arXiv subjects

Jürg Fröhlich

Publications and source records attributed to Jürg Fröhlich.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Indirect retrieval of information and the emergence of facts in quantum mechanics

Long sequences of successive direct (projective) measurements or observations of a few "uninteresting" physical quantities of a quantum system may reveal indirect, but precise and unambiguous information on the values of some very "interesting" observables of the system. In this paper, the mathematics underlying this claim is developed; i.e., we attempt to contribute to a mathematical theory of indirect and, in particular, non-demolition measurements in quantum mechanics. Our attempt leads us to make novel uses of classical notions and results of probability theory, such as the "algebra of functions measurable at infinity", the Central Limit Theorem, results concerning relative entropy and its role in the theory of large deviations, etc.

math-ph↗

arXiv2015

On the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics and the notion of closed systems

The notion of "closed systems" in Quantum Mechanics is discussed. For this purpose, we study two models of a quantum-mechanical system $P$ spatially far separated from the "rest of the universe" $Q$. Under reasonable assumptions on the interaction between $P$ and $Q$, we show that the system $P$ behaves as a closed system if the initial state of $P \vee Q$ belongs to a large class of states, including ones exhibiting entanglement between $P$ and $Q$. We use our results to illustrate the non-deterministic nature of quantum mechanics. Studying a specific example, we show that assigning an initial state and a unitary time evolution to a quantum system is generally not sufficient to predict the results of a measurement with certainty.

math-ph↗

arXiv2015

Quantum Electrodynamics of Atomic Resonances

A simple model of an atom interacting with the quantized electromagnetic field is studied. The atom has a finite mass $m$, finitely many excited states and an electric dipole moment, $\vec{d}_0 = -λ_{0} \vec{d}$, where $\| d^{i}\| = 1,$ $ i=1,2,3,$ and $λ_0$ is proportional to the elementary electric charge. The interaction of the atom with the radiation field is described with the help of the Ritz Hamiltonian, $-\vec{d}_0\cdot \vec{E}$, where $\vec{E}$ is the electric field, cut off at large frequencies. A mathematical study of the Lamb shift, the decay channels and the life times of the excited states of the atom is presented. It is rigorously proven that these quantities are analytic functions of the momentum $\vec{p}$ of the atom and of the coupling constant $λ_0$, provided $|\vec{p}| < mc$ and $| \Im\vec{p} |$ and $| λ_{0} |$ are sufficiently small. The proof relies on a somewhat novel inductive construction involving a sequence of `smooth Feshbach-Schur maps' applied to a complex dilatation of the original Hamiltonian, which yields an algorithm for the calculation of resonance energies that converges super-exponentially fast.

math-ph↗

arXiv2014

Fluctuations in a kinetic transport model for quantum friction

We consider a linear Boltzmann equation that arises in a model for quantum friction. It describes a particle that is slowed down by the emission of bosons. We study the stochastic process generated by this Boltzmann equation and we show convergence of its spatial trajectory to a multiple of Brownian motion with exponential scaling. The asymptotic position of the particle is finite in mean, even though its absolute value is typically infinite. This is contrasted to an approximation that neglects the influence of fluctuations, where the mean asymptotic position is infinite.

math-ph↗

arXiv2013

Continuous Renormalization Group Analysis of Spectral Problems in Quantum Field Theory

The isospectral renormalization group is a powerful method to analyze the spectrum of operators in quantum field theory. It was introduced in 1995 [see \cite{BachFrohlichSigal1995}, \cite{BachFrohlichSigal1998}] and since then it has been used to prove several results for non-relativistic quantum electrodynamics. After the introduction of the method there have been many works in which extensions, simplifications or clarifications are presented (see \cite{BachChenFrohlichSigal2003}, \cite{GriesemerHasler2008}, \cite{FrohlichGriesemerSigal2009}). In this paper we present a new approach in which we construct a flow of operators parametrized by a continuous variable in the positive real axis. While this is in contrast to the discrete iteration used before, this is more in spirit of the original formulation of the renormalization group introduced in theoretical physics in 1974 \cite{KogutWilson1974}. The renormalization flow that we construct can be expressed in a simple way: it can be viewed as a single application of the Feshbach-Schur map with a clever selection of the spectral parameter. Another advantage of the method is that there exists a flow function for which the renormalization group that we present is the orbit under this flow of an initial Hamiltonian. This opens the possibility to study the problem using different techniques coming from the theory of evolution equations.

