Published 1985 | Version v1
Report

Path integration on space times with symmetry

Description

Path integration on space times with symmetry is investigated using a definition of path integration of Gaussian integrators. Gaussian integrators, systematically developed using the theory of projective distributions, may be defined in terms of a Jacobi operator Green function. This definition of the path integral yields a semiclassical expansion of the propagator which is valid on caustics. The semiclassical approximation to the free particle propagator on symmetric and reductive homogeneous spaces is computed in terms of the complete solution of the Jacobi equation. The results are used to test the validity of using the Schwinger-DeWitt transform to compute an approximation to the coincidence limit of a field theory Green function from a WKB propagator. The method is found not to be valid except for certain special cases. These cases include manifolds constructed from the direct product of flat space and group manifolds, on which the free particle WKB approximation is exact and two sphere. The multiple geodesic contribution to on Schwarzschild in the neighborhood of rho = 3M is computed using the transform

Availability note (English)

University Microfilms Order No. 86-09,541.

Additional details

Publishing Information

Imprint Pagination
185 p.

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
United States
INIS RN
18026022
Subject category
S73: NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS; S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Resource subtype / Literary indicator
Thesis, Non-conventional Literature
Descriptors DEI
GAUSSIAN PROCESSES; GREEN FUNCTION; INTEGRALS; MATHEMATICAL MANIFOLDS; MATHEMATICAL SPACE; PROPAGATOR; SPACE-TIME; SYMMETRY; WKB APPROXIMATION
Descriptors DEC
FUNCTIONS; SPACE