scholarly journals Global anomalies on the Hilbert space

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Delmastro ◽  
Davide Gaiotto ◽  
Jaume Gomis

Abstract We show that certain global anomalies can be detected in an elementary fashion by analyzing the way the symmetry algebra is realized on the torus Hilbert space of the anomalous theory. Distinct anomalous behaviours imprinted in the Hilbert space are identified with the distinct cohomology “layers” that appear in the classification of anomalies in terms of cobordism groups. We illustrate the manifestation of the layers in the Hilbert for a variety of anomalous symmetries and spacetime dimensions, including time-reversal symmetry, and both in systems of fermions and in anomalous topological quantum field theories (TQFTs) in 2 + 1d. We argue that anomalies can imply an exact bose-fermi degeneracy in the Hilbert space, thus revealing a supersymmetric spectrum of states; we provide a sharp characterization of when this phenomenon occurs and give nontrivial examples in various dimensions, including in strongly coupled QFTs. Unraveling the anomalies of TQFTs leads us to develop the construction of the Hilbert spaces, the action of operators and the modular data in spin TQFTs, material that can be read on its own.

1995 ◽  
Vol 06 (02) ◽  
pp. 205-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID E. EVANS ◽  
YASUYUKI KAWAHIGASHI

A fully detailed account of Ocneanu's theorem is given that the Hilbert space associated to the two-dimensional torus in a Turaev-Viro type (2+1)-dimensional topological quantum field theory arising from a finite depth subfactor N⊂M has a natural basis labeled by certain M∞- M∞ bimodules of the asymptotic inclusion M∨(M'∩M∞)⊂M∞, and moreover that all these bimodules are given by the basic construction from M∨(M'∩M∞)⊂M∞ if the fusion graph is connected. This Hilbert space is an analogue of the space of conformal blocks in conformal field theory. It is also shown that after passing to the asymptotic inclusions we have S- and T-matrices, analogues of the Verlinde identity and Vafa's result on roots of unity. It is explained that the asymptotic inclusions can be regarded as a subfactor analogue of the quantum double construction of Drinfel'd. These claims were announced by Λ. Ocneanu in several talks, but he has not published his proofs, so details are given here along the lines outlined in his talks.


2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (03) ◽  
pp. 287-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
GONÇALO RODRIGUES

We define Homotopy quantum field theories (HQFT) as Topological quantum field theories (TQFT) for manifolds endowed with extra structure in the form of a map into some background space X. We also build the category of homotopy cobordisms HCobord(n, X) such that an HQFT is a functor from this category into a category of linear spaces. We then derive some very general properties of HCobord(n, X), including the fact that it only depends on the (n + 1)-homotopy type of X. We also prove that an HQFT with target space X and in dimension n + 1 implies the existence of geometrical structures in X; in particular, flat gerbes make their appearance. We give a complete characterization of HCobord(n, X) for n = 1 (or the 1 + 1 case) and X the Eilenberg-Maclane space K(G, 2). In the final section we derive state sum models for these HQFT's.


1992 ◽  
Vol 07 (02) ◽  
pp. 209-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. GAMBOA

Topological quantum field theories and fractional statistics are both defined in multiply connected manifolds. We study the relationship between both theories in 2 + 1 dimensions and we show that, due to the multiply-connected character of the manifold, the propagator for any quantum (field) theory always contains a first order pole that can be identified with a physical excitation with fractional spin. The article starts by reviewing the definition of general covariance in the Hamiltonian formalism, the gauge-fixing problem and the quantization following the lines of Batalin, Fradkin and Vilkovisky. The BRST–BFV quantization is reviewed in order to understand the topological approach proposed here.


2012 ◽  
Vol 09 (02) ◽  
pp. 1260005 ◽  
Author(s):  
GIANNI CASSINELLI ◽  
PEKKA LAHTI

A classical problem in axiomatic quantum mechanics is deducing a Hilbert space realization for a quantum logic that admits a vector space coordinatization of the Piron–McLaren type. Our aim is to show how a theorem of M. Solér [Characterization of Hilbert spaces by orthomodular spaces, Comm. Algebra23 (1995) 219–243.] can be used to get a (partial) solution of this problem. We first derive a generalization of the Wigner theorem on symmetry transformations that holds already in the Piron–McLaren frame. Then we investigate which conditions on the quantum logic allow the use of Solér's theorem in order to obtain a Hilbert space solution for the coordinatization problem.


1984 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Lambert

In this note a characterization of subnormality of operators on Hilbert space is given. The characterization is in terms of a sequence of polynomials in the operator and its adjoint reminiscent of the binomial expansion in commutative algebras. As such no external Hilbert spaces are needed, nor is it necessary to introduce forms dependent on arbitrary sequences of vectors from the Hilbert space.


1999 ◽  
Vol 08 (02) ◽  
pp. 125-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Crane ◽  
David Yetter

We show that any 3D topological quantum field theory satisfying physically reasonable factorizability conditions has associated to it in a natural way a Hopf algebra object in a suitable tensor category. We also show that all objects in the tensor category have the structure of left-left crossed bimodules over the Hopf algebra object. For 4D factorizable topological quantum filed theories, we provide by analogous methods a construction of a Hopf algebra category.


2021 ◽  
pp. 304-328
Author(s):  
J. Iliopoulos ◽  
T.N. Tomaras

Loop diagrams often yield ultraviolet divergent integrals. We introduce the concept of one-particle irreducible diagrams and develop the power counting argument which makes possible the classification of quantum field theories into non-renormalisable, renormalisable and super-renormalisable. We describe some regularisation schemes with particular emphasis on dimensional regularisation. The renormalisation programme is described at one loop order for φ‎4 and QED. We argue, without presenting the detailed proof, that the programme can be extended to any finite order in the perturbation expansion for every renormalisable (or super-renormalisable) quantum field theory. We derive the equation of the renormalisation group and explain how it can be used in order to study the asymptotic behaviour of Green functions. This makes it possible to introduce the concept of asymptotic freedom.


Entropy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregg Jaeger

The question of whether virtual quantum particles exist is considered here in light of previous critical analysis and under the assumption that there are particles in the world as described by quantum field theory. The relationship of the classification of particles to quantum-field-theoretic calculations and the diagrammatic aids that are often used in them is clarified. It is pointed out that the distinction between virtual particles and others and, therefore, judgments regarding their reality have been made on basis of these methods rather than on their physical characteristics. As such, it has obscured the question of their existence. It is here argued that the most influential arguments against the existence of virtual particles but not other particles fail because they either are arguments against the existence of particles in general rather than virtual particles per se, or are dependent on the imposition of classical intuitions on quantum systems, or are simply beside the point. Several reasons are then provided for considering virtual particles real, such as their descriptive, explanatory, and predictive value, and a clearer characterization of virtuality—one in terms of intermediate states—that also applies beyond perturbation theory is provided. It is also pointed out that in the role of force mediators, they serve to preclude action-at-a-distance between interacting particles. For these reasons, it is concluded that virtual particles are as real as other quantum particles.


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