We consider accelerated and rotating media of weakly interacting fermions in local thermodynamic equilibrium. Kinetic properties of this media are described by covariant Wigner function calculated on the basis of relativistic distribution function of particles with spin. We obtain the formulae for axial current beyond the approximation of smallness of thermal vorticity tensor and chemical potential and calculate its divergence. In the massless limit higher order terms in vorticity and chemical potential compensate each other with only the low-order contributions surviving. It is shown, that axial current gets a topological component along the 4-acceleration vector. The similarity between different approaches to baryon polarisation is established.
We derive the chiral kinetic equation in 8 dimensional phase space in non-Abelian $SU(N)$ gauge field within the Wigner function formalism. By using the "covariant gradient expansion", we disentangle the Wigner equations in four-vector space up to the first order and find that only the time-like component of the chiral Wigner function is independent while other components can be explicit derivative. After further decomposing the Wigner function or equations in color space, we present the non-Abelian covariant chiral kinetic equation for the color singlet and multiplet phase-space distribution …
We will establish the connection between the Lorentz covariant and so-called single-time formulation for the quark Wigner operator. To this end we will discuss the initial value problem for the Wigner operator of a field theory and give a discussion of the gauge-covariant formulation for the Wigner operator including some new results concerning the chiral limit. We discuss the gradient or semi-classical expansion and the color and spinor decomposition of the equations of motion for the Wigner operator. The single-time formulation will be derived from the covariant formulation by taking energy …
The Bargmann-Wigner (BW) scalar product is a particular case of a larger class of scalar products parametrized by a family of world-vectors. The choice of null and $p$-dependent world-vectors leads to BW amplitudes which behave as local $SU(2)$ spinors (BW-spinors) if {\it passive\/} transformations are concerned. The choice of null directions leads to a simplified formalism which allows for an application of ordinary, manifestly covariant spinor techniques in the context of infinite dimensional unitary representations of the Poincaré group.
Manifestly covariant formalism for Bargmann-Wigner fields is developed. It is shown that there exists some freedom in the choice of the form of the Bargmann-Wigner scalar product: The general product depends implicitly on a family of world-vectors. The standard choice of the product corresponds to timelike and equal vectors which define a ``time" direction. The generalized form shows that formulas are simpler if one chooses {\it null\/} directions. This freedom is used to derive simple covariant formulas for momentum-space wave functions (generalized Wigner states) corresponding to arbitrary m…
We developed a gauge-covariant formulation of the non-equilibrium Green function method for the dynamical and/or non-uniform electromagnetic field by means of the deformational quantization method. Such a formulation is realized by replacing the Moyal product in the so-called Wigner space by the star product, and facilitates the order-by-order calculation of a gauge-invariant observable in terms of the electromagnetic field. An application of this formalism to the linear response theory is discussed.
The system of N scalar particles with Grassmann-valued color charges plus the color SU(3) Yang-Mills field is reformulated on spacelike hypersurfaces. The Dirac observables are found and the physical invariant mass of the system in the Wigner-covariant rest-frame instant form of dynamics (covariant Coulomb gauge) is given. From the reduced Hamilton equations we extract the second order equations of motion both for the reduced transverse color field and the particles. Then, we study this relativistic scalar quark model, deduced from the classical QCD Lagrangian and with the color field present,…
The 20th-century physics starts with Einstein and ends with Feynman. Einstein introduced the Lorentz-covariant world with E = mc^{2}. Feynman observed that fast-moving hadrons consist of partons which act incoherently with external signals. If quarks and partons are the same entities observed in different Lorentz frames, the question then is why partons are incoherent while quarks are coherent. This is the most puzzling question Feynman left for us to solve. In this report, we discuss Wigner's role in settling this question. Einstein's E = mc^{2}, which takes the form E = \sqrt{m^{2} + p^{2}},…
The canonical decomposition of a real Klein-Gordon field in collective and relative variables proposed by Longhi and Materassi is reformulated on spacelike hypersurfaces. This allows to obtain the complete canonical reduction of the system on Wigner hyperplanes, namely in the rest-frame Wigner-covariant instant form of dynamics. From the study of Dixon's multipoles for the energy-momentum tensor on the Wigner hyperplanes we derive the definition of the canonical center-of-mass variable for a Klein-Gordon field configuration: it turns out that the Longhi-Materassi global variable should be inte…
Three-loop $β$-functions of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model regularized by higher covariant derivatives are obtained for an arbitrary supersymmetric subtraction scheme. For this purpose we first calculate two-loop anomalous dimensions for all MSSM chiral matter superfields defined in terms of the bare couplings. Then we use the NSVZ equations for the renormalization group functions defined in terms of the bare couplings, which are valid in all orders in the case of using the higher covariant derivative regularization. This gives the three-loop $β$-functions defined in terms of the ba…
A fully Poincare' covariant model is constructed out of the k-Minkowski spacetime. Covariance is implemented by a unitary representation of the Poincare' group, and thus complies with the original Wigner approach to quantum symmetries. This provides yet another example (besides the DFR model), where Poincare' covariance is realised a` la Wigner in the presence of two characteristic dimensionful parameters: the light speed and the Planck length. In other words, a Doubly Special Relativity (DSR) framework may well be realised without deforming the meaning of "Poincare covariance".
