave function, (3) quantization of wave functional. The latter step implies that the wave packet profiles forming the states of quantum field theory are themselves quantized, which gives new physical states that are configurations of configurations. In the procedure of quantization, instead of the Schrödinger first-order equation in time derivative for complex wave function (or functional), the equivalent second-order equation for its real part was used. In such a way, at each level of quantization, the equation a quantum state satisfies is just like that of a harmonic oscillator, and wave function(al) is composed in terms of the pair of its canonically conjugated variables.

Entropy Distribution of Localised States

We study the geometric distribution of the relative entropy of a charged localised state in Quantum Field Theory. With respect to translations, the second derivative of the vacuum relative entropy is zero out of the charge localisation support and positive in mean over the support of any single charge. For a spatial strip, the asymptotic mean entropy density is $\pi E$, with $E$ the corresponding vacuum charge energy. In a conformal QFT, for a charge in a ball of radius $r$, the relative entropy is non linear, the asymptotic mean radial entropy density is $\pi E$ and Bekenstein's bound is satisfied. We also study the null deformation case. We construct, operator algebraically, a positive selfadjoint operator that may be interpreted as the deformation generator, we thus get a rigorous form of the Averaged Null Energy Condition that holds in full generality. In the one dimensional conformal $U(1)$-current model, we give a complete and explicit description of the entropy distribution of a localised charged state in all points of the real line; in particular, the second derivative of the relative entropy is strictly positive in all points where the charge density is non zero, thus the Quantum Null Energy Condition holds here for these states and is not saturated in these points.

Localized States in Quantum Field Theory

Localized states in relativistic quantum field theories are usually considered as problematic, because of their seemingly strange (noncovariant) behavior under Lorentz transformations, and because they can spread faster than light. We point out that a careful quantum field theoretic analysis in which we distinguish between basis position states and wave packet states clarifies the issue of Lorentz covariance. The issue of causality is resolved by observing that superluminal transmission of information cannot be achieved by such wave packets. Within this context it follows that the Reef-Schlieder theorem, which proves that localized states can exhibit influence on each other over space like distances, does not imply that such states cannot exist in quantum field theory.

Thinking Non Locally: The Atemporal Roots of Particle Physics

Developing an approach defined in previous papers a correspondence between elementary particles and elements of a particular set of directed graphs said glyphs is made explicit. These can, in turn, be put in correspondence with a particular set of biquaternions. Charge conjugation and weak isospin inversion then become both topological (on glyphs) and algebraic (on biquaternions) symmetries. The formalism describes leptons and quarks, the latter successfully combined into mesons and baryons. The introduction is possible of both a de Sitter interior spacetime of particles and the usual external Minkowski spacetime. The biquaternions can be related to creation and annihilation operators of the corresponding fermionic fields in Quantum Field Theory (QFT). The base states of QFT and their mutual interactions are thus constrained by their common emergence from logically antecedent structures. This result appears relevant for the understanding of the elementary particles spectrum.

Complexity functionals and complexity growth limits in continuous MERA circuits

Using the path integral associated to a cMERA tensor network, we provide an operational definition for the complexity of a cMERA circuit/state which is relevant to investigate the complexity of states in quantum field theory. In this framework, it is possible to explicitly establish the correspondence (Minimal) Complexity = (Least) Action. Remarkably, it is also shown how the cMERA complexity action functional can be seen as the action of a Liouville field theory, thus establishing a connection with two dimensional quantum gravity. Concretely, the Liouville mode is identified with the variational parameter defining the cMERA circuit. The rate of complexity growth along the cMERA renormalization group flow is obtained and shown to saturate limits which are in close resemblance to the fundamental bounds to the speed of evolution in unitary quantum dynamics, known as quantum speed limits. We also show that the complexity of a cMERA circuit measured through these complexity functionals, can be cast in terms of the variationally-optimized amount of left-right entanglement created along the cMERA renormalization flow. Our results suggest that the patterns of entanglement in states of a QFT could determine their dual gravitational descriptions through a principle of least complexity.

Dynamics of entanglement in expanding quantum fields

We develop a functional real-time approach to computing the entanglement between spatial regions for Gaussian states in quantum field theory. The entanglement entropy is characterized in terms of local correlation functions on space-like Cauchy hypersurfaces. The framework is applied to explore an expanding light cone geometry in the particular case of the Schwinger model for quantum electrodynamics in 1+1 space-time dimensions. We observe that the entanglement entropy becomes extensive in rapidity at early times and that the corresponding local reduced density matrix is a thermal density matrix for excitations around a coherent field with a time dependent temperature. Since the Schwinger model successfully describes many features of multiparticle production in e+e− collisions, our results provide an attractive explanation in this framework for the apparent thermal nature of multiparticle production even in the absence of significant final state scattering.

Toward a Definition of Complexity for Quantum Field Theory States.

We investigate notions of complexity of states in continuous many-body quantum systems. We focus on Gaussian states which include ground states of free quantum field theories and their approximations encountered in the context of the continuous version of the multiscale entanglement renormalization ansatz. Our proposal for quantifying state complexity is based on the Fubini-Study metric. It leads to counting the number of applications of each gate (infinitesimal generator) in the transformation, subject to a state-dependent metric. We minimize the defined complexity with respect to momentum-preserving quadratic generators which form su(1,1) algebras. On the manifold of Gaussian states generated by these operations, the Fubini-Study metric factorizes into hyperbolic planes with minimal complexity circuits reducing to known geodesics. Despite working with quantum field theories far outside the regime where Einstein gravity duals exist, we find striking similarities between our results and those of holographic complexity proposals.

