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Axiomatic Quantum Field Theory
Axiomatic quantum field theory is a mathematical discipline which aims to describe quantum field theory in terms of rigorous axioms. It is strongly associated with functional analysis and operator algebras, but has also been studied in recent years from a more geometric and functorial perspective. There are two main challenges in this discipline. First, one must propose a set of axioms which describe the general properties of any mathematical object that deserves to be called a "quantum field theory". Then, one gives rigorous mathematical constructions of examples satisfying these axioms. Analytic approaches Wightman axioms The first set of axioms for quantum field theories, known as the Wightman axioms, were proposed by Arthur Wightman in the early 1950s. These axioms attempt to describe QFTs on flat Minkowski spacetime by regarding quantum fields as operator-valued distributions acting on a Hilbert space. In practice, one often uses the Wightman reconstruction theorem, which ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Quantum Field Theories
In theoretical physics, quantum field theory (QFT) is a theoretical framework that combines classical field theory, special relativity, and quantum mechanics. QFT is used in particle physics to construct physical models of subatomic particles and in condensed matter physics to construct models of quasiparticles. QFT treats particles as excited states (also called quanta) of their underlying quantum fields, which are more fundamental than the particles. The equation of motion of the particle is determined by minimization of the Lagrangian, a functional of fields associated with the particle. Interactions between particles are described by interaction terms in the Lagrangian involving their corresponding quantum fields. Each interaction can be visually represented by Feynman diagrams according to perturbation theory in quantum mechanics. History Quantum field theory emerged from the work of generations of theoretical physicists spanning much of the 20th century. Its deve ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Analytic Continuation
In complex analysis, a branch of mathematics, analytic continuation is a technique to extend the domain of definition of a given analytic function. Analytic continuation often succeeds in defining further values of a function, for example in a new region where an infinite series representation in terms of which it is initially defined becomes divergent. The step-wise continuation technique may, however, come up against difficulties. These may have an essentially topological nature, leading to inconsistencies (defining more than one value). They may alternatively have to do with the presence of singularities. The case of several complex variables is rather different, since singularities then need not be isolated points, and its investigation was a major reason for the development of sheaf cohomology. Initial discussion Suppose ''f'' is an analytic function defined on a non-empty open subset ''U'' of the complex plane If ''V'' is a larger open subset of containing ''U'', and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dirac–von Neumann Axioms
In mathematical physics, the Dirac–von Neumann axioms give a mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics in terms of operators on a Hilbert space. They were introduced by Paul Dirac in 1930 and John von Neumann in 1932. Hilbert space formulation The space \mathbb is a fixed complex Hilbert space of countably infinite dimension. * The observables of a quantum system are defined to be the (possibly unbounded) self-adjoint operators A on \mathbb. * A state \psi of the quantum system is a unit vector of \mathbb, up to scalar multiples; or equivalently, a ray of the Hilbert space \mathbb. * The expectation value of an observable ''A'' for a system in a state \psi is given by the inner product \langle \psi, A \psi \rangle. Operator algebra formulation The Dirac–von Neumann axioms can be formulated in terms of a C*-algebra as follows. * The bounded observables of the quantum mechanical system are defined to be the self-adjoint elements of the C*-algebra. * The states of the qua ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Conformal Field Theory
A conformal field theory (CFT) is a quantum field theory that is invariant under conformal transformations. In two dimensions, there is an infinite-dimensional algebra of local conformal transformations, and conformal field theories can sometimes be exactly solved or classified. Conformal field theory has important applications to condensed matter physics, statistical mechanics, quantum statistical mechanics, and string theory. Statistical and condensed matter systems are indeed often conformally invariant at their thermodynamic or quantum critical points. Scale invariance vs conformal invariance In quantum field theory, scale invariance is a common and natural symmetry, because any fixed point of the renormalization group is by definition scale invariant. Conformal symmetry is stronger than scale invariance, and one needs additional assumptions to argue that it should appear in nature. The basic idea behind its plausibility is that ''local'' scale invariant theories have their ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Conformal Bootstrap
The conformal bootstrap is a non-perturbative mathematical method to constrain and solve conformal field theories, i.e. models of particle physics or statistical physics that exhibit similar properties at different levels of resolution. Overview Unlike more traditional techniques of quantum field theory, conformal bootstrap does not use the Lagrangian of the theory. Instead, it operates with the general axiomatic parameters, such as the scaling dimensions of the local operators and their operator product expansion coefficients. A key axiom is that the product of local operators must be expressible as a sum over local operators (thus turning the product into an algebra); the sum must have a non-zero radius of convergence. This leads to decompositions of correlation functions into structure constants and conformal blocks. The main ideas of the conformal bootstrap were formulated in the 1970s by the Soviet physicist Alexander Polyakov and the Italian physicists Sergio Ferrara, R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Haag–Kastler Axioms