math-ph↗

arXiv2012

Hamiltonian dynamics of a particle interacting with a wave field

We study the Hamiltonian equations of motion of a heavy tracer particle interacting with a dense weakly interacting Bose-Einstein condensate in the classical (mean-field) limit. Solutions describing ballistic subsonic motion of the particle through the condensate are constructed. We establish asymptotic stability of ballistic subsonic motion.

math-ph↗

arXiv2012

Some Applications of the Lee-Yang Theorem

For lattice systems of statistical mechanics satisfying a Lee-Yang property (i.e., for which the Lee-Yang circle theorem holds), we present a simple proof of analyticity of (connected) correlations as functions of an external magnetic field h, for Re h > 0 or Re h < 0. A survey of models known to have the Lee-Yang property is given. We conclude by describing various applications of the aforementioned analyticity in h.

math-ph↗

arXiv2011

Anderson Localization Triggered by Spin Disorder---with an Application to Eu_x Ca_1-x B_6

The phenomenon of Anderson localization is studied for a class of one-particle Schrödinger operators with random Zeeman interactions. These operators arise as follows: Static spins are placed randomly on the sites of a simple cubic lattice according to a site percolation process with density x and coupled to one another ferromagnetically. Scattering of an electron in a conduction band at these spins is described by a random Zeeman interaction term that originates from indirect exchange. It is shown rigorously that, for positive values of x below the percolation threshold, the spectrum of the one-electron Schrödinger operator near the band edges is dense pure-point, and the corresponding eigenfunctions are exponentially localized. Localization near the band edges persists in a weak external magnetic field, H, but disappears gradually, as H is increased. Our results lead us to predict the phenomenon of colossal (negative) magnetoresistance and the existence of a Mott transition, as H and/or x are increased. Our analysis is motivated directly by experimental results concerning the magnetic alloy Eu_x Ca_1-x B_6.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2009

Defect lines, dualities, and generalised orbifolds

Defects are a useful tool in the study of quantum field theories. This is illustrated in the example of two-dimensional conformal field theories. We describe how defect lines and their junction points appear in the description of symmetries and order-disorder dualities, as well as in the orbifold construction and a generalisation thereof that covers exceptional modular invariants.

math-ph↗

arXiv2009

Effective field theories for the $ν= 5/2$ edge

We present a list of possible effective theories which may describe a QHE edge at filling fraction $ν=5/2$. We show that there exist several abelian and non-abelian effective theories (apart from those discussed in the literature) compatible with the physical requirements imposed by the microscopic nature of the system. We compare predictions of these theories with previous proposals and with the results of recent experiments. We identify a set of theories, both abelian and non-abelian, that cannot be distinguished based on the quasihole tunneling data only. We discuss what experimental information may be useful in resolving the ambiguity.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Batalin-Vilkovisky Integrals in Finite Dimensions

The Batalin-Vilkovisky method (BV) is the most powerful method to analyze functional integrals with (infinite-dimensional) gauge symmetries presently known. It has been invented to fix gauges associated with symmetries that do not close off-shell. Homological Perturbation Theory is introduced and used to develop the integration theory behind BV and to describe the BV quantization of a Lagrangian system with symmetries. Localization (illustrated in terms of Duistermaat-Heckman localization) as well as anomalous symmetries are discussed in the framework of BV.

math-ph↗

arXiv2007

Duality and defects in rational conformal field theory

We study topological defect lines in two-dimensional rational conformal field theory. Continuous variation of the location of such a defect does not change the value of a correlator. Defects separating different phases of local CFTs with the same chiral symmetry are included in our discussion. We show how the resulting one-dimensional phase boundaries can be used to extract symmetries and order-disorder dualities of the CFT. The case of central charge c=4/5, for which there are two inequivalent world sheet phases corresponding to the tetra-critical Ising model and the critical three-states Potts model, is treated as an illustrative example.

