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arXiv:hep-ph/9708360

Real Time Correlation Functions at Finite Temperature and their Classical Limit

Dietrich Bödeker

Published Jan 1, 1997• 0 citations
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Abstract

In order to investigate the reliability of the classical approximation for non-perturbative real time correlation functions at finite temperature we study the two-point correlator for the anharmonic oscillator. For moderately large times the classical limit gives a good approximation of the quantum result but after some time $t_*$ the classical approximation breaks down even at high temperature.

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In order to investigate the reliability of the classical approximation for non-perturbative real time correlation functions at finite temperature we study the two-point correlator for the anharmonic oscillator. For moderately large times the classical limit gives a good approximation of the quantum result but after some time t∗t_*t∗​ the classical approximation breaks down even at high temperature.
This paper investigates a new formalism to describe real time evolution of quantum systems at finite temperature. A time correlation function among subsystems will be derived which allows for a probabilistic interpretation. Our derivation is non-perturbative and fully quantized. Various numerical methods used to compute the needed path integrals in complex time were tested and their effectiveness was compared. For checking the formalism we used the harmonic oscillator where the numerical results could be compared with exact solutions. Interesting results were also obtained for a system that presents tunneling. A ring of coupled oscillators was treated in order to try to check selfconsistency in the thermodynamic limit. The short time distribution seems to propagate causally in the relativistic case. Our formalism can be extended easily to field theories where it remains to be seen if relevant models will be computable. 1 1
The sine-Gordon model serves as a foundational 1+11+11+1-dimensional quantum field theory with numerous applications in condensed matter physics. Despite its integrability, characterizing its finite-temperature behavior remains a significant theoretical challenge. Here we use the previously developed Method of Random Surfaces (MRS) to evaluate two-point and higher-order correlation functions. We cross-check these results with known analytical limits, demonstrating that the MRS provides reliable, non-perturbative data in intermediate regimes where traditional form-factor expansions and semiclassical methods are inapplicable. Furthermore, we derive an exact result for arbitrary NNN-point functions satisfying an appropriate selection rule, providing a direct computational method for complex multi-point observables at finite temperature. We also characterize the non-Gaussianity of correlations and demonstrate that the results align with intuitive theoretical expectations.
A new formalism will be presented in order to study real time evolution of quantum systems at finite temperature. Probability distributions for time-correlated observables will be studied non-perturbatively and fully quantized. This works for various systems, including ones with tunneling phenomena. We have obtained good results with some computational methods which can be used on models with several degrees of freedom. Thus it looks feasible to study vacuum tunneling in real time for relevant field theories at finite T. 1.
The field fluctuations of a Bose-Einstein condensate can be studied in terms of the first-order correlation function, which obeys a Yukawa-like equation already introduced in a previous work and expressed here in a real and complex notation. When the equation is reformulated using the number-conserving Bogoliubov approximation, it yields results that present quantitative differences with respect to the standard symmetry-breaking approach. Finally, we introduce an approximation to evaluate the correlation function for sufficiently high temperatures.
The exact classical simulation of non-integrable quantum systems rapidly becomes intractable beyond small system sizes, yet its role is central to predicting many-body dynamics. Approximate methods alleviate this cost but typically lack rigorous guarantees on their deviation from the exact result. For the infinite-temperature correlation function, we derive a rigorous error bound for approximating the full dynamics within a computable finite-sized region. Applied to autocorrelations, this finite-region approach is especially accurate across one-dimensional systems and beyond, and can further provide rigorous error bounds for other approximate methods, demonstrated here for matrix-product-operator simulations.