arXiv subjects

Ian M. Newsome

Publications and source records attributed to Ian M. Newsome.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Linear Response Analysis of the Semiclassical Approximation to Spin 1/2 Quantum Electrodynamics in 1+1 Dimensions

An investigation of the validity of the semiclassical approximation to quantum electrodynamics in 1+1 dimensions is given. The criterion for validity used here involves the impact of quantum fluctuations introduced through a two-point function which emerges naturally when considering the stability of the backreaction equation to linear order perturbations, resulting in the linear response equation. Consideration is given to the case of a spatially homogeneous electric field generated by a classical source, coupled to a quantized massive spin 1/2 field. Solutions to the linear response equation as well as the impact of quantum fluctuations introduced through the current density two-point correlation function are presented for two relevant electric field-to-mass parameter values $qE/m^2$, indicative of the strength of the backreaction process. Previous efforts utilized approximate solutions to the linear response equation that were expected to be valid for early times. A comparative analysis is given between the exact and approximate solutions in order to validate this conjecture.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2025

Quantum Effects in 3+1 Schwarzschild-de Sitter Spacetime: Properties of the Hadamard Function

In a four-dimensional Schwarzschild-de Sitter background, the spherically symmetric $(\ell=0)$ contribution to the Hadamard two-point correlation function is computed for a massless minimally-coupled scalar field in the Unruh state. Consideration is given to spacetime points located between the black hole and cosmological horizons. Previously it was found in two dimensions at late times for spatially separated points that the Hadamard function exhibits unbounded linear growth in time, with a rate of growth proportional to the sum of the black hole and cosmological surface gravities. Here it is shown numerically that this instability persists in four dimensions, but with a modification of the two-dimensional result due to scattering effects associated with the scalar field modes. An analytic approximation is derived for the growth rate in four dimensions and, in the limit that the black hole vanishes, is found to be equivalent to the rate of growth for the Hadamard function found previously for de Sitter space in cosmological coordinates.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Validity of the Semiclassical Approximation in 1+1 Electrodynamics: Numerical Solutions to the Linear Response Equation

From previous work arXiv:2010.09811, the semiclassical backreaction equation in 1+1 dimensions was solved and a criterion was implemented to assess the validity of the semiclassical approximation in this case. The criterion involves the behavior of solutions to the linear response equation which describes perturbations about solutions to the semiclassical backreaction equation. The linear response equation involves a time integral over a two-point correlation function for the current induced by the quantum field and it is expected that significant growth in this two-point function (and therefore in quantum fluctuations) will result in significant growth in solutions to the linear response equation. It was conjectured for early times that the difference of two nearby solutions to the semiclassical backreaction equation, with similar initial conditions, can act as an approximate solution to the linear response equation. A comparative analysis between the approximate and numerical solutions to the linear response equation, for the critical scale for particle production, will be presented for the case of a massive, quantized spin 1/2 field in order to determine how robust the approximation method is for representing its solutions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Pair production due to an electric field in 1+1 dimensions and the validity of the semiclassical approximation

Solutions to the backreaction equation in 1+1-dimensional semiclassical electrodynamics are obtained and analyzed when considering a time-varying homogeneous electric field initially generated by a classical electric current, coupled to either a quantized scalar field or a quantized spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ field. Particle production by way of the Schwinger effect leads to backreaction effects that modulate the electric field strength. Details of the particle production process are investigated along with the transfer of energy between the electric field and the particles. The validity of the semiclassical approximation is also investigated using a criterion previously implemented for chaotic inflation and, in an earlier form, semiclassical gravity. The criterion states that the semiclassical approximation will break down if any linearized gauge-invariant quantity constructed from solutions to the linear response equation, with finite nonsingular data, grows rapidly for some period of time. Approximations to homogeneous solutions of the linear response equation are computed and it is found that the criterion is violated when the maximum value, $E_{\rm max}$, obtained by the electric field is of the order of the critical scale for the Schwinger effect, $E_{\rm max} \sim E_{\rm crit}\equiv m^2/q$, where $m$ is the mass of the quantized field and $q$ is its electric charge. For these approximate solutions the criterion appears to be satisfied in the extreme limits $\frac{qE_{\rm max}}{m^2} \ll 1$ and $\frac{qE_{\rm max}}{m^2} \gg 1$.

gr-qc↗