We propose a mechanism for system-induced spontaneous time reparametrization symmetry breaking in canonical gravity. We consider a model of extended canonical gravity, based on Sen's spinorial expression of the spatial-diffeomorphism-gauge independent part of the shift vector, with one additional long-range self-interacting massive spin-$1/2$ particle whose spin is coupled to Sen's spinor in the Hamiltonian. This additional particle plays the role of creating the system-induced time reparametrization invariant potential. We use this potential to break time reparametrization symmetry spontaneously. We identify the symmetry breaking with the origin of the quantum energy measurement processes in the ensemble interpretation of quantum mechanics. Our theory uses a novel interpretation of quantum mechanics with respect to quantum mechanical position uncertainties of particles. The spatial-diffeomorphism-gauge independent part of the shift vector is attributed to this novel interpretation of quantum mechanics.
We propose that the degree of freedom of measurement by quantum mechanical observers originates in the Goldstone mode of the spontaneously broken time reparametrization symmetry. Based on the classification of quantum states by their non-unitary temporal behavior as seen in the measurement processes, we describe the concepts of the quantum mechanical observers via the time reparametrization symmetry.
The dynamics of any classical-mechanics system can be formulated in the reparametrization-invariant (RI) form (that is we use the parametric representation for trajectories, ${\bf x}={\bf x}(τ)$, $t=t(τ)$ instead of ${\bf x}={\bf x}(t)$). In this pedagogical note we discuss what the quantization rules look like for the RI formulation of mechanics. We point out that in this case some of the rules acquire an intuitively clearer form. Hence the formulation could be an alternative starting point for teaching the basic principles of quantum mechanics. The advantages can be resumed as follows. a) In…
We propose a manifestly covariant canonical method of field quantization based on the classical De Donder-Weyl covariant canonical formulation of field theory. Owing to covariance, the space and time arguments of fields are treated on an equal footing. To achieve both covariance and consistency with standard noncovariant canonical quantization of fields in Minkowski spacetime, it is necessary to adopt a covariant Bohmian formulation of quantum field theory. A preferred foliation of spacetime emerges dynamically owing to a purely quantum effect. The application to a simple time-reparametrizatio…
The fast-forward scheme for accelerating time evolution of quantum states through change of time is reexamined. Dirac's homogeneous formalism for classical dynamics and canonical quantization warrant that the Schrödinger equation is covariant under reparametrization of time. From this, it is concluded that the scheme does not attain its objective.
We study the collective spontaneous emission of three identical two-level atoms initially prepared in the excited states by measuring Glauber's third-order photon correlation function. Assuming two atoms at sub-wavelength distance from each other such that they are subject to the dipole-dipole interaction while the third one is located several wavelengths away, we observe super- and subradiant decay alike, depending on the direction of observation. Unlike the case where no remote atom is introduced or no conditional measurements are performed, the spontaneous emission behavior of the condition…
In this paper, based on a canonical quantization scheme, we study the effect of the relativistic motion of an excited atom on its decay rate in the presence of absorbing and dispersive media. For this purpose, we introduce an appropriate Lagrangian and describe the center-of-mass dynamical variables by the Dirac field. We obtain the Hamiltonian of the system in a multipolar form and calculate the motion equations of the system in the Schrödinger picture. We find that the decay rate and the quantum electrodynamics level shift of the moving atom can be expressed in terms of the imaginary part of…
We investigate the possibility of assigning consistent probabilities to sets of histories characterized by whether they enter a particular subspace of the Hilbert space of a closed system during a given time interval. In particular we investigate the case that this subspace is a region of the configuration space. This corresponds to a particular class of coarse grainings of spacetime regions. We consider the arrival time problem and the problem of time in reparametrization invariant theories as for example in canonical quantum gravity. Decoherence conditions and probabilities for those applica…
A harmonic oscillator is an indefinite-frequency one if the parameter $ω$ is replaced by an operator. An ensemble of $N$ such oscillators may be regarded as a toy model of a bosonic quantum field. All the possible frequencies associated with a given problem are present already in a single oscillator and $N$ can be finite. Due to the operator character of $ω$ the resulting algebra of creation-annihilation operators is non-canonical. In the limit of large $N$ one recovers perturbation theory formulas of the canonical quantum field theory but with form factors automatically built in. Vacuum energ…
Floquet driven systems represent an extremely interesting arena to study out-of-equilibrium phenomena. For instance, they provide realizations of discrete time crystals, where the discrete time translation symmetry of the periodic Hamiltonian is spontaneously broken by a subharmonic response of the system. However, the continuous presence of an external periodic driving is required within the current Floquet paradigm. We propose here the concept of spontaneous many-body Floquet state. This is a state that, in the absence of external periodic driving, self-oscillates like in the presence of a p…
The observed classicality of primordial perturbations, despite their quantum origin during inflation, calls for a mechanism for quantum-to-classical transition of these initial fluctuations. As literature suggests a number of plausible mechanisms which try to address this issue, it is of importance to seek for concrete observational signatures of these several approaches in order to have a better understanding of the early universe dynamics. Among these several approaches, it is the spontaneous collapse dynamics of Quantum Mechanics which is most viable of leaving discrete observational signat…
As a probe to explore the ability of invisibility cloaks to conceal objects in the quantum mechanics domain, we study the spontaneous emission rate of an excited two-level atom in the vicinity of an ideal invisibility cloaking. On this base, first, a canonical quantization scheme is presented for the electromagnetic field interacting with atomic systems in an anisotropic, inhomogeneous and absorbing magnetodielectric medium which can suitably be used for studying the influence of arbitrary invisibility cloak on the atomic radiative properties. The time dependence of the atomic subsystem is obt…
Modification of the right-hand-side of canonical commutation relations (CCR) naturally occurs if one considers a harmonic oscillator with indefinite frequency. Quantization of electromagnetic field by means of such a non-CCR algebra naturally removes the infinite energy of vacuum but still results in a theory which is very similar to quantum electrodynamics. An analysis of perturbation theory shows that the non-canonical theory has an automatically built-in cut-off but requires charge/mass renormalization already at the nonrelativistic level. A simple rule allowing to compare perturbative pred…
The nonlinear optical Galton board (NLOGB), a quantum walk like (but nonlinear) discrete time quantum automaton, is shown to admit a complex evolution leading to long time thermalized states. The continuous limit of the Galton Board is derived and shown to be a nonlinear Dirac equation (NLDE). The (Galerkin truncated) NLDE evolution is shown to thermalize toward states qualitatively similar to those of the NLOGB. The NLDE conserved quantities are derived and used to construct a stochastic differential equation converging to grand canonical distributions that are shown to reproduce the (micro c…
A recent development of the studies on classical and quasi-classical properties of supersymmetric quantum mechanics in Witten's version is reviewed. First, classical mechanics of a supersymmetric system is considered. Solutions of the classical equations of motion are given and their properties are discussed in some detail. The corresponding quantum model is constructed by canonical quantization. The quantum model is analyzed by Feynman's path integral within a stationary-phase approximation. A quasi-classical quantization rule is derived, which is applicable when supersymmetry is exact or spo…
