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Jan Govaerts

Publications and source records attributed to Jan Govaerts.

71 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
arXiv1999

Quantisation and Gauge Invariance

Recent developments concerning canonical quantisation and gauge invariant quantum mechanical systems and quantum field theories are briefly discussed. On the one hand, it is shown how diffeomorphic covariant representations of the Heisenberg algebra over curved manifolds of non trivial topology involve topology classes of flat U(1) bundles. On the other hand, through some examples, the recently proposed physical projector approach to the quantisation of general gauge invariant systems is shown to avoid the necessity of any gauge fixing - hence also avoiding the possibility of Gribov problems which usually ensue any gauge fixing procedure - and is also capable to provide the adequate description of the physical content of gauge invariant systems.

hep-th↗
arXiv1999

Quantisation without Gauge Fixing: Avoiding Gribov Ambiguities through the Physical Projector

The quantisation of gauge invariant systems usually proceeds through some gauge fixing procedure of one type or another. Typically for most cases, such gauge fixings are plagued by Gribov ambiguities, while it is only for an admissible gauge fixing that the correct dynamical description of the system is represented, especially with regards to non perturbative phenomena. However, any gauge fixing procedure whatsoever may be avoided altogether, by using rather a recently proposed new approach based on the projection operator onto physical gauge invariant states only, which is necessarily free on any such issues. These different aspects of gauge invariant systems are explicitely analysed within a solvable U(1) gauge invariant quantum mechanical model related to the dimensional reduction of Yang-Mills theory.

hep-th↗
arXiv1999

Topology Classes of Flat U(1) Bundles and Diffeomorphic Covariant Representations of the Heisenberg Algebra

The general construction of self-adjoint configuration space representations of the Heisenberg algebra over an arbitrary manifold is considered. All such inequivalent representations are parametrised in terms of the topology classes of flat U(1) bundles over the configuration space manifold. In the case of Riemannian manifolds, these representations are also manifestly diffeomorphic covariant. The general discussion, illustrated by some simple examples in non relativistic quantum mechanics, is of particular relevance to systems whose configuration space is parametrised by curvilinear coordinates or is not simply connected, which thus include for instance the modular spaces of theories of non abelian gauge fields and gravity.

quant-ph↗
arXiv1999

Annular Vortex Solutions to the Landau-Ginzburg Equations in Mesoscopic Superconductors

New vortex solutions to the Landau-Ginzburg equations are described. These configurations, which extend the well known Abrikosov and giant magnetic vortex ones, consist of a succession of ring-like supercurrent vortices organised in a concentric pattern, possibly bound to a giant magnetic vortex then lying at their center. The dynamical and thermodynamic stability of these annular vortices is an important open issue on which hinges the direct experimental observation of such configurations. Nevertheless, annular vortices should affect indirectly specific dynamic properties of mesoscopic superconducting devices amenable to physical observation.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv1998

Symmetry Tests within the Standard Model and Beyond from Nuclear Muon Capture

Precision measurements in nuclear muon capture on the proton and $^3$He allow for tests of the Standard Model for the strong and electroweak interactions, complementary to those achieved in high energy experiments. The present situation and future prospects are reviewed, emphasizing where renewed efforts could prove to be rewarding in exploring ever further beyond the confines of the Standard Model.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1998

Solving Gauge Invariant Systems without Gauge Fixing: the Physical Projector in 0+1 Dimensional Theories

The projector onto gauge invariant physical states was recently constructed for arbitrary constrained systems. This approach, which does not require gauge fixing nor any additional degrees of freedom beyond the original ones---two characteristic features of all other available methods for quantising constrained dynamics---is put to work in the context of a general class of quantum mechanical gauge invariant systems. The cases of SO(2) and SO(3) gauge groups are considered specifically, and a comprehensive understanding of the corresponding physical spectra is achieved in a straightforward manner, using only standard methods of coherent states and group theory which are directly amenable to generalisation to other Lie algebras. Results extend by far the few examples available in the literature from much more subtle and delicate analyses implying gauge fixing and the characterization of modular space.

hep-th↗
arXiv1997

Symmetry Tests of the Electroweak Interaction from Muon Capture on 3He

Precision measurements in muon capture on 3He to the triton channel provide for interesting tests of the charged electroweak interaction, whether within the Standard Model or beyond it. Based on the statistical capture rate and the triton asymmetry, both the object of recent and on-going experiments using polarised 3He targets, examples of such tests are presented, and shown to lead to stringent complementary constraints for which further dedicated experimental as well as theoretical efforts are required.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1996

Laboratory Constraints on a 33.9 MeV/c^2 Isosinglet Neutrino: Status and Perspectives

