Haag Local Quantum Physics

Fields, Particles, Algebras
Erscheinungsjahr 2012
ISBN: 978-3-642-97306-2
Verlag: Springer
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 356 Seiten, eBook

Reihe: Theoretical and Mathematical Physics

Four years aga Walter Thirring suggested to me that it would be desirable to have a book describing recent results of the "algebraic approach" to quantum field theory and statistical mechanics. After long deliberations with my younger colleagues I decided to write a book but to enlarge the topic, the guiding line be ing expressed in the title "Local Quantum Physics". In essence this concerns the synthesis between special relativity and our understanding of quantum physics, together with a few other principles of a general nature. The algebraic approach, that is the characterization of the theory by a net of algebras of local observ ables, provides a concise language for this and an efficient tool for the study of the anatomy of the theory and of the relevance of various parts to qualita tive physical consequences. It is introduced in Chapter III. In compliance with the original suggestion its main results of more recent vintage are described in Chapters IV to VI. The first two chapters serve to place this material into context and make the book reasonably self contained. There is a rough tem poral order. Thus Chapter I briefly describes the pillars of the theory existing before 1950. Chapter II deals with progress in understanding and techniques in quantum field theory, achieved for the most part in the fifties and early sixties.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Haag, Rudolf

Inhaltsverzeichnis

I. Background.- 1. Quantum Mechanics.- 2. The Principle of Locality in Classical Physics and the Relativity Theories.- 3. Poincaré Invariant Quantum Theory.- 4. Action Principle.- 5. Basic Quantum Field Theory.- II. General Quantum Field Theory.- 1. Mathematical Considerations and General Postulates.- 2. Hierarchies of Functions.- 3. Physical Interpretation in Terms of Particles.- 4. General Collision Theory.- 5. Some Consequences of the Postulates.- III. Algebras of Local Observables and Fields.- 1. Review of the Perspective.- 2. Von Neumann Algebras. C*-Algebras. W*-Algebras.- 3. The Net of Algebras of Local Observables.- 4. The Vacuum Sector.- IV. Charges, Global Gauge Groups and Exchange Symmetry.- 1. Charge Superselection Sectors.- 2. The DHR-Analysis.- 3. The Buchholz-Fredenhagen-Analysis.- 4. Global Gauge Group and Charge Carrying Fields.- 5. Low Dimensional Space-Time and Braid Group Statistics.- V. Thermal States and Modular Automorphisms.- 1. Gibbs Ensembles, Thermodynamic Limit, KMS-Condition.- 2. Modular Automorphisms and Modular Conjugation.- 3. Direct Characterization of Equilibrium States.- 4. Modular Automorphisms of Local Algebras.- 5. Phase Space, Nuclearity, Split Property, Local Equilibrium.- 6. The Universal Type of Local Algebras.- VI. Particles. Completeness of the Particle Picture.- 1. Detectors, Coincidence Arrangements, Cross Sections.- 2. The Particle Content.- 3. The Physical State Space of Quantum Electrodynamics.- VII. Retrospective and Outlook.- 1. Algebraic Approach vs. Euclidean Quantum Field Theory.- 2. Supersymmetry.- 3. The Challenge from General Relativity.- Author Index and References.