We discuss the representations of the algebra of quantization, the canonical commutation relations, in a scalar quantum field theory with spontaneously broken U(1) internal symmetry, when a topological defect of the vortex type is formed via the condensation of Nambu-Goldstone particles. We find that the usual thermodynamic limit is not necessary in order to have the inequivalent representations needed for the existence of physically disjoint phases of the system. This is a new type of inequivalence, due to the nontrivial topological structure of the phase space, that appears at finite volume. We regard this as a first step towards a unifying view of topological and thermodynamic phases, and offer here comments on the possible application of this scenario to quantum gravity.
A path-integral quantization on a homogeneous space G/H is proposed based on the guiding principle `first lift to G and then project to G/H'. It is then shown that this principle gives a simple procedure to obtain the inequivalent quantizations (superselection sectors) along with the holonomy factor (induced gauge field) found earlier by algebraic approaches. We also prove that the resulting matrix-valued path-integral is physically equivalent to the scalar-valued path-integral derived in the Dirac approach, and thereby present a unified viewpoint to discuss the basic features of quantizing on…
Consideration of the geometric quantization of the phase space of a particle in an external Yang-Mills field allows the results of the Mackey-Isham quantization procedure for homogeneous configuration spaces to be reinterpreted. In particular, a clear physical interpretation of the `inequivalent' quantizations occurring in that procedure is given.
The collective dynamics of solitons with a coset space G/H as moduli space is studied. It is shown that the collective band for a vibrational state is given by the inequivalent coset space quantization corresponding to the representation of H carried by the vibration.
It is known that the quantization of a system defined on a topologically non-trivial configuration space is ambiguous in that many inequivalent quantum systems are possible. This is the case for multiply connected spaces as well as for coset spaces. Recently, a new framework for these inequivalent quantizations approach has been proposed by McMullan and Tsutsui, which is based on a generalized Dirac approach. We employ this framework for the quantization of the Yang-Mills theory in the simplest fashion. The resulting inequivalent quantum sectors are labelled by quantized non-dynamical topologi…
We present a simple alternative to Mackey's account of the (infinite) inequivalent quantizations possible on a coset space G/H. Our reformulation is based on the reduction ${\rm G \rightarrow G/H}$ and employs a generalized form of Dirac's approach to the quantization of constrained systems. When applied to the four-sphere $S^4 \simeq {\rm Spin(5)/Spin(4)}$, the inequivalent quantizations induce relativistic spin and a background BPST instanton; thus they might provide a natural account of both of these physical entities.
Quantum mechanics on manifolds is not unique and in general infinite number of inequivalent quantizations can be considered. They are specified by the induced spin and the induced gauge structures on the manifold. The configuration space of collective mode in the Skyrme model can be identified with $S^{3}$ and thus the quantization is not unique. This leads to the different predictions for the physical observables.
The abelian sigma model in (1+1) dimensions is a field theoretical model which has a field $ ϕ: S^1 \to S^1 $. An algebra of the quantum field is defined respecting the topological aspect of the model. It is shown that the zero-mode has an infinite number of inequivalent quantizations. It is also shown that when a central extension is introduced into the algebra, the winding operator and the momenta operators satisfy anomalous commutators.
Yang-Mills theories on a 1+1 dimensional cylinder are considered. It is shown that canonical quantization can proceed following different routes, leading to inequivalent quantizations. The problem of the non-free action of the gauge group on the configuration space is also discussed. In particular we re-examine the relationship between ``$θ$-states" and the fundamental group of the configuration space. It is shown that this relationship does or does not hold depending on whether or not the gauge transformations not connected to the identity act freely on the space of connections modulo connect…
Geometric quantization on a coset space $G/H$ is considered, intending to recover Mackey's inequivalent quantizations. It is found that the inequivalent quantizations can be obtained by adopting the symplectic 2-form which leads to Wong's equation. The irreducible representations of $H$ which label the inequivalent quantizations arise from Weil's theorem, which ensures a Hermitian bundle over $G/H$ to exist.
We study the inequivalent quantizations of the N = 3 Calogero model by separation of variables, in which the model decomposes into the angular and the radial parts. Our inequivalent quantizations respect the ` mirror-S_3\rq\ invariance (which realizes the symmetry under the cyclic permutations of the particles) and the scale invariance in the limit of vanishing harmonic potential. We find a two-parameter family of novel quantizations in the angular part and classify the eigenstates in terms of the irreducible representations of the S_3 group. The scale invariance restricts the quantization in …
We argue that it is possible to bind neutral atom (NA) to the ferromagnetic wire (FW) by inequivalent quantization of the Hamiltonian. We follow the well known von Neumann's method of self-adjoint extensions (SAE) to get this inequivalent quantization, which is characterized by a parameter Σ\in\mathbb{R}({mod}2π). There exists a single bound state for the coupling constant η^2\in[0,1). Although this bound state should not occur due to the existence of classical scale symmetry in the problem. But since quantization procedure breaks this classical symmetry, bound state comes out as a scale in th…
We consider the inequivalent quantizations of a $N$-body rational Calogero model with a Coulomb type interaction. It is shown that for certain range of the coupling constants, this system admits a one-parameter family of self-adjoint extensions. We analyze both the bound and scattering state sectors and find novel solutions of this model. We also find the ladder operators for this system, with which the previously known solutions can be constructed.
