Perturbation Theory and Exact Solutions
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Quantum Field Theory with No Zero-Point Energy
Published for SISSA by Springer Received: March 16, 2018 Revised: May 20, 2018 Accepted: May 27, 2018 Published: May 30, 2018 JHEP05(2018)191 Quantum field theory with no zero-point energy John R. Klauder Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-8440, U.S.A. Department of Mathematics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-8440, U.S.A. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: Traditional quantum field theory can lead to enormous zero-point energy, which markedly disagrees with experiment. Unfortunately, this situation is built into con- ventional canonical quantization procedures. For identical classical theories, an alternative quantization procedure, called affine field quantization, leads to the desirable feature of having a vanishing zero-point energy. This procedure has been applied to renormalizable and nonrenormalizable covariant scalar fields, fermion fields, as well as general relativity. Simpler models are offered as an introduction to affine field quantization. Keywords: Nonperturbative Effects, Renormalization Regularization and Renormalons, Models of Quantum Gravity ArXiv ePrint: 1803.05823 Open Access, c The Authors. 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP05(2018)191 Article funded by SCOAP . Contents 1 Introduction 1 2 Nonrenormalizable models exposed 2 3 Ultralocal scalar model: a nonrenormalizable example 3 4 Additional studies using affine variables 5 JHEP05(2018)191 1 Introduction The source of zero-point energy for a free scalar field is readily canceled by normal order- ing of the Hamiltonian operator, which leaves every term with an annihilation operator. Unfortunately, for a non-free scalar field, say with a quartic potential term, normal order- ing cannot eliminate the zero-point energy since there is always a term composed only of creation operators. -
Notes on Statistical Field Theory
Lecture Notes on Statistical Field Theory Kevin Zhou [email protected] These notes cover statistical field theory and the renormalization group. The primary sources were: • Kardar, Statistical Physics of Fields. A concise and logically tight presentation of the subject, with good problems. Possibly a bit too terse unless paired with the 8.334 video lectures. • David Tong's Statistical Field Theory lecture notes. A readable, easygoing introduction covering the core material of Kardar's book, written to seamlessly pair with a standard course in quantum field theory. • Goldenfeld, Lectures on Phase Transitions and the Renormalization Group. Covers similar material to Kardar's book with a conversational tone, focusing on the conceptual basis for phase transitions and motivation for the renormalization group. The notes are structured around the MIT course based on Kardar's textbook, and were revised to include material from Part III Statistical Field Theory as lectured in 2017. Sections containing this additional material are marked with stars. The most recent version is here; please report any errors found to [email protected]. 2 Contents Contents 1 Introduction 3 1.1 Phonons...........................................3 1.2 Phase Transitions......................................6 1.3 Critical Behavior......................................8 2 Landau Theory 12 2.1 Landau{Ginzburg Hamiltonian.............................. 12 2.2 Mean Field Theory..................................... 13 2.3 Symmetry Breaking.................................... 16 3 Fluctuations 19 3.1 Scattering and Fluctuations................................ 19 3.2 Position Space Fluctuations................................ 20 3.3 Saddle Point Fluctuations................................. 23 3.4 ∗ Path Integral Methods.................................. 24 4 The Scaling Hypothesis 29 4.1 The Homogeneity Assumption............................... 29 4.2 Correlation Lengths.................................... 30 4.3 Renormalization Group (Conceptual).......................... -
Effective Field Theories, Reductionism and Scientific Explanation Stephan
To appear in: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics Effective Field Theories, Reductionism and Scientific Explanation Stephan Hartmann∗ Abstract Effective field theories have been a very popular tool in quantum physics for almost two decades. And there are good reasons for this. I will argue that effec- tive field theories share many of the advantages of both fundamental theories and phenomenological models, while avoiding their respective shortcomings. They are, for example, flexible enough to cover a wide range of phenomena, and concrete enough to provide a detailed story of the specific mechanisms at work at a given energy scale. So will all of physics eventually converge on effective field theories? This paper argues that good scientific research can be characterised by a fruitful interaction between fundamental theories, phenomenological models and effective field theories. All of them have their appropriate functions in the research process, and all of them are indispens- able. They complement each other and hang together in a coherent way which I shall characterise in some detail. To illustrate all this I will present a case study from nuclear and particle physics. The resulting view about scientific theorising is inherently pluralistic, and has implications for the debates about reductionism and scientific explanation. Keywords: Effective Field Theory; Quantum Field Theory; Renormalisation; Reductionism; Explanation; Pluralism. ∗Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh, 817 Cathedral of Learning, Pitts- burgh, PA 15260, USA (e-mail: [email protected]) (correspondence address); and Sektion Physik, Universit¨at M¨unchen, Theresienstr. 37, 80333 M¨unchen, Germany. 1 1 Introduction There is little doubt that effective field theories are nowadays a very popular tool in quantum physics. -
Quantum Trajectories: Real Or Surreal?
