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arXiv:1709.00461 · Physical Review A

Generalized generating functional for mixed-representation Green's functions: A quantum-mechanical approach

Massimo Blasone A, Petr Jizba B, L. A. Smaldone

Published Nov 8, 2017• 3 citations

Abstract

When one tries to take into account the nontrivial vacuum structure of quantum field theory, the standard functional-integral tools, such as generating functionals or transitional amplitudes, are often quite inadequate for such purposes. Here we propose a generalized generating functional for Green's functions which allows one to easily distinguish among a continuous set of vacua that are mutually connected via unitary canonical transformations. In order to keep our discussion as simple as possible, we limit ourselves to quantum mechanics where the generating functional of Green's functions is constructed by means of phase-space path integrals. The quantum-mechanical setting allows us to accentuate the main logical steps involved without embarking on technical complications such as renormalization or inequivalent representations that should otherwise be addressed in the full-fledged quantum field theory. We illustrate the inner workings of the generating functional obtained by discussing Green's functions among vacua that are mutually connected via translations and dilatations. Salient issues, including connection with quantum field theory, vacuum-to-vacuum transition amplitudes, and perturbation expansion in the vacuum parameter, are also briefly discussed.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.96.052107

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When one tries to take into account the nontrivial vacuum structure of quantum field theory, the standard functional-integral tools, such as generating functionals or transitional amplitudes, are often quite inadequate for such purposes. Here we propose a generalized generating functional for Green's functions which allows one to easily distinguish among a continuous set of vacua that are mutually connected via unitary canonical transformations. In order to keep our discussion as simple as possible, we limit ourselves to quantum mechanics where the generating functional of Green's functions is constructed by means of phase-space path integrals. The quantum-mechanical setting allows us to accentuate the main logical steps involved without embarking on technical complications such as renormalization or inequivalent representations that should otherwise be addressed in the full-fledged quantum field theory. We illustrate the inner workings of the generating functional obtained by discussing Green's functions among vacua that are mutually connected via translations and dilatations. Salient issues, including connection with quantum field theory, vacuum-to-vacuum transition amplitudes, and perturbation expansion in the vacuum parameter, are also briefly discussed.

Starting from a mathematical basis where one analyses and developing different techniques in how to solve and represent different kinds of integrals with diagrams. Representing the integrals as n-valent vertices and introducing propagators is a great tool that helps with the book-keeping of the solutions and will sometimes do the calculations redundant. The symmetries of diagrams are analysed and how one extracts the symmetry factors from looking at a diagram by using some fairly simple combinatorics and cleverness. Introducing the probability amplitude and do some analysis of the path integral formulation is the step into physics. Discussing experiments as the double-slit experiment and deriving the Schrödinger equation from the generating functional. Looking at diagrams in Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Field Theory will explore the use of the crucial understanding of our generators for the diagrams. This thesis makes use of the so called generating functional almost throughout and to connect the first discussed mathematics to real physical theories is the aim.

An important feature of Quantum Field Theory is the existence of unitarily inequivalent representations of canonical commutation relations. When one works with the functional integral formalism, it is not clear, however, how this feature emerges. By following the seminal work of M. Swanson on canonical transformations in phase-space path integral, we generalize his approach to coherent-state functional integrals which in turn will lead to a simplified formalism which makes the appearance of the inequivalent representations more transparent.

In quantum field theory the Green function is usually calculated as the expectation value of the time-ordered product of fields over the vacuum. In some cases, especially in degenerate systems, expectation values over general states are required. The corresponding Green functions are essentially more complex than in the vacuum, because they cannot be written in terms of standard Feynman diagrams. Here a method is proposed to determine the structure of these Green functions and to derive nonperturbative equations for them. The main idea is to transform the cumulants describing correlations into interaction terms.

Abstract After a brief review of the operator approach to quantum mechanics, Feynmans path integral, which expresses a transition amplitude as a sum over all paths, is derived. Adding a linear coupling to an external source J and a damping term to the Lagrangian, the ground-state persistence amplitude is obtained. This quantity serves as the generating functional Z[J] for n-point Green functions which are the main target when studying quantum field theory. Then the harmonic oscillator as an example for a one-dimensional quantum field theory is discussed and the reason why a relativistic quantum theory should be based on quantum fields is explained.

Abstract Functional integrals are basic tools to study first quantum mechanics (QM), and quantum field theory (QFT). The path integral formulation of QM is well suited to the study of systems with an arbitrary number of degrees of freedom. It makes a smooth transition between nonrelativistic QM and QFT possible. The Euclidean functional integral also emphasizes the deep connection between QFT and the statistical physics of systems with short-range interactions near a continuous phase transition. The path integral representation of the matrix elements of the quantum statistical operator e-β H for Hamiltonians of the simple separable form p2/2m +V(q) is derived. To the path integral corresponds a functional measure and expectation values called correlation functions, which are generalized moments, and related to quantum observables, after an analytic continuation in time. The path integral corresponding to the Euclidean action of a harmonic oscillator, to which is added a time-dependent external force, is calculated explicitly. The result is used to generate Gaussian correlation functions and also to reduce the evaluation of path integrals to perturbation theory. The path integral also provides a convenient tool to derive semi-classical approximations.