arXiv subjects

Nicola Pinamonti

Publications and source records attributed to Nicola Pinamonti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Equilibrium states for non relativistic Bose gases and the Gross-Pitaevskii limit

In this paper, we present the construction of equilibrium states for a gas of weakly interacting non-relativistic bosons, focusing on the case of a non-trivial background field in infinitely extended space. Building upon a method introduced by Araki and further developed by Fredenhagen and Lindner, we derive the generating function of the correlation functions of the theory as a suitable series. By applying a Hubbard-Stratonovich transformation, we rewrite this quantity into a more mathematically tractable form, allowing us to establish the convergence of the corresponding loop vertex expansion in certain intermediate regimes. Furthermore, we isolate the tree diagrams that produce the scattering length in the dispersion relations of the two-point function of the state within the Gross-Pitaevskii regime. Finally, we use this scattering length to renormalise the background and the two-point function of the fluctuations and we discuss convergence of the generating function of the connected correlation functions of the renormalised theory in the limit of vanishing temperature.

math-ph↗

arXiv2026

The Semiclassical Einstein-Klein-Gordon System: Asymptotic Analysis of Minkowski Spacetime

We establish the linear instability of the semiclassical Einstein-Klein-Gordon system linearised about the Minkowski vacuum spacetime. The proof relies on formulating a forcing problem for both metric and state perturbations within the space of past-compact sections. This geometric framework admits a unique tensor decomposition which, in conjunction with the quantum Møller operator, enables the decoupling of the linearised system into two distinct Cauchy problems. Consequently, the metric perturbations are shown to be governed by a higher-order, nonlocal hyperbolic partial differential equation. By relegating the nonlocal contributions to subleading order, we establish the well-posedness of this forcing problem. Furthermore, we provide a rigorous asymptotic analysis for physically admissible choices of the renormalisation constants. We prove that the system exhibits a late-time linear instability: the metric perturbations grow exponentially, bounded strictly by a universal scale H, thereby indicating a quantum backreaction-driven transition toward a de Sitter cosmological spacetime. Provided the parameters governing the system are restricted to a physically relevant regime, this universal scale is compatible with the measured expansion of our universe.

math-ph↗

arXiv2025

Equilibrium states for non relativistic Bose gases with condensation

In this paper we present the construction of the equilibrium states at positive temperature in the presence of a condensation phase for a Gas of non relativistic Bose particles on an infinite space interacting through a localised two body interaction. We use methods of quantum field theory in the algebraic formulation to obtain this result and in order to prove convergence of the partition function and of the generating function of the correlation functions, we introduce an auxiliary stochastic Gaussian field which mediates the interaction of the Bose particles (Hubbard-Stratonovich transformation). The construction of the equilibrium state and of the partition function in the presence of the condensate, treating the auxiliary stochastic field as external potential, can be achieved using and adapting ideas and methods of Araki. Explicit formulas for the relative entropy of the equilibrium state with the external potential with respect to the equilibrium state of the free theory are obtained adapting known Feynman-Kac formulas for the propagators of the theory. If the two-body interaction is sufficiently weak, the proof of the convergence of the partition function after evaluation of the external stochastic field on a suitable Gaussian state can be given utilizing the properties of the relative entropy mentioned above. Limits where the localisation of the two-body interaction is removed are eventually discussed in combination of the limits of vanishing temperature and or in the weakly interacting regime.

math-ph↗

arXiv2025

Thermodynamical aspects of fermions in external electromagnetic fields

The thermodynamics of Dirac fields under the influence of external electromagnetic fields is studied. For perturbations which act only for finite time, the influence of the perturbation can be described by an automorphism which can be unitarily implemented in the GNS representations of KMS states, a result long known for the Fock representation. For time-independent perturbations, however, the time evolution cannot be implemented in typical cases, so the standard methods of quantum statistical mechanics do not apply. Instead we show that a smooth switching on of the external potential allows a comparison of the free and the perturbed time evolution, and approach to equilibrium, a possible existence of non-equilibrium stationary states (NESS) and Araki's relative entropy can be investigated. As a byproduct, we find an explicit formula for the relative entropy of gauge invariant quasi-free states.

