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Karl-Henning Rehren

Publications and source records attributed to Karl-Henning Rehren.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2016

Bantay's trace in Unitary Modular Tensor Categories

We give a proof of a formula for the trace of self-braidings (in an arbitrary channel) in UMTCs which first appeared in the context of rational conformal field theories (CFTs). The trace is another invariant for UMTCs which depends only on modular data, and contains the expression of the Frobenius-Schur indicator as a special case. Furthermore, we discuss some applications of the trace formula to the realizability problem of modular data and to the classification of UMTCs.

math.CT↗
arXiv2016

Phase boundaries in algebraic conformal QFT

We study the structure of local algebras in relativistic conformal quantum field theory with phase boundaries. Phase boundaries are instances of a more general notion of boundaries that give rise to a variety of algebraic structures. These can be formulated in a common framework originating in Algebraic QFT, with the principle of Einstein Causality playing a prominent role.We classify the phase boundary conditions by the centre of a certain universal construction, which produces a reducible representation in which all possible boundary conditions are realized. For a large class of models, the classification reproduces results obtained in a different approach by Fuchs et al. before.

math-ph↗
arXiv2015

Braided categories of endomorphisms as invariants for local quantum field theories

We want to establish the "braided action" (defined in the paper) of the DHR category on a universal environment algebra as a complete invariant for completely rational chiral conformal quantum field theories. The environment algebra can either be a single local algebra, or the quasilocal algebra, both of which are model-independent up to isomorphism. The DHR category as an abstract structure is captured by finitely many data (superselection sectors, fusion, and braiding), whereas its braided action encodes the full dynamical information that distinguishes models with isomorphic DHR categories. We show some geometric properties of the "duality pairing" between local algebras and the DHR category which are valid in general (completely rational) chiral CFTs. Under some additional assumptions whose status remains to be settled, the braided action of its DHR category completely classifies a (prime) CFT. The approach does not refer to the vacuum representation, or the knowledge of the vacuum state.

math.OA↗
arXiv2015

Where Infinite Spin Particles Are Localizable

Particles states transforming in one of the infinite spin representations of the Poincaré group (as classified by E. Wigner) are consistent with fundamental physical principles, but local fields generating them from the vacuum state cannot exist. While it is known that infinite spin states localized in a spacelike cone are dense in the one-particle space, we show here that the subspace of states localized in any double cone is trivial. This implies that the free field theory associated with infinite spin has no observables localized in bounded regions. In an interacting theory, if the vacuum vector is cyclic for a double cone local algebra, then the theory does not contain infinite spin representations. We also prove that if a Doplicher-Haag-Roberts representation (localized in a double cone) of a local net is covariant under a unitary representation of the Poincaré group containing infinite spin, then it has infinite statistics. These results hold under the natural assumption of the Bisognano-Wichmann property, and we give a counter-example (with continuous particle degeneracy) without this property where the conclusions fail. Our results hold true in any spacetime dimension s+1 where infinite spin representations exist, namely s > 1.

math-ph↗
arXiv2015

Algebraic conformal quantum field theory in perspective

Conformal quantum field theory is reviewed in the perspective of Axiomatic, notably Algebraic QFT. This theory is particularly developped in two spacetime dimensions, where many rigorous constructions are possible, as well as some complete classifications. The structural insights, analytical methods and constructive tools are expected to be useful also for four-dimensional QFT.

hep-th↗
arXiv2015

Tensor categories and endomorphisms of von Neumann algebras (with applications to Quantum Field Theory)

Q-systems describe "extensions" of an infinite von Neumann factor $N$, i.e., finite-index unital inclusions of $N$ into another von Neumann algebra $M$. They are (special cases of) Frobenius algebras in the C* tensor category of endomorphisms of $N$. We review the relation between Q-systems, their modules and bimodules as structures in a category on one side, and homomorphisms between von Neumann algebras on the other side. We then elaborate basic operations with Q-systems (various decompositions in the general case, and the centre, the full centre, and the braided product in braided categories), and illuminate their meaning in the von Neumann algebra setting. The main applications are in local quantum field theory, where Q-systems in the subcategory of DHR endomorphisms of a local algebra encode extensions $A(O)\subset B(O)$ of local nets. These applications, notably in conformal quantum field theories with boundaries, are briefly exposed, and are discussed in more detail in two separate papers [arXiv:1405.7863, 1410.8848].

