SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

Walter Smilga

Publications and source records attributed to Walter Smilga.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Irreducible Multi-Particle Representations of the Poincar\'e Group as a Basis for the Standard Model

A phenomenological description of the Stern--Gerlach experiment yields a mathematical structure equivalent to that of a spin-1/2 particle, described by an irreducible unitary representation of the Poincar\'e group. In the corresponding irreducible two-particle representation, two-particle states have the form of an integral over product states. They describe a correlation between the particles with the structure of the electromagnetic interaction and a coupling constant that numerically equals the electromagnetic coupling constant. This coupling constant is essentially the normalisation factor of these two-particle states. The Standard Model of particle physics describes the electromagnetic interaction by a perturbation algorithm, where the experimental value of the electromagnetic coupling constant is inserted by hand. It is argued that it does not make sense to insert a normalisation factor without checking the range of integration of the corresponding integral and adjusting it if necessary. This adjustment provides the perturbation algorithm with the mathematically consistent structure of a non-local, relativistic, two-particle quantum mechanics. Similarly, multi-particle representations determine a gravitational interaction that, in the quasi-classical limit, is described by the field equations of conformal gravity. A calculated, galaxy-specific value of the gravitational constant matches the experimental value.

physics.gen-ph

Classical and quantum gravity from relativistic quantum mechanics

It is common practice to describe elementary particles by irreducible unitary representations of the Poincaré group. In the same way, multi-particle systems can be described by irreducible unitary representations of the Poincaré group. Representations of the Poincaré group are characterised by fixed eigenvalues of two Casimir operators corresponding to a fixed mass and a fixed angular momentum. In multi-particle systems (of massive spinless particles), fixing these eigenvalues leads to correlations between the particles. In the quasi-classical approximation of large quantum numbers, these correlations take on the structure of a gravitational interaction described by the field equations of conformal gravity. A theoretical value of the corresponding gravitational constant is calculated. It agrees with the empirical value used in the field equations of general relativity.

physics.gen-ph

Structural Properties of Irreducible Two-Particle Representations of the Poincaré Group

Two particles, described by an irreducible two-particle representation of the Poincaré group, are correlated by the constraints that the constancy of the Casimir operators imposes on the state space. This correlation can be understood as a geometrically caused interaction between the particles, the strength of which is related to the normalisation constant $ω$ of the two-particle states by $4π\,ω^2$. The numerical value of $4π\,ω^2$ is found to match the experimental value of the electromagnetic fine structure constant $α$. This strongly suggests that the correlation of two particles in an irreducible two-particle representation of the Poincaré group manifests itself in the electromagnetic interaction.

physics.gen-ph

Constructive Foundation of Quantum Mechanics

I describe a constructive foundation for Quantum Mechanics, based on the discreteness of the degrees of freedom of quantum objects and on the Principle of Relativity. Taking Einstein's historical construction of Special Relativity as a model, the construction is carried out in close contact with a simple quantum mechanical Gedanken experiment. This leads to the standard axioms of Quantum Mechanics. The quantum mechanical description is identified as a tool that allows describing objects with discrete degrees of freedom in space-time covariant with respect to coordinate transformations. An inherent property of this description is a quantum mechanical interaction mechanism. The construction gives detailed answers to controversial questions, such as the measurement problem, the informational content of the wave function, and the completeness of Quantum Mechanics.

physics.gen-ph

Noether's Theorem and its Complement: A Gateway to Particle Interaction

Noether's theorem has gained outstanding importance in theoretical particle physics, because it leads to basic conservation laws, such as the conservation of momentum and of angular momentum. Closely related to this theorem, but unnoticed so far, is a complementary law, which requires the (virtual) exchange of momentum between the particles of a closed multi-particle system. This exchange of momentum determines an interaction. For a two-particle system defined by an irreducible representation of the Poincare group, this interaction is identified as the electromagnetic interaction. This sheds new light on the particle interactions described by the Standard Model. It resolves long-standing questions about the value of the electromagnetic coupling constant, and about divergent integrals in quantum electrodynamics.

physics.gen-ph

Reverse Engineering Approach to Quantum Electrodynamics

The S matrix of e--e scattering has the structure of a projection operator that projects incoming separable product states onto entangled two-electron states. In this projection operator the empirical value of the fine-structure constant alpha acts as a normalization factor. When the structure of the two-particle state space is known, a theoretical value of the normalization factor can be calculated. For an irreducible two-particle representation of the Poincare group, the calculated normalization factor matches Wyler's semi-empirical formula for the fine-structure constant alpha. The empirical value of alpha, therefore, provides experimental evidence that the state space of two interacting electrons belongs to an irreducible two-particle representation of the Poincare group.

physics.gen-ph

Momentum entanglement in relativistic quantum mechanics

I present a new group-theoretical approach to the interaction mechanism of elementary particle physics. Within an irreducible unitary two-particle representation of the Poincare group, the commutation relations of the Poincare group require that the two-particle states be momentum entangled. As in gauge theories, momentum entanglement defines a correlation between two particles that can be described as an interaction provided by the exchange of virtual (gauge) quanta. The coupling constant of this interaction is uniquely determined by the structure of the irreducible two-particle state space. For two massive spin one-half particles, the coupling constant matches the empirical value of the electromagnetic coupling constant.

