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Symmetry

Covariant Representation of Spin and Entanglement—A Review and Reformulation

Martin Land

Published Nov 4, 2024• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A consistent theory of quantum entanglement requires that constituent single-particle states belong to the same Hilbert space, the coherent eigenstates of a complete set of operators in a given representation, defined with respect to a shared continuous parameterization. Formulating such eigenstates for a single relativistic particle with spin, and applying them to the description of many-body states, presents well-known challenges. In this paper, we review the covariant theory of relativistic spin and entanglement in a framework first proposed by Stueckelberg and developed by Horwitz, Piron, et al. This approach modifies Wigner’s method by introducing an arbitrary timelike unit vector nμ and then inducing a representation of SL(2,C), based on pμ rather than on the spacetime momentum. Generalizing this approach, we construct relativistic spin states on an extended phase space {(xμ,pμ),(ζμ,πμ)}, inducing a representation on the momentum πμ, thus providing a novel dynamical interpretation of the timelike unit vector nμ=πμ/M. Studying the unitary representations of the Poincaré group on the extended phase space allows us to define basis quantities for quantum states and develop the gauge invariant electromagnetic Hamiltonian in classical and quantum mechanics. We write plane wave solutions for free particles and construct stable singlet states, and relate these to experiments involving temporal interference, analogous to the spatial interference known from double slit experiments.

