arXiv subjects

Rainer Verch

Publications and source records attributed to Rainer Verch.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Non-equilibrium steady states for the interacting Klein-Gordon field in 1+3 dimensions

Non-equilibrium steady states (NESS) describe particularly simple and stationary non-equilibrium situations. A possibility to obtain such states is to consider the asymptotic evolution of two infinite heat baths brought into thermal contact. In this work we generalise corresponding results of Doyon~et.~al. (J.\ Phys.\ A 18 (2015) no.9) for free Klein-Gordon fields in several directions. Our analysis is carried out directly at the level of correlation functions and in the algebraic approach to QFT. We discuss non-trivial chemical potentials, condensates, inhomogeneous linear models and homogeneous interacting ones. We shall not consider a sharp contact at initial time, but a smooth transition region. As a consequence, the states we construct will be of Hadamard type, and thus sufficiently regular for the perturbative treatment of interacting models. Our analysis shows that perturbatively constructed interacting NESS display thermodynamic properties similar to the ones of the NESS in linear models. In particular, perturbation theory appears to be insufficient to describe full thermalisation in non-linear QFT. Notwithstanding, we find that the NESS for linear and interacting models is stable under small perturbations, which is one of the characteristic features of equilibrium states.

math-ph↗

arXiv2016

Quantum physics, fields and closed timelike curves: The D-CTC condition in quantum field theory

The D-CTC condition is a condition originally proposed by David Deutsch as a condition on states of a quantum communication network that contains "backward time-steps" in some of its branches. It has been argued that this is an analogue for quantum processes in the presence of closed timelike curves (CTCs). The unusual properties of states of quantum communication networks that fulfill the D-CTC condition have been discussed extensively in recent literature. In this work, the D-CTC condition is investigated in the framework of quantum field theory in the local, operator-algebraic approach due to Haag and Kastler. It is shown that the D-CTC condition cannot be fulfilled in states which are analytic for the energy, or satisfy the Reeh-Schlieder property, for a certain class of processes and initial conditions. On the other hand, if a quantum field theory admits sufficiently many uncorrelated states across acausally related spacetime regions (as implied by the split property), then the D-CTC condition can always be fulfilled approximately to arbitrary precision. As this result pertains to quantum field theory on globally hyperbolic spacetimes where CTCs are absent, one may conclude that interpreting the D-CTC condition as characteristic for quantum processes in the presence of CTCs could be misleading, and should be regarded with caution. Furthermore, a construction of the quantized massless Klein-Gordon field on the Politzer spacetime, often viewed as spacetime analogue for quantum communication networks with backward time-steps, is proposed in this work.

math-ph↗

arXiv2016

Unruh versus Tolman: On the heat of acceleration

It is shown that the Unruh effect, i.e. the increase in temperature indicated by a uniformly accelerated thermometer in an inertial vacuum state of a quantum field, cannot be interpreted as the result of an exchange of heat with a surrounding gas. Since the vacuum is spatially homogeneous in the accelerated system its temperature must be zero everywhere as a consequence of Tolman's law. In fact, the increase of temperature of accelerated thermometers is due to systematic quantum effects induced by the local coupling between the thermometer and the vacuum. This coupling inevitably creates excitations of the vacuum which transfer energy to the thermometer, gained by the acceleration, and thereby affect its readings. The temperature of the vacuum, however, remains to be zero for arbitrary accelerations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Macroscopic aspects of the Unruh effect

Macroscopic concepts pertaining to the Unruh effect are elaborated and used to clarify its physical manifestations. Based on a description of the motion of accelerated, spatially extended laboratories in Minkowski space in terms of Poincaré transformations, it is shown that, from a macroscopic perspective, an accelerated observer will not register with his measuring instruments any global thermal effects of acceleration in the inertial (Minkowskian) vacuum state. As is explained, this result is not in conflict with the well-known fact that microscopic probes respond non-trivially to acceleration if coupled to the vacuum. But this response cannot be interpreted as the effect of some heat bath surrounding the observer. It is also shown that genuine equilibrium states in a uniformly accelerated laboratory cannot be spatially homogeneous. In particular, these states coincide with the homogeneous inertial vacuum at sufficiently large distances from the horizon of the observer and consequently have the same (zero) temperature there. The analysis is carried out in the theory of a free massless scalar field; however the conclusion that the Unruh effect is not of a thermal nature, viz. induced by heat transfer, is generally valid.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

