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Ivan Todorov

Publications and source records attributed to Ivan Todorov.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2013

Studying Quantum Field Theory

The paper puts together some loosely connected observations, old and new, on the concept of a quantum field and on the properties of Feynman amplitudes. We recall, in particular, the role of (exceptional) elementary induced representations of the quantum mechanical conformal group SU(2,2) in the study of gauge fields and their higher spin generalization. A recent revival of the (Bogolubov-)Epstein-Glaser approach to position space renormalization is reviewed including an application to the calculation of residues of primitively divergent graphs. We end up with an optimistic outlook of current developments of analytic methods in perturbative QFT which combine the efforts of theoretical physicists, algebraic geometers and number theorists.

math-ph↗
arXiv2013

Renormalization of Massless Feynman Amplitudes in Configuration Space

A systematic study of recursive renormalization of Feynman amplitudes is carried out both in Euclidean and in Minkowski configuration space. For a massless quantum field theory (QFT) we use the technique of extending associate homogeneous distributions to complete the renormalization recursion. A homogeneous (Poincare covariant) amplitude is said to be convergent if it admits a (unique covariant) extension as a homogeneous distribution. For any amplitude without subdivergences - i.e. for a Feynman distribution that is homogeneous off the full (small) diagonal - we define a renormalization invariant residue. Its vanishing is a necessary and sufficient condition for the convergence of such an amplitude. It extends to arbitrary - not necessarily primitively divergent - Feynman amplitudes. This notion of convergence is finer than the usual power counting criterion and includes cancellation of divergences.

hep-th↗
arXiv2012

Conformal field theories with infinitely many conservation laws

Globally conformal invariant quantum field theories in a D-dimensional space-time (D even) have rational correlation functions and admit an infinite number of conserved (symmetric traceless) tensor currents. In a theory of a scalar field of dimension D-2 they were demonstrated to be generated by bilocal normal products of free massless scalar fields with an O(N), U(N), or Sp(2N) (global) gauge symmetry [BNRT]. Recently, conformal field theories "with higher spin symmetry" were considered for D=3 in [MZ] where a similar result was obtained (exploiting earlier study of CFT correlators). We suggest that the proper generalization of the notion of a 2D chiral algebra to arbitrary (even or odd) dimension is precisely a CFT with an infinite series of conserved currents. We shall recast and complement (part of) the argument of Maldacena and Zhiboedov into the framework of our earlier work. We extend to D=4 the auxiliary Weyl-spinor formalism developed in [GPY] for D=3. The free field construction only follows for D>3 under additional assumptions about the operator product algebra. In particular, the problem of whether a rational CFT in 4D Minkowski space is necessarily trivial remains open.

math-ph↗
arXiv2012

"Quantization is a mystery"

Expository notes which combine a historical survey of the development of quantum physics with a review of selected mathematical topics in quantization theory (addressed to students that are not complete novices in quantum mechanics). After recalling in the introduction the early stages of the quantum revolution, and recapitulating in Sect. 2.1 some basic notions of symplectic geometry, we survey in Sect. 2.2 the so called prequantization thus preparing the ground for an outline of geometric quantization (Sect. 2.3). In Sect. 3 we apply the general theory to the study of basic examples of quantization of Kaehler manifolds. In Sect. 4 we review the Weyl and Wigner maps and the work of Groenewold and Moyal that laid the foundations of quantum mechanics in phase space, ending with a brief survey of the modern development of deformation quantization. Sect. 5 provides a review of second quantization and its mathematical interpretation. We point out that the treatment of (nonrelativistic) bound states requires going beyond the neat mathematical formalization of the concept of second quantization. An appendix is devoted to Pascual Jordan, the least known among the creators of quantum mechanics and the chief architect of the "theory of quantized matter waves".

math-ph↗
arXiv2011

Clifford Algebras and Spinors

Expository notes on Clifford algebras and spinors with a detailed discussion of Majorana, Weyl, and Dirac spinors. The paper is meant as a review of background material, needed, in particular, in now fashionable theoretical speculations on neutrino masses. It has a more mathematical flavour than the over twenty-seven-year-old "Introduction to Majorana masses" by P.D. Mannheim and includes historical notes and biographical data on past participants in the story.

math-ph↗
arXiv2010

Minimal representations and reductive dual pairs in conformal field theory

A minimal representation of a simple non-compact Lie group is obtained by ``quantizing'' the minimal nilpotent coadjoint orbit of its Lie algebra. It provides context for Roger Howe's notion of a reductive dual pair encountered recently in the description of global gauge symmetry of a (4-dimensional) conformal observable algebra. We give a pedagogical introduction to these notions and point out that physicists have been using both minimal representations and dual pairs without naming them and hence stand a chance to understand their theory and to profit from it.