DOI
10.3390/sym16111465

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A consistent theory of quantum entanglement requires that constituent single-particle states belong to the same Hilbert space, the coherent eigenstates of a complete set of operators in a given representation, defined with respect to a shared continuous parameterization. Formulating such eigenstates for a single relativistic particle with spin, and applying them to the description of many-body states, presents well-known challenges. In this paper, we review the covariant theory of relativistic spin and entanglement in a framework first proposed by Stueckelberg and developed by Horwitz, Piron, et al. This approach modifies Wigner’s method by introducing an arbitrary timelike unit vector nμ and then inducing a representation of SL(2,C), based on pμ rather than on the spacetime momentum. Generalizing this approach, we construct relativistic spin states on an extended phase space {(xμ,pμ),(ζμ,πμ)}, inducing a representation on the momentum πμ, thus providing a novel dynamical interpretation of the timelike unit vector nμ=πμ/M. Studying the unitary representations of the Poincaré group on the extended phase space allows us to define basis quantities for quantum states and develop the gauge invariant electromagnetic Hamiltonian in classical and quantum mechanics. We write plane wave solutions for free particles and construct stable singlet states, and relate these to experiments involving temporal interference, analogous to the spatial interference known from double slit experiments.
Abstract A consistent theory of quantum entanglement requires that the constituent single-particle states belong to the same Hilbert space, the coherent eigenstates of a complete set of operators in a given representation, defined with respect to a shared continuous parameterization. A covariant theory of relativistic spin and entanglement has been given by Horwitz and Arshansky, in which representations of O(3, 1) are induced with respect to an arbitrarily selected timelike unit vector nµ . In this paper, we construct an induced relativistic representation of spin on an extended phase space {(xµ , pµ ), (ζµ , πµ )}, in which we associate the unit vector nµ with the momentum πµ , thus providing a dynamical interpretation for this new quantity. Studying the unitary representations of the Poincaré group on the extended phase space allows us to define basis quantities for quantum states and develop the gauge invariant electromagnetic Hamiltonian in classical and quantum mechanics. We write plane wave solutions for free particles and construct stable singlet states. As in non-relativistic quantum theory the magnetic field couples to the rotation generators of SU(2) ⊂ SL(2, C), however the electric field couples to the non-compact and anti-Hermitian boost generators. We show that to first order in perturbation theory, a constant external magnetic field will produce a perturbative contribution to the total mass (the eigenvalue of the Lorentz scalar Hamiltonian) or a transition between states in the same representation of SL(2, C), and so will not disrupt a singlet state. However, an electric field normal to πµ can produce a perturbative transition between states in inequivalent representations of SL(2, C), and therefore potentially cause decoherence of the relativistic entanglement.
One of the most fundamental phenomena of quantum physics is entanglement. It describes an inseparable connection between quantum systems, and properties thereof. In a quantum mechanical description even systems far apart from each other can share a common state. This entanglement of the subsystems, although arising from mathematical principles, is no mere abstract concept, but can be tested in experiment, and be utilized in modern quantum information theory procedures, such as quantum teleportation. In particular, entangled states play a crucial role in testing our understanding of reality, by violating Bell inequalities. While the role of entanglement is well studied in the realm of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, its significance in a relativistic quantum theory is a relatively new field of interest. In this work the consequences of a relativistic description of quantum entanglement are discussed. We analyze the representations of the symmetry groups of special relativity, i.e. of the Lorentz group, and the Poincaré group, on the Hilbert space of states. We describe how unitary, irreducible representations of the Poincaré group for massive spin 1/2 particles are constructed from representations of Wigner's little group. We then proceed to investigate the role of the Wigner rotations in the transformation of quantum states under a change of inertial reference frame. Considering different partitions of the Hilbert space of 2 particles, we find that the entanglement of the quantum states appears different in different inertial frames, depending on the form of the states, the chosen inertial frames, and the particular choice of partition. It is explained, how, despite of this, the maximally possible violation of Bell inequalities is frame independent, when using appropriate spin observables, which are related to the Pauli-Ljubanski vector, a Casimir operator of the Poincaré group.
In this thesis, entanglement under fully relativistic settings are discussed. The thesis starts with a brief review of the relativistic quantum mechanics. In order to describe the effects of Lorentz transformations on the entangled states, quantum mechanics and special relativity are merged by construction of the unitary irreducible representations of Poincar{é} group on the infinite dimensional Hilbert space of state vectors. In this framework, the issue of finding the unitary irreducible representations of Poincar{é} group is reduced to that of the little group. Wigner rotation for the massive particles plays a crucial role due to its effect on the spin polarization directions. Furthermore, the physical requirements for constructing the correct relativistic spin operator is also studied. Then, the entanglement and Bell type inequalities are reviewed. Special attention has been devoted to two historical papers, by EPR in 1935 and by J.S. Bell in 1964. The main part of the thesis is based on the Lorentz transformation of the Bell states and the Bell inequalities on these transformed states. It is shown that entanglement is a Lorentz invariant quantity. That is, no inertial observer can see the entangled state as a separable one. However, it was shown that the Bell inequality may be satisfied for the Wigner angle dependent transformed entangled states. Since the Wigner rotation changes the spin polarization direction with the increased velocity, initial dichotomous operators can satisfy the Bell inequality for those states. By choosing the dichotomous operators taking into consideration the Wigner angle, it is always possible to show that Bell type inequalities can be violated for the transformed entangled states.
Covariant four-vector position operators ${X}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ are proposed, which form a natural operator generalization of the four-position in relativistic classical mechanics. These ${X}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ are defined by specifying commutation relations of the ${X}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ with the Poincar\'e generators ${P}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ and ${M}^{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}}$, and thereby extending the Poincar\'e algebra to a larger algebra whose representations are subsequently found. The ${X}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ are shown to be acceptable relativistic position operators within a proper-time dynamical framework. A single Hamiltonian is used for all spins, with a covariant proper-time description. The dynamics is capable of describing the time evolution of states which are not mass eigenstates. An automatic Foldy-Wouthuysen-type diagonalization is achieved for all spin representations, with spin and orbital angular momentum being separately conserved. The connection with the standard theory is made via the specific field equations. In making this connection to the standard theory of half-integral spins, the origin of Zitterbewegung and the nonseparate conservation of spin and angular momentum are clarified. The connection to Maxwell's equations provides an interesting statement of those equations and of gauge invariance. The unphysical representations of negative and imaginary mass and continuous spin are not present in this formalism. Other features are discussed.
The adaptation of Wigner's induced representation for a relativistic quantum theory making possible the construction of wave packets and admitting covariant expectation values for the coordinate operator x μ introduces a foliation on the Hilbert space of states. The spin-statistics relation for fermions and bosons implies the universality of the parametrization of orbits of the induced representation, implying that all particles within identical particle sets transform under the same SU (2) subgroup of the Lorentz group, and therefore their spins and angular momentum states can be computed using the usual Clebsch–Gordan coefficients associated with angular momentum. Important consequences, such as entanglement for subsystems at unequal times, covariant statistical correlations in many-body systems and the construction of relativistic boson and fermion statistical ensembles, as well as implications for the foliation of the Fock space and for quantum field theory are briefly discussed.
The spin reduced matrix defined by taking partial trace with the momentum variable has been shown not to transform covariantly under Lorentz transformations. In this paper, I suggest another representation space of the Poincare group, the elements of which are in a sense apparent wave functions. In this new Hilbert space, the naive spin observable 12τ\frac{1}{2}\boldsymbol{\tau}21​τ from nonrelativistic quantum mechanics on the old Hilbert space is represented as the Newton-Wigner spin operator. Also on this space, one can naturally associate to each state a Lorentz covariant spin reduced density matrix, which is then given a new interpretation.