scholarly journals Beyond the Variational Principle in Quantum Field Theory

1995 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Lloyd CL Hollenberg
Keyword(s):  
Field Theory ◽  
Quantum Field Theory ◽  
Cluster Expansion ◽  
Vacuum Energy ◽  
Gaussian Approximation ◽  
Diagonal Form ◽  
Quantum Field ◽  
Zeroth Order ◽  
First Order ◽  
The Continuum

A method of summing diagrams in quantum field theory beyond the variational Gaussian approximation is proposed using the continuum form of the recently developed plaquette expansion. In the context of >-<j} theory the Hamiltonian, H[�], of the Schrodinger functional equation H[�]\II[�] = E\II[�] can be written down in tri-diagonal form as a cluster expansion in terms of connected moment coefficients derived from Hamiltonian moments (Hn) == !V�VI[�]Hn[�JVd�] with respect to a trial state VI [�]. The usual variational procedure corresponds to minimising the zeroth order of this cluster expansion. At first order in the expansion, the Hamiltonian in this form can be diagonalised analytically. The subsequent expression for the vacuum energy E contains Hamiltonian moments up to fourth order and hence is a summation over multi-loop diagrams, laying the foundation for the calculation of the effective potential beyond the Gaussian approximation.

scholarly journals How low can vacuum energy go when your fields are finite-dimensional?

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (14) ◽  
pp. 1944006
Author(s):  
ChunJun Cao ◽  
Aidan Chatwin-Davies ◽  
Ashmeet Singh
Keyword(s):  
Field Theory ◽  
Quantum Field Theory ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Vacuum Energy ◽  
Quantum Field ◽  
Locally Finite ◽  
Finite Dimensional ◽  
Finite Dimensionality ◽  
Klein Gordon ◽  
Dimensional Version

According to the holographic bound, there is only a finite density of degrees of freedom in space when gravity is taken into account. Conventional quantum field theory does not conform to this bound, since in this framework, infinitely many degrees of freedom may be localized to any given region of space. In this paper, we explore the viewpoint that quantum field theory may emerge from an underlying theory that is locally finite-dimensional, and we construct a locally finite-dimensional version of a Klein–Gordon scalar field using generalized Clifford algebras. Demanding that the finite-dimensional field operators obey a suitable version of the canonical commutation relations makes this construction essentially unique. We then find that enforcing local finite dimensionality in a holographically consistent way leads to a huge suppression of the quantum contribution to vacuum energy, to the point that the theoretical prediction becomes plausibly consistent with observations.

scholarly journals ISSUES WITH VACUUM ENERGY AS THE ORIGIN OF DARK ENERGY

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (27) ◽  
pp. 1250154 ◽  
Author(s):  
HOURI ZIAEEPOUR
Keyword(s):  
Field Theory ◽  
Quantum Field Theory ◽  
Dark Energy ◽  
Particle Physics ◽  
Vacuum Energy ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Higgs Field ◽  
Scalar Fields ◽  
Vacuum Energy Density ◽  
Quantum Field

In this paper, we address some of the issues raised in the literature about the conflict between a large vacuum energy density, a priori predicted by quantum field theory, and the observed dark energy which must be the energy of vacuum or include it. We present a number of arguments against this claim and in favor of a null vacuum energy. They are based on the following arguments: A new definition for the vacuum in quantum field theory as a frame-independent coherent state; results from a detailed study of condensation of scalar fields in Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) background performed in a previous work; and our present knowledge about the Standard Model of particle physics. One of the predictions of these arguments is the confinement of nonzero expectation value of Higgs field to scales roughly comparable with the width of electroweak gauge bosons or shorter. If the observation of Higgs by the LHC is confirmed, accumulation of relevant events and their energy dependence in near future should allow us to measure the spatial extend of the Higgs condensate.

scholarly journals Logarithmic expansion of field theories: higher orders and resummations

2021 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Branchina ◽  
Alberto Chiavetta ◽  
Filippo Contino
Keyword(s):  
Field Theory ◽  
Quantum Field Theory ◽  
Finite Order ◽  
Weak Coupling ◽  
Field Theories ◽  
Quantum Field ◽  
First Order ◽  
Free Theory ◽  
Formal Expansion ◽  
The Way

AbstractA formal expansion for the Green’s functions of a quantum field theory in a parameter $$\delta $$ δ that encodes the “distance” between the interacting and the corresponding free theory was introduced in the late 1980s (and recently reconsidered in connection with non-hermitian theories), and the first order in $$\delta $$ δ was calculated. In this paper we study the $${\mathcal {O}}(\delta ^2)$$ O ( δ 2 ) systematically, and also push the analysis to higher orders. We find that at each finite order in $$\delta $$ δ the theory is non-interacting: sensible physical results are obtained only resorting to resummations. We then perform the resummation of UV leading and subleading diagrams, getting the $${\mathcal {O}}(g)$$ O ( g ) and $${\mathcal {O}}(g^2)$$ O ( g 2 ) weak-coupling results. In this manner we establish a bridge between the two expansions, provide a powerful and unique test of the logarithmic expansion, and pave the way for further studies.

scholarly journals A novel view on successive quantizations, leading to increasingly more “miraculous” states

