Translation Group and Particle Representations in Quantum Field Theory
At the time I learned quantum field theory it was considered a folk theo­ rem that it is easy to construct field theories fulfilling either the locality or the spectrum condition. The construction of an example for the latter case is particularly easy. Take for instance an irreducible representation of the Poincare group with positive energy, and as an algebra of observables all compact operators in that representation space. This algebra of observables is even an asymptotically Abelian algebra. Since it has only a single representation - except for multiples of this one - it is hardly possible to replace locality in order to obtain a theory with a reasonable physical structure. This example shows that it is not sufficient to replace locality by asymptotic Abelian-ness. The construction of a theory fulfilling locality without a pos­ itive energy representation was first done by Doplicher, Regge, and Singer [DRS]. However, modern investigations on the locality ideal in the algebra oftest functions, started by Alcantara and Yngvason [AY], seem to indicate that this is a general feature; this means that most of the algebras of ob­ servables fulfilling the locality condition will not have representations that also fulfil the spectrum condition. This discussion shows that quantum field theory becomes a subject of interest only if both conditions are satisfied at the same time.
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Translation Group and Particle Representations in Quantum Field Theory
At the time I learned quantum field theory it was considered a folk theo­ rem that it is easy to construct field theories fulfilling either the locality or the spectrum condition. The construction of an example for the latter case is particularly easy. Take for instance an irreducible representation of the Poincare group with positive energy, and as an algebra of observables all compact operators in that representation space. This algebra of observables is even an asymptotically Abelian algebra. Since it has only a single representation - except for multiples of this one - it is hardly possible to replace locality in order to obtain a theory with a reasonable physical structure. This example shows that it is not sufficient to replace locality by asymptotic Abelian-ness. The construction of a theory fulfilling locality without a pos­ itive energy representation was first done by Doplicher, Regge, and Singer [DRS]. However, modern investigations on the locality ideal in the algebra oftest functions, started by Alcantara and Yngvason [AY], seem to indicate that this is a general feature; this means that most of the algebras of ob­ servables fulfilling the locality condition will not have representations that also fulfil the spectrum condition. This discussion shows that quantum field theory becomes a subject of interest only if both conditions are satisfied at the same time.
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Translation Group and Particle Representations in Quantum Field Theory

Translation Group and Particle Representations in Quantum Field Theory

by Hans-Jïrgen Borchers
Translation Group and Particle Representations in Quantum Field Theory

Translation Group and Particle Representations in Quantum Field Theory

by Hans-Jïrgen Borchers

Paperback(Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1996)

$54.99 
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Overview

At the time I learned quantum field theory it was considered a folk theo­ rem that it is easy to construct field theories fulfilling either the locality or the spectrum condition. The construction of an example for the latter case is particularly easy. Take for instance an irreducible representation of the Poincare group with positive energy, and as an algebra of observables all compact operators in that representation space. This algebra of observables is even an asymptotically Abelian algebra. Since it has only a single representation - except for multiples of this one - it is hardly possible to replace locality in order to obtain a theory with a reasonable physical structure. This example shows that it is not sufficient to replace locality by asymptotic Abelian-ness. The construction of a theory fulfilling locality without a pos­ itive energy representation was first done by Doplicher, Regge, and Singer [DRS]. However, modern investigations on the locality ideal in the algebra oftest functions, started by Alcantara and Yngvason [AY], seem to indicate that this is a general feature; this means that most of the algebras of ob­ servables fulfilling the locality condition will not have representations that also fulfil the spectrum condition. This discussion shows that quantum field theory becomes a subject of interest only if both conditions are satisfied at the same time.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9783662140789
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publication date: 06/25/2013
Series: Lecture Notes in Physics Monographs , #40
Edition description: Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1996
Pages: 136
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.01(d)

Table of Contents

The Axioms of the Theory of Local Observables.- Translations and the Spectrum Condition.- The Opposite Edge of the Wedge Problem.- Locality Condition and the Spectrum of Translations.
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