Manifestly covariant formulation of discrete-spin, real-mass unitary representations of the Poincaré group is given. We begin with a field of spin-frames associated with 4-mometa p and use them to simplify the eigenvalue problem for the Pauli-Lubanski vector projection in a direction given by a world-vector t. As opposed to the standard treatments where t is a constant time direction, our t is in general p-dependent and timelike, spacelike or null. The corresponding eigenstates play a role of a basis used to define Bargmann-Wigner spinors which form a carrier space of the unitary representatio…
The conventional Wigner function is inappropriate in a quantum field theory setting because, as a quasiprobability density over phase space, it is not manifestly Lorentz covariant. A manifestly relativistic variant is constructed as a quasiprobability density over trajectories instead of over phase space.
Recently there has been significant interest in understanding the macroscopic quantum transport in a many-body system of chiral fermions. A natural framework for describing such a system which is generally out of equilibrium, is the transport equation for its phase space distribution function. In this paper, we obtain a complete solution of the covariant chiral transport for massless fermions, by starting from the general Wigner function formalism and carrying out a complete and consistent semiclassical expansion up to $\hat{\mathbf{O}}(\hbar)$ order. In particular, we clarify certain subtle a…
We prove that Wigner functions contain a symplectic connection. The latter covariantises the symplectic exterior derivative on phase space. We analyse the role played by this connection and introduce the notion of local symplectic covariance of quantum-mechanical states. This latter symmetry is at work in the Schroedinger equation on phase space.
We introduce the quantum-field-theory (QFT) derivation of chiral kinetic theory (CKT) from the Wigner-function approach, which manifests side jumps and non-scalar distribution functions associated with Lorentz covariance and incorporates both background fields and collisions. The formalism is utilized to investigate second-order responses of chiral fluids near local equilibrium. Such non-equilibrium anomalous transport is dissipative and affected by interactions. Contributions from both quantum corrections in anomalous hydrodynamic equations (EOM) of motion and those from the CKT and Wigner fu…
We exploit the expression for the anomalous (chiral) effective action to obtain the Hawking radiation from the GHS (stringy) blackhole falling in the class of the most general spherically symmetric blackholes $(\sqrt{-g}\neq1)$, using only covariant boundary condition at the event horizon. The connection between the anomalous and the normal energy-momentum tensors is also established from the effective action approach.