entropy Article Quantum Trajectories: Real or Surreal? Basil J. Hiley * and Peter Van Reeth * Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK * Correspondence: [email protected] (B.J.H.); [email protected] (P.V.R.) Received: 8 April 2018; Accepted: 2 May 2018; Published: 8 May 2018 Abstract: The claim of Kocsis et al. to have experimentally determined “photon trajectories” calls for a re-examination of the meaning of “quantum trajectories”. We will review the arguments that have been assumed to have established that a trajectory has no meaning in the context of quantum mechanics. We show that the conclusion that the Bohm trajectories should be called “surreal” because they are at “variance with the actual observed track” of a particle is wrong as it is based on a false argument. We also present the results of a numerical investigation of a double Stern-Gerlach experiment which shows clearly the role of the spin within the Bohm formalism and discuss situations where the appearance of the quantum potential is open to direct experimental exploration. Keywords: Stern-Gerlach; trajectories; spin 1. Introduction The recent claims to have observed “photon trajectories” [1–3] calls for a re-examination of what we precisely mean by a “particle trajectory” in the quantum domain. Mahler et al. [2] applied the Bohm approach [4] based on the non-relativistic Schrödinger equation to interpret their results, claiming their empirical evidence supported this approach producing “trajectories” remarkably similar to those presented in Philippidis, Dewdney and Hiley [5]. However, the Schrödinger equation cannot be applied to photons because photons have zero rest mass and are relativistic “particles” which must be treated differently. -
Hamiltonian Perturbation Theory on a Lie Algebra. Application to a Non-Autonomous Symmetric Top
Hamiltonian Perturbation Theory on a Lie Algebra. Application to a non-autonomous Symmetric Top. Lorenzo Valvo∗ Michel Vittot Dipartimeno di Matematica Centre de Physique Théorique Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata” Aix-Marseille Université & CNRS Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 163 Avenue de Luminy 00133 Roma, Italy 13288 Marseille Cedex 9, France January 6, 2021 Abstract We propose a perturbation algorithm for Hamiltonian systems on a Lie algebra V, so that it can be applied to non-canonical Hamiltonian systems. Given a Hamil- tonian system that preserves a subalgebra B of V, when we add a perturbation the subalgebra B will no longer be preserved. We show how to transform the perturbed dynamical system to preserve B up to terms quadratic in the perturbation. We apply this method to study the dynamics of a non-autonomous symmetric Rigid Body. In this example our algebraic transform plays the role of Iterative Lemma in the proof of a KAM-like statement. A dynamical system on some set V is a flow: a one-parameter group of mappings associating to a given element F 2 V (the initial condition) another element F (t) 2 V, for any value of the parameter t. A flow on V is determined by a linear mapping H from V to itself. However, the flow can be rarely computed explicitly. In perturbation theory we aim at computing the flow of H + V, where the flow of H is known, and V is another linear mapping from V to itself. In physics, the set V is often a Lie algebra: for instance in classical mechanics [4], fluid dynamics and plasma physics [20], quantum mechanics [24], kinetic theory [18], special and general relativity [17]. -
1 Introduction 2 Classical Perturbation Theory
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by CERN Document Server Classical and Quantum Perturbation Theory for two Non–Resonant Oscillators with Quartic Interaction Luca Salasnich Dipartimento di Matematica Pura ed Applicata, Universit`a di Padova, Via Belzoni 7, I–35131 Padova, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, I–35131 Padova, Italy Istituto Nazionale per la Fisica della Materia, Unit`a di Milano, Via Celoria 16, I–20133 Milano, Italy Abstract. We study the classical and quantum perturbation theory for two non–resonant oscillators coupled by a nonlinear quartic interaction. In particular we analyze the question of quantum corrections to the torus quantization of the classical perturbation theory (semiclassical mechanics). We obtain up to the second order of perturbation theory an explicit analytical formula for the quantum energy levels, which is the semiclassical one plus quantum corrections. We compare the ”exact” quantum levels obtained numerically to the semiclassical levels studying also the effects of quantum corrections. Key words: Classical Perturbation Theory; Quantum Mechanics; General Mechanics 1 Introduction Nowadays there is considerable renewed interest in the transition from classical mechanics to quantum mechanics, a powerful motivation behind that being the problem of the so–called quantum chaos [1–3]. An important aspect is represented by the semiclassical quantization formula of the (regular) energy levels for quasi–integrable systems [4–6], the so–called torus quantization, initiated by Einstein [7] and completed by Maslov [8]. It has been recently shown [9,10] that, for perturbed non–resonant harmonic oscillators, the algorithm of classical perturbation theory can be used to formulate the quantum mechanical perturbation theory as the semiclassically quantized classical perturbation theory equipped with the quantum corrections in powers of ¯h ”correcting” the classical Hamiltonian that appears in the classical algorithm. -
