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Felix Finster

Publications and source records attributed to Felix Finster.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
arXiv2020

A Gauge Fixing Procedure for Causal Fermion Systems

Causal fermion systems incorporate local gauge symmetry in the sense that the Lagrangian and all inherent structures are invariant under local phase transformations of the physical wave functions. In the present paper it is explained and worked out in detail that, despite this local gauge freedom, the structures of a causal fermion system give rise to distinguished gauges where the local gauge freedom is fixed completely up to global gauge transformations. The main method is to use spectral and polar decompositions of operators on Hilbert spaces and on indefinite inner product spaces. We also introduce and make use of a Riemannian metric which is induced on the manifold of all regular correlation operators by the Hilbert-Schmidt scalar product. Gaussian coordinate systems corresponding to this Riemannian metric are constructed. Moreover, we work with so-called wave charts where the physical wave functions are used as coordinates. Our constructions and results are illustrated in the example of Dirac sea configurations in finite and infinite spatial volume.

math-ph↗
arXiv2020

Gupta-Bleuler Quantization of the Maxwell Field in Globally Hyperbolic Space-Times

We give a complete framework for the Gupta-Bleuler quantization of the free electromagnetic field on globally hyperbolic space-times. We describe one-particle structures that give rise to states satisfying the microlocal spectrum condition. The field algebras in the so-called Gupta-Bleuler representations satisfy the time-slice axiom, and the corresponding vacuum states satisfy the microlocal spectrum condition. We also give an explicit construction of ground states on ultrastatic space-times. Unlike previous constructions, our method does not require a spectral gap or the absence of zero modes. The only requirement, the absence of zero-resonance states, is shown to be stable under compact perturbations of topology and metric. Usual deformation arguments based on the time-slice axiom then lead to a construction of Gupta-Bleuler representations on a large class of globally hyperbolic space-times. As usual, the field algebra is represented on an indefinite inner product space, in which the physical states form a positive semi-definite subspace. Gauge transformations are incorporated in such a way that the field can be coupled perturbatively to a Dirac field. Our approach does not require any topological restrictions on the underlying space-time.

math-ph↗
arXiv2020

The Regularized Hadamard Expansion

A local expansion is proposed for two-point distributions involving an ultraviolet regularization in a four-dimensional globally hyperbolic space-time. The regularization is described by an infinite number of functions which can be computed iteratively by solving transport equations along null geodesics. We show that the Cauchy evolution preserves the regularized Hadamard structure. The resulting regularized Hadamard expansion gives detailed and explicit information on the global dynamics of the regularization effects.

math-ph↗
arXiv2020

The Fermionic Signature Operator in De Sitter Spacetime

The fermionic projector state is a distinguished quasi-free state for the algebra of Dirac fields in a globally hyperbolic spacetime. We construct and analyze it in the four-dimensional de Sitter spacetime, both in the closed and in the flat slicing. In the latter case we show that the mass oscillation properties do not hold due to boundary effects. This is taken into account in a so-called mass decomposition. The involved fermionic signature operator defines a fermionic projector state. In the case of a closed slicing, we construct the fermionic signature operator and show that the ensuing state is maximally symmetric and of Hadamard form, thus coinciding with the counterpart for spinors of the Bunch-Davies state.

math-ph↗
arXiv2020

Summing over spacetime dimensions in quantum gravity

Quantum-gravity corrections (in the form of a minimal length) to the Feynman propagator for a free scalar particle in $\mathbb{R}^D$ are shown to be the result of summing over all dimensions $D'\geq D$ of $\mathbb{R}^{D'}$, each summand taken in the absence of quantum gravity.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2019

Singular Support of Minimizers of the Causal Variational Principle on the Sphere

The support of minimizing measures of the causal variational principle on the sphere is analyzed. It is proven that in the case $τ>\sqrt{3}$, the support of every minimizing measure is contained in a finite number of real analytic curves which intersect at a finite number of points. In the case $τ>\sqrt{6}$, the support is proven to have Hausdorff dimension at most $6/7$.

math.CA↗
arXiv2019

Lectures on Linear Stability of Rotating Black Holes

These lecture notes are concerned with linear stability of the non-extreme Kerr geometry under perturbations of general spin. After a brief review of the Kerr black hole and its symmetries, we describe these symmetries by Killing fields and work out the connection to conservation laws. The Penrose process and superradiance effects are discussed. Decay results on the long-time behavior of Dirac waves are outlined. It is explained schematically how the Maxwell equations and the equations for linearized gravitational waves can be decoupled to obtain the Teukolsky equation. It is shown how the Teukolsky equation can be fully separated to a system of coupled ordinary differential equations. Linear stability of the non-extreme Kerr black hole is stated as a pointwise decay result for solutions of the Cauchy problem for the Teukolsky equation. The stability proof is outlined, with an emphasis on the underlying ideas and methods.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2019

Stationary Spacetimes and Self-Adjointness in Klein-Gordon Theory

We consider the problem of essential self-adjointness of the spatial part of the Klein-Gordon operator in stationary spacetimes. This operator is shown to be a Laplace-Beltrami type operator plus a potential. In globally hyperbolic spacetimes, essential selfadjointness is proven assuming smoothness of the metric components and semi-boundedness of the potential. This extends a recent result for static spacetimes to the stationary case. Furthermore, we generalize the results to certain non-globally hyperbolic spacetimes.