math-ph↗

arXiv2025

Regularized interacting scalar quantum field theories

In this paper we consider self interacting scalar quantum field theories over a $d$ dimensional Minkowski spacetime with various interaction Lagrangians which are suitable functions of the field. The interacting field observables are represented as power series over the free theory by means of perturbation theory. The object which is employed to obtain this power series is the time ordered exponential of the interaction Lagrangian which is the $S$-matrix of the theory and thus itself a power series in the coupling constant of the theory. We analyze a regularization procedure which makes the $S$-matrix convergent to well defined unitary operators. This regularization depends on two parameters. One describes how much the high frequency contributions in the propagators are tamed and a second one which describes how much the large field contributions are suppressed in the interaction Lagrangian. We finally discuss how to remove the parameters in lower dimensional theories and for specific interaction Lagrangians. In particular, we show that in three spacetime dimensions for a $ϕ^4_3$ theory one obtains sequences of unitary operators which are weakly-$*$ convergent to suitable unitary operators in the limit of vanishing parameters. The coefficients of the asymptotic expansion in powers of the coupling constant of all the possible limit points coincide and furthermore agree with the predictions of perturbation theory. Finally we discuss how to extend these results to the case of a $ϕ^4_4$ theory were the final results turns out to be very similar to the three dimensional case.

math-ph↗

arXiv2024

Secular growths and their relation to equilibrium states in perturbative QFT

In the perturbative treatment of interacting quantum field theories, if the interaction Lagrangian changes adiabatically in a finite interval of time, secular growths may appear in the truncated perturbative series also when the interaction Lagrangian density is returned to be constant. If this happens, the perturbative approach does not furnish reliable results in the evaluation of scattering amplitudes or expectation values. In this paper we show that these effects can be avoided for adiabatically switched-on interactions, if the spatial support of the interaction is compact and if the background state is suitably chosen. We start considering equilibrium background states and show that, when thermalisation occurs (interaction Lagrangian of spatial compact support), secular effects are avoided. Furthermore, no secular effects pop up if the limit where the Lagrangian is supported everywhere in space is taken after thermalisation (large time limit), in contrast to the reversed order. This result is generalized showing that if the interaction Lagrangian is spatially compact, secular growths are avoided for generic background states which are only invariant under time translation and to states whose explicit dependence of time is not too strong. Finally, as an application, the presented theorems are used to study a complex scalar and a Dirac field, on a background KMS state, in a classical external electromagnetic potential and the contribution to the two point-function given by a generic loop diagram arising from a second order perturbative expansion.

math-ph↗

arXiv2024

An algebraic QFT approach to the Wetterich equation on Lorentzian manifolds

We discuss the scaling of the effective action for the interacting scalar quantum field theory on generic spacetimes with Lorentzian signature and in a generic state (including vacuum and thermal states, if they exist). This is done constructing a flow equation, which is very close to the renown Wetterich equation, by means of techniques recently developed in the realm of perturbative Algebraic Quantum Field theory (pAQFT). The key ingredient that allows one to obtain an equation which is meaningful on generic Lorentzian backgrounds is the use of a local regulator, which keeps the theory covariant. As a proof of concept, the developed methods are used to show that non-trivial fixed points arise in quantum field theories in a thermal state and in the case of quantum fields in the Bunch-Davies state on the de Sitter spacetime.

math-ph↗

arXiv2023

Local solutions of RG flow equations from the Nash-Moser theorem

We prove local existence of solutions of a functional Renormalisation Group equation for the effective action of an interacting quantum field theory, when a suitable Local Potential Approximation is considered. To obtain this equation in a Lorentzian setting, a quantum state for the theory is selected, and a regulator consisting in a mass is added to the action. The flow equation for mass rescalings is then studied using the renown Nash-Moser theorem.

math-ph↗

arXiv2023

Equilibrium states for the massive Sine-Gordon theory in the Lorentzian signature

In this paper we investigate the massive Sine-Gordon model in the ultraviolet finite regime in thermal states over the two-dimensional Minkowski spacetime. We combine recently developed methods of perturbative algebraic quantum field theory with techniques developed in the realm of constructive quantum field theory over Euclidean spacetimes to construct the correlation functions of the equilibrium state of the Sine-Gordon theory in the adiabatic limit. First of all, the observables of the Sine-Gordon theory are seen as functionals over the free configurations and are obtained as a suitable combination of the S-matrices of the interaction Lagrangian restricted to compact spacetime regions over the free massive theory. These S-matrices are given as power series in the coupling constant with values in the algebra of fields over the free massive theory. Adapting techniques like conditioning and inverse conditioning to spacetimes with Lorentzian signature, we prove that these power series converge when evaluated on a generic field configuration. The latter observation implies convergence in the strong operator topology in the GNS representations of the considered states. In the second part of the paper, adapting the cluster expansion technique to the Lorentzian case, we prove that the correlation functions of the interacting equilibrium state at finite temperature (KMS state) can be constructed also in the adiabatic limit, where the interaction Lagrangian is supported everywhere in space.

