quantum field theories (QFT)

This topic links the general framework of quantum field theories to group symmetries and other relevant mathematical concepts utilized to represent quantum fields and their fundamental properties.

0.1 Fundamental, mathematical concepts in quantum field theory

Quantum field theory (QFT) is the general framework for describing the physics of relativistic quantum systems, such as, notably, accelerated elementary particles.

Quantum electrodynamics (QED), and QCD or quantum chromodynamics (http://planetmath.org/QCDorQuantumChromodynamics) are only two distinct theories among several quantum field theories, as their fundamental representations correspond, respectively, to very different– $U(1)$ and $SU(3)$– group symmetries. This obviates the need for ‘more fundamental’ , or extended quantum symmetries, such as those afforded by either larger groups such as $U(1)\times SU(2)\times SU(3)$ or spontaneously broken, special symmetries of a less restrictive kind present in ‘quantum groupoids’ as for example in weak Hopf algebra representations, or in locally compact groupoid, $G_{lc}$ unitary representations, and so on, to the higher dimensional (quantum) symmetries of quantum double groupoids, quantum double algebroids, quantum categories,quantum supercategories and/or quantum (supersymmetry) superalgebras (or graded ‘Lie’ algebras); see, for example, their full development in a recent QFT textbook [4] that lead to superalgebroids in quantum gravity or QCD.

References

• 1 A. Abragam and B. Bleaney.: Electron Paramagnetic Resonance of Transition Ions. Clarendon Press: Oxford, (1970).
• 2 E. M. Alfsen and F. W. Schultz: Geometry of State Spaces of Operator Algebras, Birkhäuser, Boston–Basel–Berlin (2003).
• 3 D.N. Yetter., TQFT’s from homotopy 2-types. J. Knot Theor. 2: 113–123(1993).
• 4 S. Weinberg.: The Quantum Theory of Fields. Cambridge, New York and Madrid: Cambridge University Press, Vols. 1 to 3, (1995–2000).
• 5 A. Weinstein : Groupoids: unifying internal and external symmetry, Notices of the Amer. Math. Soc. 43 (7): 744–752 (1996).
• 6 J. Wess and J. Bagger: Supersymmetry and Supergravity, Princeton University Press, (1983).
• 7 J. Westman: Harmonic analysis on groupoids, Pacific J. Math. 27: 621-632. (1968).
• 8 J. Westman: Groupoid theory in algebra, topology and analysis., University of California at Irvine (1971).
• 9 S. Wickramasekara and A. Bohm: Symmetry representations in the rigged Hilbert space formulation of quantum mechanics, J. Phys. A 35(3): 807-829 (2002).
• 10 Wightman, A. S., 1956, Quantum Field Theory in Terms of Vacuum Expectation Values, Physical Review, 101: 860–866.
• 11 Wightman, A.S. and Garding, L., 1964, Fields as Operator–Valued Distributions in Relativistic Quantum Theory, Arkiv für Fysik, 28: 129–184.
• 12 S. L. Woronowicz : Twisted SU(2) group : An example of a non–commutative differential calculus, RIMS, Kyoto University 23 (1987), 613–665.
 Title quantum field theories (QFT) Canonical name QuantumFieldTheoriesQFT Date of creation 2013-03-22 18:10:52 Last modified on 2013-03-22 18:10:52 Owner bci1 (20947) Last modified by bci1 (20947) Numerical id 35 Author bci1 (20947) Entry type Topic Classification msc 55U99 Classification msc 81T80 Classification msc 81T75 Classification msc 81T70 Classification msc 81T60 Classification msc 81T40 Classification msc 81T25 Classification msc 81T18 Classification msc 81T13 Classification msc 81T10 Classification msc 81T05 Synonym quantum theories Related topic QEDInTheoreticalAndMathematicalPhysics Related topic QuantumChromodynamicsQCD Related topic Algebroids Related topic Distribution4 Related topic AlgebraicQuantumFieldTheoriesAQFT Related topic Quantization Related topic QuantumChromodynamicsQCD Defines quantum interactions of all kinds Defines minus gravitational ones