KMS-like Properties of Local Equilibrium States in Quantum Field Theory

A new condition, called "Local KMS Condition", characterizing states of a quantum field to which one can ascribe, at a given spacetime point, a temperature, is introduced in this article. It will be shown that the Local KMS Condition (LKMS condition) is equivalent to the Local Thermal Equilibrium (LTE) condition, proposed previously by Buchholz, Ojima and Roos, for states of the quantized scalar Klein-Gordon field that fulfill the analytic microlocal spectrum condition. Therefore, known examples of states fulfilling the LTE condition provide examples of states obeying the LKMS condition with a temperature distribution varying in space and time. The results extend to the generalized cases of mixed-temperature LKMS and LTE states. The LKMS condition therefore provides a promising generalization of the KMS condition, which characterizes global thermal equilibrium states with respect to an inertial time evolution, to states which are globally out of equilibrium but still possess a local temperature distribution.

math-ph↗

arXiv2015

Wave equations with non-commutative space and time

The behaviour of solutions to the partial differential equation $(D + λW)f_λ= 0$ is discussed, where $D$ is a normal hyperbolic partial differential operator, or pre-normal hyperbolic operator, on $n$-dimensional Minkowski spacetime. The potential term $W$ is a $C_0^\infty$ kernel operator which, in general, will be non-local in time, and $λ$ is a complex parameter. A result is presented which states that there are unique advanced and retarded Green's operators for this partial differential equation if $|λ|$ is small enough (and also for a larger set of $λ$ values). Moreover, a scattering operator can be defined if the $λ$ values admit advanced and retarded Green operators. In general, however, the Cauchy-problem will be ill-posed, and examples will be given to that effect. It will also be explained that potential terms arising from non-commutative products on function spaces can be approximated by $C_0^\infty$ kernel operators and that, thereby, scattering by a non-commutative potential can be investigated, also when the solution spaces are (2nd) quantized. Furthermore, a discussion will be given which links the scattering transformations, which thereby arise from non-commutative potentials, to observables of quantum fields on non-commutative spacetimes through "Bogoliubov's formula". In particular, this helps to shed light on the question how observables arise for quantum fields on Lorentzian spectral geometries.

math-ph↗

arXiv2015

Algebraic quantum field theory in curved spacetimes

This article sets out the framework of algebraic quantum field theory in curved spacetimes, based on the idea of local covariance. In this framework, a quantum field theory is modelled by a functor from a category of spacetimes to a category of ($C^*$)-algebras obeying supplementary conditions. Among other things: (a) the key idea of relative Cauchy evolution is described in detail, and related to the stress-energy tensor; (b) a systematic "rigidity argument" is used to generalise results from flat to curved spacetimes; (c) a detailed discussion of the issue of selection of physical states is given, linking notions of stability at microscopic, mesoscopic and macroscopic scales; (d) the notion of subtheories and global gauge transformations are formalised; (e) it is shown that the general framework excludes the possibility of there being a single preferred state in each spacetime, if the choice of states is local and covariant. Many of the ideas are illustrated by the example of the free Klein-Gordon theory, which is given a new "universal definition".

math-ph↗

arXiv2013

Linear hyperbolic PDEs with non-commutative time

Motivated by wave or Dirac equations on noncommutative deformations of Minkowski space, linear integro-differential equations of the form $(D+λW)f=0$ are studied, where $D$ is a normal or prenormal hyperbolic differential operator on ${\mathbb R}^n$, $λ\in\mathbb C$ is a coupling constant, and $W$ is a regular integral operator with compactly supported kernel. In particular, $W$ can be non-local in time, so that a Hamiltonian formulation is not possible. It is shown that for sufficiently small $|λ|$, the hyperbolic character of $D$ is essentially preserved. Unique advanced/retarded fundamental solutions are constructed by means of a convergent expansion in $λ$, and the solution spaces are analyzed. It is shown that the acausal behavior of the solutions is well-controlled, but the Cauchy problem is ill-posed in general. Nonetheless, a scattering operator can be calculated which describes the effect of $W$ on the space of solutions of $D$. It is also described how these structures occur in the context of noncommutative Minkowski space, and how the results obtained here can be used for the analysis of classical and quantum field theories on such spaces.