hep-th↗

arXiv2004

Picard groups in rational conformal field theory

Algebra and representation theory in modular tensor categories can be combined with tools from topological field theory to obtain a deeper understanding of rational conformal field theories in two dimensions: It allows us to establish the existence of sets of consistent correlation functions, to demonstrate some of their properties in a model-independent manner, and to derive explicit expressions for OPE coefficients and coefficients of partition functions in terms of invariants of links in three-manifolds. We show that a Morita class of (symmetric special) Frobenius algebras $A$ in a modular tensor category $\calc$ encodes all data needed to describe the correlators. A Morita-invariant formulation is provided by module categories over $\calc$. Together with a bimodule-valued fiber functor, the system (tensor category + module category) can be described by a weak Hopf algebra. The Picard group of the category $\calc$ can be used to construct examples of symmetric special Frobenius algebras. The Picard group of the category of $A$-bimodules describes the internal symmetries of the theory and allows one to identify generalized Kramers-Wannier dualities.

math.CT↗

arXiv2004

Statistical Mechanics of Thermodynamic Processes

In this note we describe some results concerning non-relativistic quantum systems at positive temperature and density confined to macroscopically large regions of physical space which are under the influence of some local, time-dependent external forces. We are interested in asymptotic properties of such systems.

math-ph↗

arXiv2004

Another Return of 'Return to Equilibrium'

The property of ``{\it return to equilibrium}'' is established for a class of quantum-mechanical models describing interactions of a (toy) atom with black-body radiation, or of a spin with a heat bath of scalar bosons, under the assumption that the interaction strength is {\it sufficiently weak}. For models describing the first class of systems, our upper bound on the interaction strength is {\it independent} of the temperature $T$, (with $0<T\leq T_0<\infty$), while, for the spin-boson model, it tends to zero logarithmically, as $T\to 0$. Our result holds for interaction form factors with physically realistic infrared behaviour. Three key ingredients of our analysis are: a suitable concrete form of the Araki-Woods representation of the radiation field, Mourre's positive commutator method combined with a recent virial theorem, and a norm bound on the difference between the equilibrium states of the interacting and the non-interacting system (which, for the system of an atom coupled to black-body radiation, is valid for {\it all} temperatures $T\geq 0$, assuming only that the interaction strength is sufficiently weak).

math-ph↗

arXiv2004

Ionization of Atoms in a Thermal Field

We study the stationary states of a quantum mechanical system describing an atom coupled to black-body radiation at positive temperature. The stationary states of the non-interacting system are given by product states, where the particle is in a bound state corresponding to an eigenvalue of the particle Hamiltonian, and the field is in its equilibrium state. We show that if Fermi's Golden Rule predicts that a stationary state disintegrates after coupling to the radiation field then it is unstable, provided the coupling constant is sufficiently small (depending on the temperature). The result is proven by analyzing the spectrum of the thermal Hamiltonian (Liouvillian) of the system within the framework of $W^*$-dynamical systems. A key element of our spectral analysis is the positive commutator method.

math-ph↗

arXiv2004

Thermal Ionization

In the context of an idealized model describing an atom coupled to black-body radiation at a sufficiently high positive temperature, we show that the atom will end up being ionized in the limit of large times. Mathematically, this is translated into the statement that the coupled system does not have any time-translation invariant state of positive (asymptotic) temperature, and that the expectation value of an arbitrary finite-dimensional projection in an arbitrary initial state of positive (asymptotic) temperature tends to zero, as time tends to infinity. These results are formulated within the general framework of $W^*$-dynamical systems, and the proofs are based on Mourre's theory of positive commutators and a new virial theorem. Results on the so-called standard form of a von Neumann algebra play an important role in our analysis.

math-ph↗

arXiv2000

Correlation functions and boundary conditions in RCFT and three-dimensional topology

We give a general construction of correlation functions in rational conformal field theory on a possibly non-orientable surface with boundary in terms of 3-dimensional topological quantum field theory. The construction applies to any modular category. It is proved that these correlation functions obey modular and factorization rules. Structure constants are calculated and expressed in terms of the data of the modular category.

hep-th↗