math.OA↗
arXiv2012

Multilocal fermionization

We present a simple isomorphism between the algebra of one real chiral Fermi field and the algebra of n real chiral Fermi fields. This isomorphism preserves the vacuum state. This is possible by a "change of localization", and gives rise to new multilocal symmetries generated by the corresponding multilocal current and stress-energy tensor. The result gives a common underlying explanation of several remarkable recent results on the representation of the free Bose field in terms of free Fermi fields, and on the modular theory of the free Fermi algebra in disjoint intervals.

math-ph↗
arXiv2011

Protecting the conformal symmetry via bulk renormalization on Anti deSitter space

The problem of perturbative breakdown of conformal symmetry can be avoided, if a conformally covariant quantum field phi on d-dimensional Minkowski spacetime is viewed as the boundary limit of a quantum field Phi on d+1-dimensional anti-deSitter spacetime (AdS). We study the boundary limit in renormalized perturbation theory with polynomial interactions in AdS, and point out the differences as compared to renormalization directly on the boundary. In particular, provided the limit exists, there is no conformal anomaly. We compute explicitly the "fish diagram" on AdS_4 by differential renormalization, and calculate the anomalous dimension of the composite boundary field phi^2 with bulk interaction Phi^4.

hep-th↗
arXiv2011

Local Commutators and Deformations in Conformal Chiral Quantum Field Theories

We study the general form of M"obius covariant local commutation relations in conformal chiral quantum field theories and show that they are intrinsically determined up to structure constants, which are subject to an infinite system of constraints. The deformation theory of these commutators is controlled by a cohomology complex, whose cochain spaces consist of linear maps that are subject to a complicated symmetry property, a generalization of the anti-symmetry of the Lie algebra case.

math-ph↗
arXiv2011

Boundary Quantum Field Theory on the Interior of the Lorentz Hyperboloid

We construct local, boost covariant boundary QFT nets of von Neumann algebras on the interior of the Lorentz hyperboloid LH = {x^2 - t^2 > R^2, x>0}, in the two-dimensional Minkowski spacetime. Our first construction is canonical, starting with a local conformal net on the real line, and is analogous to our previous construction of local boundary CFT nets on the Minkowski half-space. This net is in a thermal state at Hawking temperature. Then, inspired by a recent construction by E. Witten and one of us, we consider a unitary semigroup that we use to build up infinitely many nets. Surprisingly, the one-particle semigroup is again isomorphic to the semigroup of symmetric inner functions of the disk. In particular, by considering the U(1)-current net, we can associate with any given symmetric inner function a local, boundary QFT net on LH. By considering different states, we shall also have nets in a ground state, rather than in a KMS state.

math-ph↗
arXiv2009

Geometric modular action for disjoint intervals and boundary conformal field theory

In suitable states, the modular group of local algebras associated with unions of disjoint intervals in chiral conformal quantum field theory acts geometrically. We translate this result into the setting of boundary conformal QFT and interpret it as a relation between temperature and acceleration. We also discuss aspects ("mixing" and "charge splitting") of geometric modular action for unions of disjoint intervals in the vacuum state.

math-ph↗
arXiv2009

Conformal quantum field theory in various dimensions

Various relations between conformal quantum field theories in one, two and four dimensions are explored. The intention is to obtain a better understanding of 4D CFT with the help of methods from lower dimensional CFT.

math-ph↗
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↗
arXiv2006

Quantum Field Theory: Where We Are

We comment on the present status, the concepts and their limitations, and the successes and open problems of the various approaches to a relativistic quantum theory of elementary particles, with a hindsight to questions concerning quantum gravity and string theory.

hep-th↗