math-ph↗
arXiv2019

The Fermionic Signature Operator in the Exterior Schwarzschild Geometry

The structure of the solution space of the Dirac equation in the exterior Schwarzschild geometry is analyzed. Representing the space-time inner product for families of solutions with variable mass parameter in terms of the respective scalar products, a so-called mass decomposition is derived. This mass decomposition consists of a single mass integral involving the fermionic signature operator as well as a double integral which takes into account the flux of Dirac currents across the event horizon. The spectrum of the fermionic signature operator is computed. The corresponding generalized fermionic projector states are analyzed.

math-ph↗
arXiv2018

Causal Fermion Systems: Discrete Space-Times, Causation and Finite Propagation Speed

The theory of causal fermion systems is a recent approach to fundamental physics. Giving quantum mechanics, general relativity and quantum field theory as limiting cases, it is a candidate for a unified physical theory. The dynamics is described by a novel variational principle, the so-called causal action principle. The causal action principle does not rely on a presupposed space-time structure. Instead, it is a variational principle for space-time itself as well as for all structures in space-time (like particles, fields, etc.). After a general motivation and introduction, we report on mathematical results for two-particle causal fermion systems which state that every minimizer describes a discrete space-time. We explain and make precise that on scales which are much larger than the scale of the microscopic space-time structures, the dynamics of a causal fermion system respects causality with a finite speed of propagation.

math-ph↗
arXiv2018

The Continuum Limit of Causal Fermion Systems

This monograph introduces the basic concepts of the theory of causal fermion systems, a recent approach to the description of fundamental physics. The theory yields quantum mechanics, general relativity and quantum field theory as limiting cases and is therefore a candidate for a unified physical theory. From the mathematical perspective, causal fermion systems provide a general framework for describing and analyzing non-smooth geometries and "quantum geometries." The dynamics is described by a novel variational principle, called the causal action principle. In addition to the basics, the book provides all the necessary mathematical background and explains how the causal action principle gives rise to the interactions of the standard model plus gravity on the level of second-quantized fermionic fields coupled to classical bosonic fields. The focus is on getting a mathematically sound connection between causal fermion systems and physical systems in Minkowski space. The book is intended for graduate students entering the field, and is furthermore a valuable reference work for researchers in quantum field theory and quantum gravity.

math-ph↗
arXiv2018

An Integral Spectral Representation of the Massive Dirac Propagator in the Kerr Geometry in Eddington-Finkelstein-type Coordinates

We consider the massive Dirac equation in the non-extreme Kerr geometry in horizon-penetrating advanced Eddington-Finkelstein-type coordinates and derive a functional analytic integral representation of the associated propagator using the spectral theorem for unbounded self-adjoint operators, Stone's formula, and quantities arising in the analysis of Chandrasekhar's separation of variables. This integral representation describes the dynamics of Dirac particles outside and across the event horizon, up to the Cauchy horizon. In the derivation, we first write the Dirac equation in Hamiltonian form and show the essential self-adjointness of the Hamiltonian. For the latter purpose, as the Dirac Hamiltonian fails to be elliptic at the event and the Cauchy horizon, we cannot use standard elliptic methods of proof. Instead, we employ a new, general method for mixed initial-boundary value problems that combines results from the theory of symmetric hyperbolic systems with near-boundary elliptic methods. In this regard and since the time evolution may not be unitary because of Dirac particles impinging on the ring singularity, we also impose a suitable Dirichlet-type boundary condition on a time-like inner hypersurface placed inside the Cauchy horizon, which has no effect on the dynamics outside the Cauchy horizon. We then compute the resolvent of the Dirac Hamiltonian via the projector onto a finite-dimensional, invariant spectral eigenspace of the angular operator and the radial Green's matrix stemming from Chandrasekhar's separation of variables. Applying Stone's formula to the spectral measure of the Hamiltonian in the spectral decomposition of the Dirac propagator, that is, by expressing the spectral measure in terms of this resolvent, we obtain an explicit integral representation of the propagator.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2018

Spinors on Singular Spaces and the Topology of Causal Fermion Systems

Causal fermion systems and Riemannian fermion systems are proposed as a framework for describing non-smooth geometries. In particular, this framework provides a setting for spinors on singular spaces. The underlying topological structures are introduced and analyzed. The connection to the spin condition in differential topology is worked out. The constructions are illustrated by many simple examples like the Euclidean plane, the two-dimensional Minkowski space, a conical singularity, a lattice system as well as the curvature singularity of the Schwarzschild space-time. As further examples, it is shown how complex and Kähler structures can be encoded in Riemannian fermion systems.

math-ph↗
arXiv2018

Positive Functionals Induced by Minimizers of Causal Variational Principles

Considering second variations about a given minimizer of a causal variational principle, we derive positive functionals in space-time. It is shown that the strict positivity of these functionals ensures that the minimizer is nonlinearly stable within the class of compactly supported variations with local fragmentation. As applications, we endow the space of jets in space-time with Hilbert space structures and derive a positive surface layer integral on solutions of the linearized field equations.

math-ph↗