Quantum evolution across singularities
Creators
- 1. Theoretische Natuurkunde, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and International Solvay Institutes, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels (Belgium)
Description
Attempts to consider evolution across space-time singularities often lead to quantum systems with time-dependent Hamiltonians developing an isolated singularity as a function of time. Examples include matrix theory in certain singular time-dependent backgounds and free quantum fields on the two-dimensional compactified Milne universe. Due to the presence of the singularities in the time dependence, the conventional quantum-mechanical evolution is not well-defined for such systems. We propose a natural way, mathematically analogous to renormalization in conventional quantum field theory, to construct unitary quantum evolution across the singularity. We carry out this procedure explicitly for free fields on the compactified Milne universe and compare our results with the matching conditions considered in earlier work (which were based on the covering Minkowski space)
Availability note (English)
Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1126-6708/2008/04/021Additional details
Identifiers
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Journal of High Energy Physics
- Journal Volume
- 04
- Journal Issue
- 2008
- Journal Page Range
- p. 021
- ISSN
- 1126-6708
INIS
- Country of Publication
- Italy
- Country of Input or Organization
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- INIS RN
- 40071712
- Subject category
- S72: PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS;
- Descriptors DEI
- COMPACTIFICATION; EVOLUTION; HAMILTONIANS; MINKOWSKI SPACE; QUANTUM FIELD THEORY; QUANTUM MECHANICS; RENORMALIZATION; SINGULARITY; SPACE-TIME; TIME DEPENDENCE; TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS; UNIVERSE
- Descriptors DEC
- FIELD THEORIES; MATHEMATICAL OPERATORS; MATHEMATICAL SPACE; MECHANICS; QUANTUM OPERATORS; SPACE