Chapter 8 Stability Theory
Chapter 8 Stability theory We discuss properties of solutions of a first order two dimensional system, and stability theory for a special class of linear systems. We denote the independent variable by ‘t’ in place of ‘x’, and x,y denote dependent variables. Let I ⊆ R be an interval, and Ω ⊆ R2 be a domain. Let us consider the system dx = F (t, x, y), dt (8.1) dy = G(t, x, y), dt where the functions are defined on I × Ω, and are locally Lipschitz w.r.t. variable (x, y) ∈ Ω. Definition 8.1 (Autonomous system) A system of ODE having the form (8.1) is called an autonomous system if the functions F (t, x, y) and G(t, x, y) are constant w.r.t. variable t. That is, dx = F (x, y), dt (8.2) dy = G(x, y), dt Definition 8.2 A point (x0, y0) ∈ Ω is said to be a critical point of the autonomous system (8.2) if F (x0, y0) = G(x0, y0) = 0. (8.3) A critical point is also called an equilibrium point, a rest point. Definition 8.3 Let (x(t), y(t)) be a solution of a two-dimensional (planar) autonomous system (8.2). The trace of (x(t), y(t)) as t varies is a curve in the plane. This curve is called trajectory. Remark 8.4 (On solutions of autonomous systems) (i) Two different solutions may represent the same trajectory. For, (1) If (x1(t), y1(t)) defined on an interval J is a solution of the autonomous system (8.2), then the pair of functions (x2(t), y2(t)) defined by (x2(t), y2(t)) := (x1(t − s), y1(t − s)), for t ∈ s + J (8.4) is a solution on interval s + J, for every arbitrary but fixed s ∈ R. -
Second Quantization
Chapter 1 Second Quantization 1.1 Creation and Annihilation Operators in Quan- tum Mechanics We will begin with a quick review of creation and annihilation operators in the non-relativistic linear harmonic oscillator. Let a and a† be two operators acting on an abstract Hilbert space of states, and satisfying the commutation relation a,a† = 1 (1.1) where by “1” we mean the identity operator of this Hilbert space. The operators a and a† are not self-adjoint but are the adjoint of each other. Let α be a state which we will take to be an eigenvector of the Hermitian operators| ia†a with eigenvalue α which is a real number, a†a α = α α (1.2) | i | i Hence, α = α a†a α = a α 2 0 (1.3) h | | i k | ik ≥ where we used the fundamental axiom of Quantum Mechanics that the norm of all states in the physical Hilbert space is positive. As a result, the eigenvalues α of the eigenstates of a†a must be non-negative real numbers. Furthermore, since for all operators A, B and C [AB, C]= A [B, C] + [A, C] B (1.4) we get a†a,a = a (1.5) − † † † a a,a = a (1.6) 1 2 CHAPTER 1. SECOND QUANTIZATION i.e., a and a† are “eigen-operators” of a†a. Hence, a†a a = a a†a 1 (1.7) − † † † † a a a = a a a +1 (1.8) Consequently we find a†a a α = a a†a 1 α = (α 1) a α (1.9) | i − | i − | i Hence the state aα is an eigenstate of a†a with eigenvalue α 1, provided a α = 0. -
Chapter 5 Angular Momentum and Spin
Chapter 5 Angular Momentum and Spin I think you and Uhlenbeck have been very lucky to get your spinning electron published and talked about before Pauli heard of it. It appears that more than a year ago Kronig believed in the spinning electron and worked out something; the first person he showed it to was Pauli. Pauli rediculed the whole thing so much that the first person became also the last ... – Thompson (in a letter to Goudsmit) The first experiment that is often mentioned in the context of the electron’s spin and magnetic moment is the Einstein–de Haas experiment. It was designed to test Amp`ere’s idea that magnetism is caused by “molecular currents”. Such circular currents, while generating a magnetic field, would also contribute to the angular momentum of a ferromagnet. Therefore a change in the direction of the magnetization induced by an external field has to lead to a small rotation of the material in order to preserve the total angular momentum. For a quantitative understanding of the effect we consider a charged particle of mass m and charge q rotating with velocity v on a circle of radius r. Since the particle passes through its orbit v/(2πr) times per second the resulting current I = qv/(2πr), which encircles an area A = r2π, generates a magnetic dipole moment µ = IA/c, qv IA qv r2π qvr q q I = µ = = = = L = γL, γ = , (5.1) 2πr ⇒ c 2πr c 2c 2mc 2mc where L~ = m~r ~v is the angular momentum. Now the essential observation is that the × gyromagnetic ratio γ = µ/L is independent of the radius of the motion. -
ATTRACTORS: STRANGE and OTHERWISE Attractor - in Mathematics, an Attractor Is a Region of Phase Space That "Attracts" All Nearby Points As Time Passes