math-ph↗

arXiv2022

Linear stability of semiclassical theories of gravity

The linearization of semiclassical theories of gravity is investigated in a toy model, consisting of a quantum scalar field in interaction with a second classical scalar field which plays the role of a classical background. This toy model mimics also the evolution induced by semiclassical Einstein equations, such as the one which describes the early universe in the cosmological case. The equations governing the dynamics of linear perturbations around simple exact solutions of this toy model are analyzed by constructing the corresponding retarded fundamental solutions, and by discussing the corresponding initial value problem. It is shown that, if the quantum field which drives the back-reaction to the classical background is massive, then there are choices of the renormalization parameters for which the linear perturbations with compact spatial support decay polynomially in time for large times, thus indicating stability of the underlying semiclassical solution.

math-ph↗

arXiv2021

Evaporation of four-dimensional dynamical black holes sourced by the quantum trace anomaly

We study the evaporation of a four-dimensional spherically symmetric black hole formed in a gravitational collapse. We analyze the back-reaction of a massless quantum scalar field conformally coupled to the scalar curvature by means of the semiclassical Einstein equations. We show that the evaporation is linked to an ingoing negative energy flux at the dynamical horizon and that this flux is induced by the quantum matter trace anomaly outside the black hole horizon whenever a suitable averaged energy condition is satisfied. For illustrative purposes, we evaluate the negative ingoing flux and the corresponding rate of evaporation in the case of a null radiating star described by the Vaidya spacetime.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Temperature and entropy-area relation of quantum matter near spherically symmetric outer trapping horizons

We consider spherically symmetric spacetimes with an outer trapping horizon. Such spacetimes are generalizations of spherically symmetric black hole spacetimes where the central mass can vary with time, like in black hole collapse or black hole evaporation. These spacetimes possess in general no timelike Killing vector field, but admit a Kodama vector field which provides a replacement. Spherically symmetric spacelike cross-sections of the outer trapping horizon define in- and outgoing lightlike congruences. We investigate a scaling limit of Hadamard 2-point functions of a quantum field on the spacetime onto the ingoing lightlike congruence. The scaling limit 2-point function has a universal form and a thermal spectrum with respect to the time-parameter of the Kodama flow, where the inverse temperature is related to the surface gravity of the horizon cross-section in the same way as in the Hawking effect for an asymptotically static black hole. Similarly, the tunneling probability in the scaling limit between in- and outgoing Fourier modes with respect to the the Kodama time shows a thermal distribution with the same inverse temperature, determined by the surface gravity. This can be seen as a local counterpart of the Hawking effect for a dynamical horizon in the scaling limit. The scaling limit 2-point function as well as the 2-point functions of coherent states of the scaling-limit-theory have relative entropies behaving proportional to the cross-sectional horizon area. Thereby, we establish a local counterpart, and microscopic interpretation in the setting of quantum field theory on curved spacetimes, of the dynamical laws of outer trapping horizons, derived by Hayward and others in generalizing the laws of black hole dynamics originally shown for stationary black holes by Bardeen, Carter and Hawking. (Extended abstract in the article.)

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Algebraic approach to Bose-Einstein Condensation in relativistic Quantum Field Theory. Spontaneous symmetry breaking and the Goldstone Theorem

We construct states describing Bose Einstein condensates at finite temperature for a relativistic massive complex scalar field with $|φ|^4$-interaction. We start with the linearised theory over a classical condensate and construct interacting fields by perturbation theory. Using the concept of thermal masses, equilibrium states at finite temperature can be constructed by the methods developed in arXiv:1306.6519 and arXiv:1502.02705. Here, the principle of perturbative agreement plays a crucial role. The apparent conflict with Goldstone's Theorem is resolved by the fact that the linearised theory breaks the $U(1)$ symmetry, hence the theorem applies only to the full series but not to the truncations at finite order which therefore can be free of infrared divergences.

math-ph↗

arXiv2020

Existence and uniqueness of solutions of the semiclassical Einstein equation in cosmological models

We prove existence and uniqueness of solutions of the semiclassical Einstein equation in flat cosmological spacetimes driven by a quantum massive scalar field with arbitrary coupling to the scalar curvature. In the semiclassical approximation, the backreaction of matter to curvature is taken into account by equating the Einstein tensor to the expectation values of the stress-energy tensor in a suitable state. We impose initial conditions for the scale factor at finite time and we show that a regular state for the quantum matter compatible with these initial conditions can be chosen. Contributions with derivative of the coefficient of the metric higher than the second are present in the expectation values of the stress-energy tensor and the term with the highest derivative appears in a non-local form. This fact forbids a direct analysis of the semiclassical equation, and in particular, standard recursive approaches to approximate the solution fail to converge. In this paper we show that, after partial integration of the semiclassical Einstein equation in cosmology, the non-local highest derivative appears in the expectation values of the stress-energy tensor through the application of a linear unbounded operator which does not depend on the details of the chosen state. We prove that an inversion formula for this operator can be found, furthermore, the inverse happens to be more regular than the direct operator and it has the form of a retarded product, hence causality is respected. The found inversion formula applied to the traced Einstein equation has thus the form of a fixed point equation. The proof of local existence and uniqueness of the solution of the semiclassical Einstein equation is then obtained applying the Banach fixed point theorem.