math-ph↗
arXiv2009

Operator system structures on ordered spaces

Given an Archimedean order unit space (V,V^+,e), we construct a minimal operator system OMIN(V) and a maximal operator system OMAX(V), which are the analogues of the minimal and maximal operator spaces of a normed space. We develop some of the key properties of these operator systems and make some progress on characterizing when an operator system S is completely boundedly isomorphic to either OMIN(S) or to OMAX(S). We then apply these concepts to the study of entanglement breaking maps. We prove that for matrix algebras a linear map is completely positive from OMIN(M_n) to OMAX(M_m) if and only if it is entanglement breaking.

math.OA↗
arXiv2008

Harmonic bilocal fields generated by globally conformal invariant scalar fields

The twist two contribution in the operator product expansion of phi_1(x_1) phi_2(x_2) for a pair of globally conformal invariant, scalar fields of equal scaling dimension d in four space-time dimensions is a field V_1(x_1,x_2) which is harmonic in both variables. It is demonstrated that the Huygens bilocality of V_1 can be equivalently characterized by a "single-pole property" concerning the pole structure of the (rational) correlation functions involving the product phi_1(x_1) phi_2(x_2). This property is established for the dimension d=2 of phi_1, phi_2. As an application we prove that any system of GCI scalar fields of conformal dimension 2 (in four space-time dimensions) can be presented as a (possibly infinite) superposition of products of free massless fields.

hep-th↗
arXiv2006

Unitary Positive-Energy Representations of Scalar Bilocal Quantum Fields

The superselection sectors of two classes of scalar bilocal quantum fields in D>=4 dimensions are explicitly determined by working out the constraints imposed by unitarity. The resulting classification in terms of the dual of the respective gauge groups U(N) and O(N) confirms the expectations based on general results obtained in the framework of local nets in algebraic quantum field theory, but the approach using standard Lie algebra methods rather than abstract duality theory is complementary. The result indicates that one does not lose interesting models if one postulates the absence of scalar fields of dimension D-2 in models with global conformal invariance. Another remarkable outcome is the observation that, with an appropriate choice of the Hamiltonian, a Lie algebra embedded into the associative algebra of observables completely fixes the representation theory.

math-ph↗
arXiv2005

Werner Heisenberg (1901-1976)

A brief review of Heisenberg's life and work: participating in the youth movement in the aftermath of World War I, creating quantum mechanics, conflict with "deutsche Physik", involvement in "Hitler's Uranium Project", last illusions. Problems and dilemmas for scientists under a dictatorship - East and West.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2001

Canonical quantization of the boundary Wess-Zumino-Witten model

We present an analysis of the canonical structure of the WZW theory with untwisted conformal boundary conditions. The phase space of the boundary theory on a strip is shown to coincide with the phase space of the Chern-Simons theory on a solid cylinder (a disc times a line) with two Wilson lines. This reveals a new aspect of the relation between two-dimensional boundary conformal field theories and three-dimensional topological theories. A decomposition of the Chern-Simons phase space on a punctured disc in terms of the one on a punctured sphere and of coadjoint orbits of the loop group easily lends itself to quantization, providing at the same time a quantization of the boundary WZW model.

hep-th↗
arXiv2000

Indecomposable U_q(sl_n) modules for q^h = -1 and BRS intertwiners

A class of indecomposable representations of U_q(sl_n) is considered for q an even root of unity (q^h = -1) exhibiting a similar structure as (height h) indecomposable lowest weight Kac-Moody modules associated with a chiral conformal field theory. In particular, U_q(sl_n) counterparts of the Bernard-Felder BRS operators are constructed for n=2,3. For n=2 a pair of dual d_2(h) = h dimensional U_q(sl_2) modules gives rise to a 2h-dimensional indecomposable representation including those studied earlier in the context of tensor product expansions of irreducible representations. For n=3 the interplay between the Poincare'-Birkhoff-Witt and (Lusztig) canonical bases is exploited in the study of d_3(h) = h(h+1)(2h+1)/6 dimensional indecomposable modules and of the corresponding intertwiners.

hep-th↗
arXiv2000

Monodromy Representations of the Braid Group

Chiral conformal blocks in a rational conformal field theory are a far going extension of Gauss hypergeometric functions. The associated monodromy representations of Artin's braid group capture the essence of the modern view on the subject, which originates in ideas of Riemann and Schwarz. Physically, such monodromy representations correspond to a new type of braid group statistics, which may manifest itself in two-dimensional critical phenomena, e.g. in some exotic quantum Hall states. The associated primary fields satisfy R-matrix exchange relations. The description of the internal symmetry of such fields requires an extension of the concept of a group, thus giving room to quantum groups and their generalizations. We review the appearance of braid group representations in the space of solutions of the Knizhnik - Zamolodchikov equation, with an emphasis on the role of a regular basis of solutions which allows us to treat the case of indecomposable representations as well.

hep-th↗
arXiv1993

Quadratic brackets from symplectic forms

We give a physicist oriented survey of Poisson-Lie symmetries of classical systems. We consider finite dimensional geometric actions and the chiral WZNW model as examples for the general construction. An essential point is that quadratic Poisson bracets appear for group--like variables. It is believed that after quantization they lead to quadratic exchange algebras.

hep-th↗