ATTRACTORS: STRANGE AND OTHERWISE Attractor - In mathematics, an attractor is a region of phase space that "attracts" all nearby points as time passes. That is, the changing values have a trajectory which moves across the phase space toward the attractor, like a ball rolling down a hilly landscape toward the valley it is attracted to. PHASE SPACE - imagine a standard graph with an x-y axis; it is a phase space. We plot the position of an x-y variable on the graph as a point. That single point summarizes all the information about x and y. If the values of x and/or y change systematically a series of points will plot as a curve or trajectory moving across the phase space. Phase space turns numbers into pictures. There are as many phase space dimensions as there are variables. The strange attractor below has 3 dimensions. LIMIT CYCLE (OR PERIODIC) ATTRACTOR STRANGE (OR COMPLEX) ATTRACTOR A system which repeats itself exactly, continuously, like A strange (or chaotic) attractor is one in which the - + a clock pendulum (left) Position (right) trajectory of the points circle around a region of phase space, but never exactly repeat their path. That is, they do have a predictable overall form, but the form is made up of unpredictable details. Velocity More important, the trajectory of nearby points diverge 0 rapidly reflecting sensitive dependence. Many different strange attractors exist, including the Lorenz, Julian, and Henon, each generated by a Velocity Y different equation. 0 Z The attractors + (right) exhibit fractal X geometry. Velocity 0 ATTRACTORS IN GENERAL We can generalize an attractor as any state toward which a Velocity system naturally evolves. -
Polarization Fields and Phase Space Densities in Storage Rings: Stroboscopic Averaging and the Ergodic Theorem
Physica D 234 (2007) 131–149 www.elsevier.com/locate/physd Polarization fields and phase space densities in storage rings: Stroboscopic averaging and the ergodic theorem✩ James A. Ellison∗, Klaus Heinemann Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States Received 1 May 2007; received in revised form 6 July 2007; accepted 9 July 2007 Available online 14 July 2007 Communicated by C.K.R.T. Jones Abstract A class of orbital motions with volume preserving flows and with vector fields periodic in the “time” parameter θ is defined. Spin motion coupled to the orbital dynamics is then defined, resulting in a class of spin–orbit motions which are important for storage rings. Phase space densities and polarization fields are introduced. It is important, in the context of storage rings, to understand the behavior of periodic polarization fields and phase space densities. Due to the 2π time periodicity of the spin–orbit equations of motion the polarization field, taken at a sequence of increasing time values θ,θ 2π,θ 4π,... , gives a sequence of polarization fields, called the stroboscopic sequence. We show, by using the + + Birkhoff ergodic theorem, that under very general conditions the Cesaro` averages of that sequence converge almost everywhere on phase space to a polarization field which is 2π-periodic in time. This fulfills the main aim of this paper in that it demonstrates that the tracking algorithm for stroboscopic averaging, encoded in the program SPRINT and used in the study of spin motion in storage rings, is mathematically well-founded. -
Conformal Invariance and Quantum Integrability of Sigma Models on Symmetric Superspaces
Physics Letters B 648 (2007) 254–261 www.elsevier.com/locate/physletb Conformal invariance and quantum integrability of sigma models on symmetric superspaces A. Babichenko a,b a Racah Institute of Physics, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel b Department of Particle Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel Received 7 December 2006; accepted 2 March 2007 Available online 7 March 2007 Editor: L. Alvarez-Gaumé Abstract We consider two dimensional nonlinear sigma models on few symmetric superspaces, which are supergroup manifolds of coset type. For those spaces where one loop beta function vanishes, two loop beta function is calculated and is shown to be zero. Vanishing of beta function in all orders of perturbation theory is shown for the principal chiral models on group supermanifolds with zero Killing form. Sigma models on symmetric (super) spaces on supergroup manifold G/H are known to be classically integrable. We investigate a possibility to extend an argument of absence of quantum anomalies in nonlocal current conservation from nonsuper case to the case of supergroup manifolds which are asymptotically free in one loop. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction super coset PSU(2, 2|4)/SO(1, 4) × SO(5). Hyperactivity in at- tempts to exploit integrability and methods of Bethe ansatz as a Two dimensional (2d) nonlinear sigma models (NLSM) on calculational tool in checks of ADS/CFT correspondence (see, supermanifolds, with and without WZ term, seemed to be ex- e.g., reviews [12] and references therein), also supports this in- otic objects, when they appeared in condensed matter physics terest, since both spin chains (on the gauge theory side) and 2d twenty years ago as an elegant calculational tool in problems NLSM (on the ADS side) appearing there, usually have a su- of self avoiding walks [1] and disordered metals [2].