math-ph↗

arXiv2013

The Necessity of the Hadamard Condition

Hadamard states are generally considered as the physical states for linear quantized fields on curved spacetimes, for several good reasons. Here, we provide a new motivation for the Hadamard condition: for "ultrastatic slab spacetimes" with compact Cauchy surface, we show that the Wick squares of all time derivatives of the quantized Klein-Gordon field have finite fluctuations only if the Wick-ordering is defined with respect to a Hadamard state. This provides a converse to an important result of Brunetti and Fredenhagen. The recently proposed "S-J (Sorkin-Johnston) states" are shown, generically, to give infinite fluctuations for the Wick square of the time derivative of the field, further limiting their utility as reasonable states. Motivated by the S-J construction, we also study the general question of extending states that are pure (or given by density matrices relative to a pure state) on a double-cone region of Minkowski space. We prove a result for general quantum field theories showing that such states cannot be extended to any larger double-cone without encountering singular behaviour at the spacelike boundary of the inner region. In the context of the Klein-Gordon field this shows that even if an S-J state is Hadamard within the double cone, this must fail at the boundary.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Explicit harmonic and spectral analysis in Bianchi I-VII type cosmologies

The solvable Bianchi I-VII groups which arise as homogeneity groups in cosmological models are analyzed in a uniform manner. The dual spaces (the equivalence classes of unitary irreducible representations) of these groups are computed explicitly. It is shown how parameterizations of the dual spaces can be chosen to obtain explicit Plancherel formulas. The Laplace operator $Δ$ arising from an arbitrary left invariant Riemannian metric on the group is considered, and its spectrum and eigenfunctions are given explicitly in terms of that metric. The spectral Fourier transform is given by means of the eigenfunction expansion of $Δ$. The adjoint action of the group automorphisms on the dual spaces is considered. It is shown that Bianchi I-VII type cosmological spacetimes are well suited for mode decomposition. The example of the mode decomposed Klein-Gordon field on these spacetimes is demonstrated as an application.

math-ph↗

arXiv2013

Zeitreisen: Gravitation trifft Quantenphysik (Time Travel: Gravity Meets Quantum Physics)

An introduction is given to discussions on the possiblity of fabricating spacetime geometries allowing time-travel scenarios with the help of matter possessing typically quantum features. Those scenarios are considered in the framework of quantum field theory and general relativity. Results established in the literature excluding the possibility of time-travel are presented.

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv2012

On a Recent Construction of "Vacuum-like" Quantum Field States in Curved Spacetime

Afshordi, Aslanbeigi and Sorkin have recently proposed a construction of a distinguished "S-J state" for scalar field theory in (bounded regions of) general curved spacetimes. We establish rigorously that the proposal is well-defined on globally hyperbolic spacetimes or spacetime regions that can be embedded as relatively compact subsets of other globally hyperbolic spacetimes, and also show that, whenever the proposal is well-defined, it yields a pure quasifree state. However, by explicitly considering portions of ultrastatic spacetimes, we show that the S-J state is not in general a Hadamard state. In the specific case where the Cauchy surface is a round 3-sphere, we prove that the representation induced by the S-J state is generally not unitarily equivalent to that of a Hadamard state, and indeed that the representations induced by S-J states on nested regions of the ultrastatic spacetime also fail to be unitarily equivalent in general. The implications of these results are discussed.

math-ph↗

arXiv2012

Dynamical locality and covariance: What makes a physical theory the same in all spacetimes?

The question of what it means for a theory to describe the same physics on all spacetimes (SPASs) is discussed. As there may be many answers to this question, we isolate a necessary condition, the SPASs property, that should be satisfied by any reasonable notion of SPASs. This requires that if two theories conform to a common notion of SPASs, with one a subtheory of the other, and are isomorphic in some particular spacetime, then they should be isomorphic in all globally hyperbolic spacetimes (of given dimension). The SPASs property is formulated in a functorial setting broad enough to describe general physical theories describing processes in spacetime, subject to very minimal assumptions. By explicit constructions, the full class of locally covariant theories is shown not to satisfy the SPASs property, establishing that there is no notion of SPASs encompassing all such theories. It is also shown that all locally covariant theories obeying the time-slice property possess two local substructures, one kinematical (obtained directly from the functorial structure) and the other dynamical (obtained from a natural form of dynamics, termed relative Cauchy evolution). The covariance properties of relative Cauchy evolution and the kinematic and dynamical substructures are analyzed in detail. Calling local covariant theories dynamically local if their kinematical and dynamical local substructures coincide, it is shown that the class of dynamically local theories fulfills the SPASs property. As an application in quantum field theory, we give a model independent proof of the impossibility of making a covariant choice of preferred state in all spacetimes, for theories obeying dynamical locality together with typical assumptions.