Algebraic quantum field theory (AQFT) is an application to local quantum physics of C*-algebra theory. Also referred to as the Haag–Kastler axiomatic framework for quantum field theory, because it was introduced by . The axioms are stated in terms of an algebra given for every open set in Minkowski space, and mappings between those. Haag–Kastler axioms Let \mathcal be the set of all open and bounded subsets of Minkowski space. An algebraic quantum field theory is defined via a net \_ of von Neumann algebras \mathcal(O) on a common Hilbert space \mathcal satisfying the following axioms: * ''Isotony'': O_1 \subset O_2 implies \mathcal(O_1) \subset \mathcal(O_2). * ''Causality'': If O_1 is space-like separated from O_2, then mathcal(O_1),\mathcal(O_2)0. * ''Poincaré covariance'': A strongly continuous unitary representation U(\mathcal) of the Poincaré group \mathcal on \mathcal exists such that \mathcal(gO) = U(g) \mathcal(O) U(g)^*, g \in \mathcal. * ''Spectrum condition' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Reflection Positivity
In quantum field theory, the Wightman distributions can be analytically continued to analytic functions in Euclidean space with the domain restricted to the ordered set of points in Euclidean space with no coinciding points. These functions are called the Schwinger functions (named after Julian Schwinger) and they are real-analytic, symmetric under the permutation of arguments (antisymmetric for fermionic fields), Euclidean covariant and satisfy a property known as reflection positivity. Properties of Schwinger functions are known as Osterwalder–Schrader axioms (named after Konrad Osterwalder and Robert Schrader).Osterwalder, K., and Schrader, R.: "Axioms for Euclidean Green’s functions," ''Comm. Math. Phys.'' 31 (1973), 83–112; 42 (1975), 281–305. Schwinger functions are also referred to as Euclidean correlation functions. Osterwalder–Schrader axioms Here we describe Osterwalder–Schrader (OS) axioms for a Euclidean quantum field theory of a Hermitian scalar field ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Euclidean Covariance
Euclidean (or, less commonly, Euclidian) is an adjective derived from the name of Euclid, an ancient Greek mathematician. It is the name of: Geometry *Euclidean space, the two-dimensional plane and three-dimensional space of Euclidean geometry as well as their higher dimensional generalizations *Euclidean geometry, the study of the properties of Euclidean spaces *Non-Euclidean geometry, systems of points, lines, and planes analogous to Euclidean geometry but without uniquely determined parallel lines *Euclidean distance, the distance between pairs of points in Euclidean spaces *Euclidean ball, the set of points within some fixed distance from a center point Number theory *Euclidean division, the division which produces a quotient and a remainder *Euclidean algorithm, a method for finding greatest common divisors *Extended Euclidean algorithm, a method for solving the Diophantine equation ''ax'' + ''by'' = ''d'' where ''d'' is the greatest common divisor of ''a'' and ''b'' *Euc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Permutation Symmetry
In mathematics, a permutation of a set is, loosely speaking, an arrangement of its members into a sequence or linear order, or if the set is already ordered, a rearrangement of its elements. The word "permutation" also refers to the act or process of changing the linear order of an ordered set. Permutations differ from combinations, which are selections of some members of a set regardless of order. For example, written as tuples, there are six permutations of the set , namely (1, 2, 3), (1, 3, 2), (2, 1, 3), (2, 3, 1), (3, 1, 2), and (3, 2, 1). These are all the possible orderings of this three-element set. Anagrams of words whose letters are different are also permutations: the letters are already ordered in the original word, and the anagram is a reordering of the letters. The study of permutations of finite sets is an important topic in the fields of combinatorics and group theory. Permutations are used in almost every branch of mathematics, and in many other fields of scien ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Schwinger Functions
In quantum field theory, the Wightman distributions can be analytically continued to analytic functions in Euclidean space with the domain restricted to the ordered set of points in Euclidean space with no coinciding points. These functions are called the Schwinger functions (named after Julian Schwinger) and they are real-analytic, symmetric under the permutation of arguments (antisymmetric for fermionic fields), Euclidean covariant and satisfy a property known as reflection positivity. Properties of Schwinger functions are known as Osterwalder–Schrader axioms (named after Konrad Osterwalder and Robert Schrader).Osterwalder, K., and Schrader, R.: "Axioms for Euclidean Green’s functions," ''Comm. Math. Phys.'' 31 (1973), 83–112; 42 (1975), 281–305. Schwinger functions are also referred to as Euclidean correlation functions. Osterwalder–Schrader axioms Here we describe Osterwalder–Schrader (OS) axioms for a Euclidean quantum field theory of a Hermitian scalar field \ph ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Functional Analysis
Functional analysis is a branch of mathematical analysis, the core of which is formed by the study of vector spaces endowed with some kind of limit-related structure (e.g. Inner product space#Definition, inner product, Norm (mathematics)#Definition, norm, Topological space#Definition, topology, etc.) and the linear transformation, linear functions defined on these spaces and respecting these structures in a suitable sense. The historical roots of functional analysis lie in the study of function space, spaces of functions and the formulation of properties of transformations of functions such as the Fourier transform as transformations defining continuous function, continuous, unitary operator, unitary etc. operators between function spaces. This point of view turned out to be particularly useful for the study of differential equations, differential and integral equations. The usage of the word ''functional (mathematics), functional'' as a noun goes back to the calculus of variati ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Euclidean Signature
In mathematics, the signature of a metric tensor ''g'' (or equivalently, a real quadratic form thought of as a real symmetric bilinear form on a finite-dimensional vector space) is the number (counted with multiplicity) of positive, negative and zero eigenvalues of the real symmetric matrix of the metric tensor with respect to a basis. In relativistic physics, the ''v'' represents the time or virtual dimension, and the ''p'' for the space and physical dimension. Alternatively, it can be defined as the dimensions of a maximal positive and null subspace. By Sylvester's law of inertia these numbers do not depend on the choice of basis. The signature thus classifies the metric up to a choice of basis. The signature is often denoted by a pair of integers implying ''r''= 0, or as an explicit list of signs of eigenvalues such as or for the signatures and , respectively. The signature is said to be indefinite or mixed if both ''v'' and ''p'' are nonzero, and degenerate if ''r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