math-ph↗

arXiv2020

Perturbative Algebraic Quantum Field Theory on Quantum Spacetime: Adiabatic and Ultraviolet Convergence

The quantum structure of Spacetime at the Planck scale suggests the use, in defining interactions between fields, of the Quantum Wick product. The resulting theory is ultraviolet finite, but subject to an adiabatic cutoff in time which seems difficult to remove. We solve this problem here by another strategy: the fields at a point in the interaction Lagrangian are replaced by the fields at a quantum point, described by an optimally localized state on QST; the resulting Lagrangian density agrees with the previous one after spacetime integration, but gives rise to a different interaction hamiltonian. But now the methods of perturbative Algebraic Quantum Field Theory can be applied, and produce an ultraviolet finite perturbation expansion of the interacting observables. If the obtained theory is tested in an equilibrium state at finite temperature the adiabatic cutoff in time becomes immaterial, namely it has no effect on the correlation function at any order in perturbation theory. Moreover, the interacting vacuum state can be obtained in the vanishing temperature limit. It is nevertheless important to stress that the use of states which are optimally localized for a given observer brakes Lorentz invariance at the very beginning.

math-ph↗

arXiv2020

Quantum Spacetime and the Universe at the Big Bang, vanishing interactions and fading degrees of freedom

As discussed in arXiv:1501.03298, Physics suggests that, close to cosmological singularities, the effective Planck length diverges, hence a "quantum point" becomes infinitely extended. We argue that, as a consequence, at the origin of times spacetime might reduce effectively to a single point and interactions disappear. This last point is supported by converging evidences in two different approaches to interacting quantum fiedls on Quantum Spacetime: the field operators evaluated at a "quantum point" converge to zero, and so do the lowest order expressions for interacting fields in the Yang Feldman approach, while, at all orders we find convergence to zero of the interacting field operators obtained adapting methods of perturbative Algebraic Quantum Field Theory to Quantum Spacetime, with a novel picture of the effective Lagrangian introduced in arXiv:1906.05855. This novel picture mantains the ultraviolet finiteness of the perturbation expansion but allows us to prove also the convergence in the adiabatic limit. It remains an open question whether the S matrix itself converges to unity and whether the limit in which the effective Planck length diverges is a unique initial condition or an unreachable limit, and only different asymptotics matter.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2019

Invariant states on noncommutative tori

For any number $h$ such that $\hbar:=h/2π$ is irrational and any skew-symmetric, non-degenerate bilinear form $σ:\mathbb{Z}^{2g}\times \mathbb{Z}^{2g} \to \mathbb{Z}$, let be $\mathcal{A}^h_{g,σ}$ be the twisted group $*$-algebra $\mathbb{C}[\mathbb{Z}^{2g}]$ and consider the ergodic group of $*$-automorphisms of $\mathcal{A}^h_{g,σ}$ induced by the action of the symplectic group Sp$(\mathbb{Z}^{2g},σ)$. We show that the only Sp$(\mathbb{Z}^{2g},σ)$-invariant state on $\mathcal{A}^h_{g,σ}$ is the trace state $τ$.

math.OA↗

arXiv2019

Equilibrium states in Thermal Field Theory and in Algebraic Quantum Field Theory

In this paper we compare the construction of equilibrium states at finite temperature for self-interacting massive scalar quantum field theories on Minkowski spacetime proposed by Fredenhagen and Lindner with results obtained in ordinary thermal field theory, by means of real time and Matsubara formalisms. In the construction of this state, even if the adiabatic limit is considered, the interaction Lagrangian is multiplied by a smooth time cut-off. In this way the interaction starts adiabatically and the correlation functions are free from divergences. The corresponding interaction Hamiltonian is a local interacting field smeared over the interval of time where the chosen cut-off is not constant. In order to cope with this smearing, the Matsubara propagator needs to be modified. We obtain an expansion of the correlation functions of the interacting equilibrium state as a sum over certain type of graphs with mixed edges, some of them correspond to modified Matsubara propagators and others to propagators of the real time formalism. An integration over the adiabatic time cut-off is present in every vertex. However, at every order in perturbation theory, the final result does not depend on the particular form of the cut-off function. The obtained graphical expansion contains in it both the real time formalism and the Matsubara formalism as particular cases. Finally, we show that a particular factorisation which is used to derive the ordinary real time formalism holds only in special cases and we present a counterexample. We conclude with the analysis of certain correlation functions and we notice that corrections to the self-energy in a $λϕ^4$ at finite temperature theory are expected.

math-ph↗