physics.gen-ph

Physics of Binary Information

Basic concepts of theoretical particle physics, including quantum mechanics and Poincaré invariance, the leptonic mass spectrum and the proton mass, can be derived, without reference to first principles, from intrinsic properties of the simplest elements of information represented by binary data. What we comprehend as physical reality is, therefore, a reflection of mathematically determined logical structures, built from elements of binary data.

physics.gen-ph

Emergence of space-time and gravitation

In relativistic quantum mechanics, elementary particles are described by irreducible unitary representations of the Poincare group. The same applies to the center-of-mass kinematics of a multi-particle system that is not subject to external forces. As shown in a previous article, for spin-1/2 particles, irreducibility leads to a correlation between the particles that has the structure of the electromagnetic interaction, as described by the perturbation algorithm of quantum electrodynamics. The present article examines the consequences of irreducibility for a multi-particle system of spinless particles. In this case, irreducibility causes a gravitational force, which in the classical limit is described by the field equations of conformal gravity. The strength of this force has the same order of magnitude as the strength of the empirical gravitational force.

physics.gen-ph

Quantenelektrodynamik: Nah- oder Fernwirkungstheorie

The two-particle state space of the perturbation series of elastic electron-electron scattering is considered. In Feynman's action-at-a-distance formulation of quantum electrodynamics a relation between the coupling constant and the ratio of densities of states in the physical state space and in a two-particle product representation can be established. This relation is satisfied, when the physical state space corresponds to an irreducible representation of the Poincare group. Consequences of this observation are discussed. ----- Der Zweiteilchen-Zustandsraum der Stoerungsentwicklung zur elastischen Elektron-Elektron-Streuung wird betrachtet. In der Feynmanschen Formulierung der Quantenelektrodynamik als Fernwirkungstheorie laesst sich eine Beziehung zwischen Kopplungskonstante und dem Verhaeltnis der Zustandsdichten des physikalischen Zweiteilchen-Zustandsraums einerseits und einer Zweiteilchen-Produktdarstellung andererseits herstellen. Diese Beziehung ist erfuellt, wenn der physikalische Zustandsraum durch eine irreduzible Zweiteilchen-Darstellung der Poincare-Gruppe gebildet wird. Die Konsequenzen dieser Beobachtung werden diskutiert.

physics.gen-ph

Probing the mathematical nature of the photon field

The mathematical content of the interaction term of quantum electrodynamics is examined under the following assumption: It is presumed that the apparent degrees-of-freedom of the photon field reflect the kinematical degrees-of-freedom of the two-particle state space of massive fermions, rather than independent degrees-of-freedom of the photon field. This assumption is verified by reproducing the numerical value of the fine-structure constant.

physics.gen-ph

Relational Approach to Spin Networks

Individual spinors in a SU(2) spin network are described by their relations to the background spin network. A 'covariant' formulation of these relations yields the de Sitter group SO(3,2) as the fundamental symmetry group. Locally this symmetry group is approximated by the Poincare group, which leaves invariant (certain) clusters of spinors. The calculated masses of these clusters reproduce the lepton spectrum. Corrections to the approximate Poincare group, based on the exact SO(3,2) symmetry, deliver interaction terms, identical to those of the standard model. In addition, gravitation is obtained. The calculation of the fine-structure constant reproduces Wyler's formula.

physics.gen-ph

Leptons in Dirac Spin Networks

In large networks of Dirac spinors individual spinors show space-time properties relative to quasi-classical clusters of spinors. Three forms of relations between spinors and such clusters are identified. These constitute three families of particle-like configurations, with a mass spectrum in close agreement with the experimental lepton spectrum.

physics.gen-ph

Quantum Electrodynamics based on a Superselection Rule

This paper analyzes, for a multi-particle system of spin-1/2 particles, the consequences of replacing the Poincare group as fundamental symmetry group by the de Sitter group SO(3,2). The flat-space approximation of the de Sitter group by the Poincare group defines a superselection rule, which correlates spin and momentum of particles. This correlation can be formulated as an interaction between two particles, which exhibits properties of the electromagnetic interaction.

hep-th

Elementary Informational Structures of Particle Physics and their Relation to Quantum Mechanics and Space-Time

Bohr's dictum "Physical phenomena are observed relative to different experimental setups" is applied to a set of binary elements that represent the smallest units of information. A description relative to "macroscopic" setups of such elements is formulated. This requires the introduction of a Hilbert space formalism. It is shown, that the Hilbert space is symmetric with respect to the de Sitter group SO(3,2). For macroscopic setups SO(3,2) is approximated by the Poincare group. A space-time manifold is obtained that expresses the orientation of macroscopic setups relative to each other. Individual binary elements can then be given a "position" relative to macroscopic reference frames. To an observer binary elements will then exhibit properties of massive particles. This informational approach to particle physics determines a mass scale, delivers interaction terms for all four interactions and is, in principle, capable of fixing coupling constants and masses. Despite its simplicity it forms a promising basis for a theoretical model that leads beyond the standard model.

physics.gen-ph

Higher order terms in the contraction of SO(3,2)

The contraction of a spin-1/2 representation of the de Sitter group SO(3,2) yields a translation operator that consists of the usual momentum operator plus a second order term, the "momentum spin" as described by F. Guersey. The contribution of momentum spin to the kinematics of a multiparticle system in a tangential space of anti de Sitter space is analyzed. It is shown that it can be described by a perturbation term with the structure of the interaction term of quantum electrodynamics. An evaluation of the corresponding coupling constant reproduces Wyler's heuristic formula for the electromagnetic coupling constant.

hep-th