Complexity for quantum field theory states and applications to thermofield double states

This paper defines a complexity between states in quantum field theory by introducing a Finsler structure based on ladder operators (the generalization of creation and annihilation operators). Two simple models are shown as examples to clarify the differences between complexity and other conceptions such as complexity of formation and entanglement entropy. When it is applied into thermofield double (TFD) states in $d$-dimensional conformal field theory, results show that the complexity density between them and corresponding vacuum states are finite and proportional to $T^{d-1}$, where $T$ is the temperature of TFD state. Especially, a proof is given to show that fidelity susceptibility of a TFD state is equivalent to the complexity between it and corresponding vacuum state, which gives an explanation why they may share the same object in holographic duality. Some enlightenments to holographic conjectures of complexity are also discussed.

Beyond Combination: How Cosmic Consciousness Grounds Ordinary Experience

AbstractThe aim of this paper is twofold. First, our purpose is to propose and motivate a novel and scientifically informed variant of cosmopsychism, namely, the view that the experiences of ordinary subjects are ultimately grounded in an all-pervading cosmic consciousness. Second, we will demonstrate that this approach generates promising avenues for addressing familiar problems of phenomenal constitution. We use stochastic electrodynamics (SED) as the physical bedrock of our approach, supplementing it with key insights about the nature of consciousness long emphasized in eastern philosophy and other wisdom traditions. We proceed to show that our approach substantiates an intriguing way of thinking about the dynamical emergence of ordinary consciousness from cosmic consciousness, identifying the latter with the vacuum state of quantum field theory. Finally, we argue that the present approach is well suited to address problems of phenomenal constitution, in particular as they pertain to the qualities and structure of experience and to the generation of subjects.

Entanglement and correlations in the continuous multi-scale entanglement renormalization ansatz

We investigate the entanglement structure of the continuous multi-scale entanglement renormalization ansatz (cMERA) [Haegeman et al., Phys. Rev. Lett.110 (2013) 100402] for ground states of quantum field theories (QFTs). The cMERA, proposed as an extension to QFTs of the lattice MERA, is defined directly in the continuum but is nevertheless naturally equipped with a short-distance scale 1/Λ that acts as a UV regulator for quantum fluctuations. We consider the simplified setting of Gaussian cMERA for free QFTs, where explicit calculations can be performed. For relativistic free massless bosonic and fermionic QFTs in both 1+1 and 2+1 spacetime dimensions, we show that the cMERA state indeed displays no UV divergences in two-point correlation functions or entanglement entropy, in sharp contrast with the exact ground states.

Feynman\u2013Hellmann theorem for resonances and the quest for QCD exotica

The generalization of the Feynman–Hellmann theorem for resonance states in quantum field theory is derived. On the basis of this theorem, a criterion is proposed to study the possible exotic nature of certain hadronic states emerging in QCD. It is shown that this proposal is supported by explicit calculations in chiral perturbation theory and by large-N_c arguments. Analyzing recent lattice data on the quark mass dependence in the pseudoscalar, vector meson, baryon octet and baryon decuplet sectors, we conclude that, as expected, these are predominately quark-model states, albeit the corrections are non-negligible.

Linear and nonlinear photonic Jackiw-Rebbi states in interfaced binary waveguide arrays

We study analytically and numerically the optical analogue of the Jackiw-Rebbi states in quantum field theory. These solutions exist at the interface of two binary waveguide arrays which are described by two Dirac equations with opposite sign masses. We show that these special states are topologically robust not only in the linear regime, but also in nonlinear regimes (with both focusing and de-focusing nonlinearity). We also reveal that one can generate the Jackiw-Rebbi states starting from Dirac solitons.

KMS-like properties of local equilibrium states in quantum field theory

A new condition, called “Local KMS Condition”, characterizing states of a quantum field to which one can ascribe, at a given spacetime point, a temperature, is introduced in this article. It will be shown that the Local KMS Condition (LKMS condition) is equivalent to the Local Thermal Equilibrium (LTE) condition, proposed previously by Buchholz, Ojima and Roos, for states of the quantized scalar Klein–Gordon field that fulfill the analytic microlocal spectrum condition. Therefore, known examples of states fulfilling the LTE condition provide examples of states obeying the LKMS condition with a temperature distribution varying in space and time. The results extend to the generalized cases of mixed-temperature LKMS and LTE states. The LKMS condition therefore provides a promising generalization of the KMS condition, which characterizes global thermal equilibrium states with respect to an inertial time evolution, to states which are globally out of equilibrium but still possess a local temperature distribution.

From Asymptotic Freedom Toward Heavy Quarkonia Within the Renormalization-Group Procedure for Effective Particles

The renormalization group procedure for effective particles (RGPEP), developed as a nonperturbative tool for constructing bound states in quantum field theories, is applied to QCD. The approach stems from the similarity renormalization group and introduces the concept of effective particles. It has been shown that the RGPEP passes the test of exhibiting asymptotic freedom. We present the running of the Hamiltonian coupling with the renormalization-group scale and summarize the basic elements needed in the formulation of the bound-state problem.