math-ph↗

arXiv2012

Dynamical locality of the free scalar field

Dynamical locality is a condition on a locally covariant physical theory, asserting that kinematic and dynamical notions of local physics agree. This condition was introduced in [arXiv:1106.4785], where it was shown to be closely related to the question of what it means for a theory to describe the same physics on different spacetimes. In this paper, we consider in detail the example of the free minimally coupled Klein--Gordon field, both as a classical and quantum theory (using both the Weyl algebra and a smeared field approach). It is shown that the massive theory obeys dynamical locality, both classically and in quantum field theory, in all spacetime dimensions $n\ge 2$ and allowing for spacetimes with finitely many connected components. In contrast, the massless theory is shown to violate dynamical locality in any spacetime dimension, in both classical and quantum theory, owing to a rigid gauge symmetry. Taking this into account (equivalently, working with the massless current) dynamical locality is restored in all dimensions $n\ge 2$ on connected spacetimes, and in all dimensions $n\ge 3$ if disconnected spacetimes are permitted. The results on the quantized theories are obtained using general results giving conditions under which dynamically local classical symplectic theories have dynamically local quantizations.

math-ph↗

arXiv2011

Wick rotation for quantum field theories on degenerate Moyal space(-time)

In this paper the connection between quantum field theories on flat noncommutative space(-times) in Euclidean and Lorentzian signature is studied for the case that time is still commutative. By making use of the algebraic framework of quantum field theory and an analytic continuation of the symmetry groups which are compatible with the structure of Moyal space, a general correspondence between field theories on Euclidean space satisfying a time zero condition and quantum field theories on Moyal Minkowski space is presented ("Wick rotation"). It is then shown that field theories transferred to Moyal space(-time) by Rieffel deformation and warped convolution fit into this framework, and that the processes of Wick rotation and deformation commute.

hep-th↗

arXiv2011

Local covariance, renormalization ambiguity, and local thermal equilibrium in cosmology

This article reviews some aspects of local covariance and of the ambiguities and anomalies involved in the definition of the stress energy tensor of quantum field theory in curved spacetime. Then, a summary is given of the approach proposed by Buchholz et al. to define local thermal equilibrium states in quantum field theory, i.e., non-equilibrium states to which, locally, one can assign thermal parameters, such as temperature or thermal stress-energy. The extension of that concept to curved spacetime is discussed and some related results are presented. Finally, the recent approach to cosmology by Dappiaggi, Fredenhagen and Pinamonti, based on a distinguished fixing of the stress-energy renormalization ambiguity in the setting of the semiclassical Einstein equations, is briefly described. The concept of local thermal equilibrium states is then applied, to yield the result that the temperature behaviour of a quantized, massless, conformally coupled linear scalar field at early cosmological times is more singular than that of classical radiation.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

Quantum Dirac Field on Moyal-Minkowski Spacetime - Illustrating Quantum Field Theory over Lorentzian Spectral Geometry

A sketch of an approach towards Lorentzian spectral geometry (based on joint work with Mario Paschke) is described, together with a general way to define abstractly the quantized Dirac field on such Lorentzian spectral geometries. Moyal-Minkowski spacetime serves as an example. The scattering of the quantized Dirac field by a non-commutative (Moyal-deformed) action of an external scalar potential is investigated. It is shown that differentiating the S-matrix with respect to the strength of the scattering potential gives rise to quantum field operators depending on elements of the non-commutative algebra entering the spectral geometry description of Moyal-Minkowski spacetime, in the spirit of "Bogoliubov's formula", in analogy to the situation found in external potential scattering by a usual scalar potential.

math-ph↗

arXiv2009

Cosmological particle creation in states of low energy

The recently proposed states of low energy provide a well-motivated class of reference states for the quantized linear scalar field on cosmological Friedmann-Robertson-Walker spacetimes. The low energy property of a state is localized close to some value of the cosmological time coordinate. We present calculations of the relative cosmological particle production between a state of low energy at early time and another such state at later time. In an exponentially expanding Universe, we find that the particle production shows oscillations in the spatial frequency modes. The basis of the method for calculating the relative particle production is completely rigorous. Approximations are only used at the level of numerical calculation.

gr-qc↗