An anomaly in the time behaviour of the signals observed by the KARMEN Collaboration may be interpreted as the possible decay signature of a 33.9 MeV/c$^2$ mainly sterile neutrino. This note discusses the parameter space still open for the mixing of this hypothetical particle with the neutrinos of known leptonic flavour, considering the experimental results which became available recently, as well as those to be expected from forthcoming measurements. It is concluded that if no positive signature is observed, the envisaged laboratory experiments are not expected to close enterily the parameter space of mixing amplitudes. However, a proper reassessment of the ALEPH upper bound on the $ν_τ$ neutrino mass including the possibility of $τ$ flavour mixing, would certainly help in reducing the parameter space left open.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1996

Projection Operator Approach to Constrained Systems

Recently, within the context of the phase space coherent state path integral quantisation of constrained systems, John Klauder introduced a reproducing kernel for gauge invariant physical states, which involves a projection operator onto the reduced Hilbert space of physical states, avoids any gauge fixing conditions, and leads to a specific measure for the integration over Lagrange multipliers. Here, it is pointed out that this approach is also devoid of any Gribov problems and always provides for an effectively admissible integration over all gauge orbits of gauge invariant systems. This important aspect of Klauder's proposal is explicitly confirmed by two simple examples.

hep-th↗
arXiv1996

Neutrino Decay of Positronium in the Standard Model and Beyond

Whether in the Standard Model or beyond it, neutrinos contribute to the invisible decay mode of orthopositronium but practically not at all to that of parapositronium. Although this remark does not resolve the orthopositronium decay puzzle, it allows for upper bounds to be set on neutrino magnetic moments.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1994

The Hamiltonian Formulation of Higher Order Dynamical Systems

Using Dirac's approach to constrained dynamics, the Hamiltonian formulation of regular higher order Lagrangians is developed. The conventional description of such systems due to Ostrogradsky is recovered. However, unlike the latter, the present analysis yields in a transparent manner the local structure of the associated phase space and its local sympletic geometry, and is of direct application to {\em constrained\/} higher order Lagrangian systems which are beyond the scope of Ostrogradsky's approach.

hep-th↗
arXiv1993

Positronium Spectroscopy in a Magnetic Field

Hyperfine spectroscopy of positronium formed in the presence of a static magnetic field is considered. Generalising the situation hitherto developed in the literature, the magnetic field is not assumed to be parallel to the momentum of incoming polarised positrons, while the possibility of electron polarisation is also included in the analysis. The results are of application to high sensitivity positron polarimeters used in current $β$ decay experiments.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1992

Linearisation of Universal Field Equations

The Universal Field Equations, recently constructed as examples of higher dimensional dynamical systems which admit an infinity of inequivalent Lagrangians are shown to be linearised by a Legendre transformation. This establishes the conjecture that these equations describe integrable systems. While this construction is implicit in general, there exists a large class of solutions for which an explicit form may be written.

hep-th↗
arXiv1992

Relativistic Rigid Particles: Classical Tachyons and Quantum Anomalies

Causal rigid particles whose action includes an {\it arbitrary} dependence on the world-line extrinsic curvature are considered. General classes of solutions are constructed, including {\it causal tachyonic} ones. The Hamiltonian formulation is developed in detail except for one degenerate situation for which only partial results are given and requiring a separate analysis. However, for otherwise generic rigid particles, the precise specification of Hamiltonian gauge symmetries is obtained with in particular the identification of the Teichm$\ddot{\rm u}$ller and modular spaces for these systems. Finally, canonical quantisation of the generic case is performed paying special attention to the phase space restriction due to causal propagation. A mixed Lorentz-gravitational anomaly is found in the commutator of Lorentz boosts with world-line reparametrisations. The subspace of gauge invariant physical states is therefore not invariant under Lorentz transformations. Consequences for rigid strings and membranes are also discussed.

hep-th↗
arXiv1992

Finite Euler Hierarchies And Integrable Universal Equations

Recent work on Euler hierarchies of field theory Lagrangians iteratively constructed {}from their successive equations of motion is briefly reviewed. On the one hand, a certain triality structure is described, relating arbitrary field theories, {\it classical\ts} topological field theories -- whose classical solutions span topological classes of manifolds -- and reparametrisation invariant theories -- generalising ordinary string and membrane theories. On the other hand, {\it finite} Euler hierarchies are constructed for all three classes of theories. These hierarchies terminate with {\it universal\ts} equations of motion, probably defining new integrable systems as they admit an infinity of Lagrangians. Speculations as to the possible relevance of these theories to quantum gravity are also suggested.

hep-th↗
arXiv1992

A Quantum Anomaly For Rigid Particles

Canonical quantisation of rigid particles is considered paying special attention to the restriction on phase space due to causal propagation. A mixed Lorentz-gravitational anomaly is found in the commutator of Lorentz boosts with world-line reparametrisations. The subspace of gauge invariant physical states is therefore not invariant under Lorentz transformations. The analysis applies for an arbitrary extrinsic curvature dependence with the exception of only one case to be studied separately. Consequences for rigid strings are also discussed.

hep-th↗