Two-dimensional Minkowski Space Research Articles

SCALING LIMITS OF INTEGRABLE QUANTUM FIELD THEORIES

Short distance scaling limits of a class of integrable models on two-dimensional Minkowski space are considered in the algebraic framework of quantum field theory. Making use of the wedge-local quantum fields generating these models, it is shown that massless scaling limit theories exist, and decompose into (twisted) tensor products of chiral, translation-dilation covariant field theories. On the subspace which is generated from the vacuum by the observables localized in finite light ray intervals, this symmetry can be extended to the Möbius group. The structure of the interval-localized algebras in the chiral models is discussed in two explicit examples.

Symmetry Operators and Separation of Variables for Dirac's Equation on Two-Dimensional Spin Manifolds

A signature independent formalism is created and utilized to determine the general second-order symmetry operators for Dirac's equation on two-dimensional Lorentzian spin manifolds. The formalism is used to characterize the orthonormal frames and metrics that permit the solution of Dirac's equation by separation of variables in the case where a second-order symmetry operator underlies the separation. Separation of variables in complex variables on two-dimensional Minkowski space is also considered.

Divergences in Quantum Field Theory on the Noncommutative Two-Dimensional Minkowski Space with Grosse–Wulkenhaar Potential

Quantum field theory on the noncommutative two-dimensional Minkowski space with Grosse-Wulkenhaar potential is discussed in two ways: In terms of a continuous set of generalised eigenfunctions of the wave operator, and directly in position space. In both settings, we find a new type of divergence in planar graphs. It is present at and above the self-dual point. This new kind of divergence might make the construction of a Minkowski space version of the Grosse-Wulkenhaar model impossible.

On the dynamics of a semitransparent moving mirror

Perfectly reflecting mirrors in the two-dimensional Minkowski space subjected to the reaction force due to the radiated quantum flux evoluate according to the Abraham–Lorentz–Dirac equation, which admits unphysical solutions. We investigate the non-relativistic equation of motion of a semitransparent mirror and show that the unphysical solutions are absent, provided that the energy which characterizes the reflectivity of the mirror is sufficiently small compared to the mirror's mass.

Mass thermalization in a semitransparent moving mirror model

We consider a semitransparent moving mirror model in the two-dimensional Minkowski space and determine the quantum vacuum correction to the mass of the mirror as a function of the mirror's trajectory. As expected, we find that for uniformly accelerated trajectories the mass correction exactly reproduces that for a mirror at rest in the thermal state of the field associated with the co-accelerated frame.

Construction of Quantum Field Theories with Factorizing S-Matrices

A new approach to the construction of interacting quantum field theories on two-dimensional Minkowski space is discussed. In this program, models are obtained from a prescribed factorizing S-matrix in two steps. At first, quantum fields which are localized in infinitely extended, wedge-shaped regions of Minkowski space are constructed explicitly. In the second step, local observables are analyzed with operator-algebraic techniques, in particular by using the modular nuclearity condition of Buchholz, d’Antoni and Longo. Besides a model-independent result regarding the Reeh–Schlieder property of the vacuum in this framework, an infinite class of quantum field theoretic models with non-trivial interaction is constructed. This construction completes a program initiated by Schroer in a large family of theories, a particular example being the Sinh-Gordon model. The crucial problem of establishing the existence of local observables in these models is solved by verifying the modular nuclearity condition, which here amounts to a condition on analytic properties of form factors of observables localized in wedge regions. It is shown that the constructed models solve the inverse scattering problem for the considered class of S-matrices. Moreover, a proof of asymptotic completeness is obtained by explicitly computing total sets of scattering states. The structure of these collision states is found to be in agreement with the heuristic formulae underlying the Zamolodchikov-Faddeev algebra.

One-dimensional solitary waves in singular deformations of SO(2) invariant two-component scalar field theory models

In this paper we study the structure of the manifold of solitary waves in some deformations of SO(2) symmetric two-component scalar field theoretical models in two-dimensional Minkowski space. The deformation is chosen in order to make the analogous mechanical system Hamilton–Jacobi separable in polar coordinates and displays a singularity at the origin of the internal plane. The existence of the singularity confers interesting and intriguing properties on the solitary waves or kink solutions.

Classical simulation of quantum fields II

We consider the classical time evolution of a real scalar field in two-dimensional Minkowski space with a [Formula: see text] interaction. We compute the spatial and temporal two-point correlation functions and extract the renormalized mass of the interacting theory. We find our results are consistent with the one- and two-loop quantum computation. We also perform Monte Carlo simulations of the quantum theory and conclude that the classical scheme is able to produce more accurate results with a fraction of the CPU time. PACS Nos.: 03.70.+k, 03.50.–z, 11.15.Tk

On Dekster’s angle measure in Minkowski spaces

Recently, Dekster introduced a new angle measure for Minkowski spaces according to which the total angular measure τ around a point in a two-dimensional Minkowski space need not be 2π. In this paper, we shall show that while τ need not be 2π, τ always lies between \(\sqrt{2\pi}\) and 8.

Composite solitary waves in three-component scalar field theory: Three-body low-energy scattering

We study the structure of the manifold of solitary waves in a particular three-component scalar field theoretical model in two-dimensional Minkowski space. These solitary waves involve one, two, three, four, six or seven lumps of energy. The adiabatic motion of the non-linear non-dispersive waves composed of three lumps is interpreted as three-body low-energy scattering of these particle-like kinks.

