arXiv subjects

D. Noltingk

Publications and source records attributed to D. Noltingk.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2002

BRST Quantisation of Histories Electrodynamics

This paper is a continuation of earlier work where a classical history theory of pure electrodynamics was developed in which the the history fields have \emph{five} components. The extra component is associated with an extra constraint, thus enlarging the gauge group of histories electrodynamics. In this paper we quantise the classical theory developed previously by two methods. Firstly we quantise the reduced classical history space, to obtain a reduced quantum history theory. Secondly we quantise the classical BRST-extended history space, and use the BRST charge to define a `cohomological' quantum history theory. Finally we show that the reduced history theory is isomorphic, as a history theory, to the cohomological history theory.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

A Consistent Histories approach to the Unruh effect

Using the HPO approach to consistent histories we re-derive Unruh's result that an observer constantly accelerating through the Minkowski vacuum appears to be immersed in a thermal bath. We show that propositions about any symmetry of the system always form a consistent set and that the probabilities associated with such propositions are decided by their value in the initial state. We use this fact to postulate a condition on the decoherence functional in the HPO set-up. Finally we show that the Unruh effect arises from the fact that the initial density matrix corresponding to the inertial vacuum can be written as a thermal density matrix in the Fock basis associated with the accelerating observer.

gr-qc↗