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (23) ◽  
pp. 1950186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matej Pavšič
Keyword(s):  
Field Theory ◽  
Quantum Field Theory ◽  
Wave Function ◽  
Wave Packet ◽  
Time Derivative ◽  
Point Particle ◽  
Order Equation ◽  
Quantum Field ◽  
First Order ◽  
Complex Wave

A series of successive quantizations is considered, starting with the quantization of a non-relativistic or relativistic point particle: (1) quantization of a particle’s position, (2) quantization of wave function, (3) quantization of wave functional. The latter step implies that the wave packet profiles forming the states of quantum field theory are themselves quantized, which gives new physical states that are configurations of configurations. In the procedure of quantization, instead of the Schrödinger first-order equation in time derivative for complex wave function (or functional), the equivalent second-order equation for its real part was used. In such a way, at each level of quantization, the equation a quantum state satisfies is just like that of a harmonic oscillator, and wave function(al) is composed in terms of the pair of its canonically conjugated variables.

scholarly journals Axion–photon mixing in quantum field theory and vacuum energy

2019 ◽  
Vol 790 ◽  
pp. 427-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Capolupo ◽  
I. De Martino ◽  
G. Lambiase ◽  
An. Stabile
Keyword(s):  
Field Theory ◽  
Quantum Field Theory ◽  
Vacuum Energy ◽  
Quantum Field

scholarly journals Resonance Electroproduction and the Origin of Mass

2020 ◽  
Vol 241 ◽  
pp. 02008
Author(s):  
Craig D. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Field Theory ◽  
Quantum Field Theory ◽  
Relativistic Quantum ◽  
Bound State ◽  
Quantum Field ◽  
Relativistic Quantum Field Theory ◽  
State Problem ◽  
The Standard Model ◽  
Bound State Problem ◽  
The Continuum

One of the greatest challenges within the Standard Model is to discover the source of visible mass. Indeed, this is the focus of a “Millennium Problem”, posed by the Clay Mathematics Institute. The answer is hidden within quantum chromodynamics (QCD); and it is probable that revealing the origin of mass will also explain the nature of confinement. In connection with these issues, this perspective will describe insights that have recently been drawn using contemporary methods for solving the continuum bound-state problem in relativistic quantum field theory and how they have been informed and enabled by modern experiments on nucleon-resonance electroproduction.

scholarly journals Some differences between Dirac's hole theory and quantum field theory

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Solomon
Keyword(s):  
Field Theory ◽  
Quantum Field Theory ◽  
Exact Solution ◽  
Dirac Equation ◽  
Vacuum Energy ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Quantum Field ◽  
Hole Theory

Dirac's hole theory (HT) and quantum field theory (QFT) are generally considered equivalent. However, it was recently shown by several investigators that this is not necessarily the case because when the change in the vacuum energy was calculated for a time-independent perturbation, HT and QFT yielded different results. In this paper, we extend this discussion to include a time-dependent perturbation for which the exact solution to the Dirac equation is known. We show that for this case also, HT and QFT yield different results. In addition, we offer some discussion of the problem of anomalies in QFT. PACS Nos.: 03.65–w, 11.10–z

scholarly journals Quantum Ostrogradsky theorem

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayato Motohashi ◽  
Teruaki Suyama
Keyword(s):  
Field Theory ◽  
Quantum Field Theory ◽  
Quantum Field ◽  
First Order ◽  
Higher Derivative ◽  
Original Theorem ◽  
Classical Lagrangian

Abstract The Ostrogradsky theorem states that any classical Lagrangian that contains time derivatives higher than the first order and is nondegenerate with respect to the highest-order derivatives leads to an unbounded Hamiltonian which linearly depends on the canonical momenta. Recently, the original theorem has been generalized to nondegeneracy with respect to non-highest-order derivatives. These theorems have been playing a central role in construction of sensible higher-derivative theories. We explore quantization of such non-degenerate theories, and prove that Hamiltonian is still unbounded at the level of quantum field theory.

A twistor approach to the regularization of divergences

1985 ◽  
Vol 397 (1813) ◽  
pp. 341-374 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Field Theory ◽  
Quantum Field Theory ◽  
Infrared Divergence ◽  
Standard Theory ◽  
Quantum Field ◽  
New Formalism ◽  
First Order ◽  
Finite Theory ◽  
Finite Quantity ◽  
Modified Theory

One object of the twistor programme, as developed principally by R. Penrose, is the production of a manifestly finite theory of scattering in quantum field theory. Earlier work has shown that progress towards this goal is obstructed even at the first-order level, by the appearance of an infrared divergence in the standard theory. New studies in many-dimensional contour integration now suggest a simple but very powerful modification to this branch of twistor theory, in which the full (as opposed to the projective) twistor space plays an essential role. In this modified theory there arise natural contour-integral expressions with the effect of eliminating the infrared divergence previously noted, and replacing it by a finite quantity. This regularization can be specified by using a formalism of ‘inhomogeneous twistor diagrams’. The interpretation of this new formalism is not yet wholly clear, but the inhomogeneity can be seen as a means of relinquishing the concept of space-time point, while preserving light-cone structure. It therefore suggests a quite fresh approach to the divergences of quantum field theory.

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