QUANTUM ENERGY INEQUALITIES IN TWO-DIMENSIONAL CONFORMAL FIELD THEORY

Quantum energy inequalities (QEIs) are state-independent lower bounds on weighted averages of the stress-energy tensor, and have been established for several free quantum field models. We present rigorous QEI bounds for a class of interacting quantum fields, namely the unitary, positive energy conformal field theories (with stress-energy tensor) on two-dimensional Minkowski space. The QEI bound depends on the weight used to average the stress-energy tensor and the central charge(s) of the theory, but not on the quantum state. We give bounds for various situations: averaging along timelike, null and spacelike curves, as well as over a space-time volume. In addition, we consider boundary conformal field theories and more general "moving mirror" models. Our results hold for all theories obeying a minimal set of axioms which — as we show — are satisfied by all models built from unitary highest-weight representations of the Virasoro algebra. In particular, this includes all (unitary, positive energy) minimal models and rational conformal field theories. Our discussion of this issue collects together (and, in places, corrects) various results from the literature which do not appear to have been assembled in this form elsewhere.

Changing shapes: adiabatic dynamics of composite solitary waves

We discuss the solitary wave solutions of a particular two-component scalar field model in two-dimensional Minkowski space. These solitary waves involve one, two or four lumps of energy. The adiabatic motion of these composite nonlinear non-dispersive waves points to variations in shape.

Modular Nuclearity and Localization

Within the algebraic setting of quantum field theory, a condition is given which implies that the intersection of algebras generated by field operators localized in wedge-shaped regions of the two-dimensional Minkowski space is non-trivial; in particular, there exist compactly localized operators in such theories which can be interpreted as local observables. The condition is based on spectral (nuclearity) properties of the modular operators affiliated with wedge algebras and the vacuum state and is of interest in the algebraic approach to the formfactor program, initiated by Schroer. It is illustrated here in a simple class of examples.

Quantum interest in two dimensions

The quantum interest conjecture of Ford and Roman asserts that any negative-energy pulse must necessarily be followed by an over-compensating positive-energy one within a certain maximum time delay. Furthermore, the minimum amount of over-compensation increases with the separation between the pulses. In this paper, we first study the case of a negative-energy square pulse followed by a positive-energy one for a minimally coupled, massless scalar field in two-dimensional Minkowski space. We obtain explicit expressions for the maximum time delay and the amount of over-compensation needed, using a previously developed eigenvalue approach. These results are then used to give a proof of the quantum interest conjecture for massless scalar fields in two dimensions, valid for general energy distributions.

The averaged null energy condition for general quantum field theories in two dimensions

It is shown that in any local quantum field theory in two-dimensional Minkowski space–time possessing a mass gap and an energy-momentum tensor, the averaged null energy condition is fulfilled for the set of those vector states which correspond to energetically strongly damped, local excitations of the vacuum. This set of physical vector states is translation invariant and dense. The energy-momentum tensor of the theory is assumed to be a Wightman field which is local relative to the observables, generates locally the translations, is divergence-free, and energetically bounded. Thus the averaged null energy condition can be deduced from completely generic, standard assumptions for general quantum field theory in two-dimensional flat space–time.

Bounds on negative energy densities in flat spacetime

We generalize results of Ford and Roman which place lower bounds---known as quantum inequalities---on the renormalized energy density of a quantum field averaged against a choice of sampling function. Ford and Roman derived their results for a specific non-compactly supported sampling function; here we use a different argument to obtain quantum inequalities for a class of smooth, even and non-negative sampling functions which are either compactly supported or decay rapidly at infinity. Our results hold in $d$-dimensional Minkowski space $(d>~2)$ for the free real scalar field of mass $m>~0.$ We discuss various features of our bounds in 2 and 4 dimensions. In particular, for massless field theory in two-dimensional Minkowski space, we show that our quantum inequality is weaker than Flanagan's optimal bound by a factor of $\frac{3}{2}.$

On the conformal equivalence between 2D black holes and Rindler spacetime

We study a two-dimensional dilaton gravity model related by a conformal transformation of the metric to the Callan-Giddings-Harvey-Strominger model. We find that most of the features and problems of the latter can be simply understood in terms of the classical and semiclassical dynamics of accelerated observers in two-dimensional Minkowski space.

Classical symmetries of some two-dimensional models

It is well-known that principal chiral models and symmetric space models in two-dimensional Minkowski space have an infinite-dimensional algebra of hidden symmetries. Because of the relevance of symmetric space models to duality symmetries in string theory, the hidden symmetries of these models are explored in some detail. The string theory application requires including coupling to gravity, supersymmetrization, and quantum effects. However, as a first step, this paper only considers classical bosonic theories in flat space-time. Even though the algebra of hidden symmetries of principal chiral models is confirmed to include a Kac-Moody algebra (or a current algebra on a circle), it is argued that a better interpretation is provided by a doubled current algebra on a semi-circle (or line segment). Neither the circle nor the semi-circle bears any apparent relationship to the physical space. For symmetric space models the line segment viewpoint is shown to be essential, and special boundary conditions need to be imposed at the ends. The algebra of hidden symmetries also includes Virasoro-like generators. For both principal chiral models and symmetric space models, the hidden symmetry stress tensor is singular at the ends of the line segment.

Pair creation in the adiabatic limit: a solvable example

A strictly positive lower bound is derived for the average number of chiral fermion/antifermion pairs which are created from the two-dimensional Minkowski space vacuum by an infinitely differentiable external potential of compact support in the adiabatic limit.

The space of solutions of Toda field theory

A new parametrization of the solutions of Toda field theory is introduced. In this parametrization, the solutions of the field equations are real, well-defined functions on spacetime, which is taken to be two-dimensional Minkowski space or a cylinder. The global structure of the covariant phase space of Toda theory is examined and it is shown that it is isomorphic to the Hamiltonian phase space. The Poisson brackets of Toda theory are then calculated. Finally, using the methods developed to study the Toda theory, we extend these results to the non-Abelian Toda field theories.