The rest-frame instant form of the positive-energy part of the open Nambu string is developed. The string is described as a decoupled non-local canonical non-covariant Newton-Wigner center of mass plus a canonical basis of Wigner-covariant relative variables living in the Wigner 3-spaces. The center of mass carries a realization of the Poincare' algebra depending upon the invariant mass and the rest-spin of the string, functions of the relative variables. A canonical basis of gauge invariant Dirac observables is built with Frenet-Serret geometrical methods. Some comments on canonical quantizat…
Most calculations of quantum corrections in supersymmetric theories are made with the dimensional reduction, which is a modification of the dimensional regularization. However, it is well known that the dimensional reduction is not self-consistent. A consistent regularization, which does not break the supersymmetry, is the higher covariant derivative regularization. However, the integrals obtained with this regularization can not be usually calculated analytically. We discuss application of this regularization to the calculations in supersymmetric theories. In particular, it is demonstrated th…
The anomaly implies an obstruction to a fully chiral covariant calculation of the effective action in the abnormal parity sector of chiral theories. The standard approach then is to reconstruct the anomalous effective action from its covariant current. In this work we use a recently introduced formulation which allows to directly construct the non trivial chiral invariant part of the effective action within a fully covariant formalism. To this end we develop an appropriate version of Chan's approach to carry out the calculation within the derivative expansion. The result to four derivatives, i…
Exploring the concept of the extended Galilei group $\mathcal{G}$, a representation for the symplectic quantum mechanics in the manifold of $\mathcal{G}$, written in the light-cone of a five-dimensional De Sitter space-time, is derived consistently with the method of the Wigner function. A Hilbert space is constructed endowed with a simplectic structure, studying unitary operators describing rotations and translations, whose generators satisfy the Lie algebra of $\mathcal {G}$. This representation gives rise to the Schrödinger (Klein-Gordon-like) equation for the wave functions in phase-space,…
We consider the relation between spin and the Berry-phase contribution to the anomalous velocity of massive and massless Dirac particles. We extend the Berry connection that depends only on the spatial components of the particle momentum to one that depends on the the space and time components in a covariant manner. We show that this covariant Berry connection captures the Thomas-precession part of the Bargmann-Michel-Telegdi spin evolution, and contrast it with the traditional (unitary, but not naturally covariant) Berry connection that describes spin-orbit coupling. We then consider how the …
The interconnection between quantum mechanics and probabilistic classical mechanics for a free relativistic particle is derived in terms of Wigner functions (WF) for both Dirac and Klein-Gordon (K-G) equations. Construction of WF is achieved by first defining a bilocal 4-current and then taking its Fourier transform w.r.t. the relative 4-coordinate. The K-G and Proca cases also lend themselves to a closely parallel treatment provided the Kemmer- Duffin beta-matrix formalism is employed for the former. Calculation of WF is carried out in a Lorentz-covariant fashion by standard `trace' technique…
The Polyakov measure for the Abelian gauge field is considered in the Robertson-Walker spacetimes. The measure is concretely represented by adopting two kind of decompositions of the gauge field degrees of freedom which are most familiarly used in the covariant and canonical path integrals respectively. It is shown that the two representations are different by an anomalous Jacobian factor from each other and also that the factor has a direct relationship to an uncancellation factor of the contributions from the Faddeev-Popov ghost and the unphysical part of the gauge field to the covariant one…
Rotating photon gas exhibits a chirality separation along the angular velocity which is manifested through a generation of helicity and zilch currents. In this paper we study this system using the corresponding Wigner function and construct elements of the covariant chiral kinetic theory for photons from first principles. The Wigner function is solved order-by-order in $\hbar$ and the unconstrained terms are fixed by matching with quantum field theory results. We further consider the zilch and helicity currents and show that both manifestations of the chirality transport originate in the Berry…
The anomalous currents of two-flavor chiral nuclear matter in the presence of chiral imbalance are computed, using recently developed methods exploiting generalized transgression, which facilitates the evaluation of both the equilibrium partition function and the covariant currents. The constitutive relations for both the broken and unbroken phase of the theory are studied and the out-of-equilibrium nondissipative transport coefficients determined. In the superfluid phase, the vector covariant currents exhibit nondissipative chiral electric, magnetic, and vortical effects, the latter governed …
We calculate the Adler $D$-function for ${\cal N}=1$ SQCD in the three-loop approximation using the higher covariant derivative regularization and the NSVZ-like subtraction scheme. The recently formulated all-order relation between the Adler function and the anomalous dimension of the matter superfields defined in terms of the bare coupling constant is first considered and generalized to the case of an arbitrary representation for the chiral matter superfields. The correctness of this all-order relation is explicitly verified at the three-loop level. The special renormalization scheme in which…
While internal space-time symmetries of relativistic particles are dictated by the little groups of the Poincaré group, it is possible to construct representations of the little group for massive particles starting from harmonic oscillator wave functions for the quark model. The resulting oscillator wave functions are covariant and can be Lorentz-boosted. It is thus possible to obtain the parton model by boosting the quark model. A review of Wigner's theory of the little groups is given. It is shown that the covariant oscillator wave functions become squeezed as as the system becomes boosted. …
Leading Yukawa terms in the three-loop anomalous dimension and four-loop $β$-function of ${\cal N}=1$ supersymmetric theories for various renormalization prescriptions
The Scale Magnetic Effect (SME) is the generation of electric current due to conformal anomaly in external magnetic field in curved spacetime. The effect appears in a vacuum with electrically charged massless particles. Similarly to the Hall effect, the direction of the induced anomalous current is perpendicular to the direction of the external magnetic field $\bf B$ and to the gradient of the conformal factor $τ$, while the strength of the current is proportional to the beta function of the theory. In massive electrodynamics the SME remains valid, but the value of the induced current differs …
We apply the heat kernel method to relations between covariant and consistent currents in anomalous chiral gauge theories. Banerjee et al. have shown that the relation between these currents is expressed by a "functional curl" of the covariant current. Using the heat kernel method, we evaluate the functional curl explicitly in arbitrary even dimensions. We also apply the heat kernel method to evaluate Osabe and Suzuki's results of the difference between covariant and consistent currents in two and four dimensions. Applying the arguments of Banerjee et al. to gravitational anomalies, we investi…
Starting from a general relativistic kinetic equation, a self-consistent mean-field equation for fermions is derived within a covariant density matrix approach of QED plasmas in strong external fields. A Schrödinger picture formulation on space-like hyperplanes is applied. The evolution of the distribution function is described by the one-particle gauge-invariant 4x4 Wigner matrix, which is decomposed in spinor space. A coupled system of equations for the corresponding Wigner components is obtained. The polarization current is expressed in terms of the Wigner function. Charge conservation is o…
After a summary of a recently proposed new type of instant form of dynamics (the Wigner-covariant rest-frame instant form), the reduced Hamilton equations in the covariant rest-frame Coulomb gauge for the isolated system of N scalar particles with pseudoclassical Grassmann-valued electric charges plus the electromagnetic field are studied. The Lienard-Wiechert potentials of the particles are evaluated and it is shown how the causality problems of the Abraham-Lorentz-Dirac equation are solved at the pseudoclassical level. Then, the covariant rest-frame description of scalar electrodynamics is g…
We construct a covariant quantum superstring, extending Berkovits' approach by introducing new ghosts to relax the pure spinor constraints. The central charge of the underlying Kac-Moody algebra, which would lead to an anomaly in the BRST charge, is treated as a new generator with a new b-c system. We construct a nilpotent BRST current, an anomalous ghost current and an anomaly-free energy-momentum tensor. For open superstrings, we find the correct massless spectrum. In addition, we construct a Lorentz invariant B-field to be used for the computation of the integrated vertex operators and ampl…
We formulate quantum electrodynamics on the basis of gauge (or BRST) covariant diffusion equations of fields. This is a particular example of the gradient flow exact renormalization group (GFERG). The resulting Wilson action fulfills a simple gauge Ward--Takahashi identity. We solve the GFERG equation around the Gaussian fixed point to the second order in gauge coupling and obtain the 1-loop beta function and anomalous dimensions. The anomalous dimension of the electron field coincides with that of the fermion field diffused by a gauge covariant flow equation of Lüscher.
We demonstrate that in non-Abelian ${\cal N}=1$ supersymmetric gauge theories the NSVZ relation is valid for terms quartic in the Yukawa couplings independently of the subtraction scheme if the renormalization group functions are defined in terms of the bare couplings and the theory is regularized by higher covariant derivatives. The terms quartic in the Yukawa couplings appear in the three-loop $β$-function and in the two-loop anomalous dimension of the matter superfields. We have obtained that the three-loop contribution to the $β$-function quartic in the Yukawa couplings is given by an inte…
We exploit the Seiberg-Witten maps for fields and currents in a U(1) gauge theory relating the noncommutative and commutative (usual) descriptions to obtain the O(θ) structure of the commutator anomalies in noncommutative electrodynamics. These commutators involve the (covariant) current-current algebra and the (covariant) current-field algebra. We also establish the compatibility of the anomalous commutators with the noncommutative covariant anomaly through the use of certain consistency conditions derived here.
Anomalous symmetries induce currents which can be parallel rather than orthogonal to the hypermagnetic field. Building on the analogy with charged liquids at high magnetic Reynolds numbers, the persistence of anomalous currents is scrutinized for parametrically large conductivities when the plasma approximation is accurate. Different examples in globally neutral systems suggest that the magnetic configurations minimizing the energy density with the constraint that the helicity be conserved coincide, in the perfectly conducting limit, with the ones obtainable in ideal magnetohydrodynamics where…
A covariant set of linear differential field equations, describing an N=1 supersymmetric anyon system in (2+1)D, is proposed in terms of Wigner's deformation of the bosonic Heisenberg algebra. The non-relativistic ``Jackiw-Nair'' limit extracts the ordinary bosonic and fermionic degrees of freedom from the Heisenberg-Wigner algebra. It yields first-order, non-relativistic wave equations for a spinning particle on the non-commutative plane that admits a Galilean exotic planar N=1 supersymmetry.