We analyze the quantum dynamics of the non-relativistic two-dimensional isotropic harmonic oscillator in Heisenberg's picture. Such a system is taken as toy model to analyze some of the various quantum theories that can be built from the application of Dirac's quantization rule to the various symplectic structures recently reported for this classical system. It is pointed out that that these quantum theories are inequivalent in the sense that the mean values for the operators (observables) associated with the same physical classical observable do not agree with each other. The inequivalence do…
We show that the rational Calogero model with suitable boundary condition admits quantum states with non-equispaced energy levels. Such a spectrum generically consists of infinitely many positive energy states and a single negative energy state. The new states appear for arbitrary number of particles and for specific ranges of the coupling constant. These states owe their existence to the self-adjoint extensions of the corresponding Hamiltonian, which are labelled by a real parameter z. Each value of z corresponds to a particular spectrum, leading to inequivalent quantizations of the model.
We show that the strength of non-commutativity could play a role in determining the boundary condition of a physical problem. As a toy model we consider the inverse square problem in non-commutative space. The scale invariance of the system is known to be explicitly broken by the scale of non-commutativity Θ. The resulting problem in non-commutative space is analyzed. It is shown that despite the presence of higher singular potential coming from the leading term of the expansion of the potential to first order in Θ, it can have a self-adjoint extensions. The boundary conditions are obtained, b…
This paper introduces the parastatistics induced by ${\mathbb Z}_2\times {\mathbb Z}_2$-graded algebras. It accommodates four kinds of particles: ordinary bosons and three types of parabosons which mutually anticommute when belonging to different type (so far, in the literature, only parastatistics induced by ${\mathbb Z}_2\times {\mathbb Z}_2$-graded superalgebras and producing parafermions have been considered). It is shown how to detect ${\mathbb Z}_2\times {\mathbb Z}_2$-graded parabosons in the multi-particle sector of a quantum model. The difference with respect to a system composed by o…
Philosophical reflection on quantum field theory has tended to focus on how it revises our conception of what a particle is. However, there has been relatively little discussion of the threat to the "reality" of particles posed by the possibility of inequivalent quantizations of a classical field theory, i.e., inequivalent representations of the algebra of observables of the field in terms of operators on a Hilbert space. The threat is that each representation embodies its own distinctive conception of what a particle is, and how a "particle" will respond to a suitably operated detector. Our m…
We quantize the 1-dimensional 3-body problem with harmonic and inverse square pair potential by separating the Schrödinger equation following the classic work of Calogero, but allowing all possible self-adjoint boundary conditions for the angular and radial Hamiltonians. The inverse square coupling constant is taken to be $g=2ν(ν-1)$ with ${1/2} <ν< {3/2}$ and then the angular Hamiltonian is shown to admit a 2-parameter family of inequivalent quantizations compatible with the dihedral $D_6$ symmetry of its potential term $9 ν(ν-1)/\sin^2 3ϕ$. These are parametrized by a matrix $U\in U(2)$ sati…
We discuss dissipative systems in Quantum Field Theory by studying the canonical quantization of the damped harmonic oscillator (dho). We show that the set of states of the system splits into unitarily inequivalent representations of the canonical commutation relations. The irreversibility of time evolution is expressed as tunneling among the unitarily inequivalent representations. Canonical quantization is shown to lead to time dependent SU(1,1) coherent states. We derive the exact action for the dho from the path integral formulation of the quantum Brownian motion developed by Schwinger and …
It is known that there exist an infinite number of inequivalent quantizations on a topologically nontrivial manifold even if it is a finite-dimensional manifold. In this paper we consider the abelian sigma model in (1+1) dimensions to explore a system having infinite degrees of freedom. The model has a field variable $ ϕ: S^1 \to S^1 $. An algebra of the quantum field is defined respecting the topological aspect of this model. A central extension of the algebra is also introduced. It is shown that there exist an infinite number of unitary inequivalent representations, which are characterized b…
We discuss the quantization of pure string--inspired dilaton--gravity in $(1+1)$--dimensions, and of the same theory coupled to scalar matter. We perform the quantization using the functional Schroedinger and BRST formalisms. We find, both for pure gravity and the matter--coupled theory, that the two quantization procedures give inequivalent ``physical'' results.
We re-examine the process of loop quantization for flat isotropic models in cosmology. In particular, we contrast different inequivalent `loop quantizations' of these simple models through their respective successes and limitations and assess whether they can lead to any viable physical description. We propose three simple requirements which any such admissible quantum model should satisfy: i) independence from any auxiliary structure, such as a fiducial interval/cell introduced to define the phase space when integrating over non-compact manifolds; ii) existence of a well defined classical lim…
It is argued that, in the two dimensional principal chiral model, the Wess-Zumino term can be induced quantum mechanically, allowing the model with the critical value of the coupling constant $λ^2 = 8π/|k|$ to turn into the Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten model at the quantum level. The Wess-Zumino term emerges from the inequivalent quantizations possible on a sphere hidden in the configuration space of the original model. It is shown that the Dirac monopole potential, which is induced on the sphere in the inequivalent quantizations, turns out to be the Wess-Zumino term in the entire configuration …
In this paper we investigate the canonical quantization of a non-Abelian topologically massive Chern-Simons theory in which the gauge fields are minimally coupled to a multiplet of scalar fields in such a way that the gauge symmetry is spontaneously broken. Such a model produces the Chern-Simons-Higgs mechanism in which the gauge excitations acquire mass both from the Chern-Simons term and from the Higgs-Kibble effect. The symmetry breaking is chosen to be only partially broken, in such a way that in the broken vacuum there remains a residual non-Abelian symmetry. We develop the canonical oper…
We show that the classical scale symmetry of a particle moving in cosmic string background is broken upon inequivalent quantization of the classical system, leading to anomaly. The consequence of this anomaly is the formation of single bound state in the coupling interval γ\in(-1,1). The inequivalent quantization is characterized by a 1-parameter family of self-adjoint extension parameter ω. It has been conjectured that the formation of loosely bound state in cosmic string background may lead to the so called anomalous scattering cross section for the particles, which is usually seen in molecu…
We examine the quantization of the motion of two charged vortices in a Ginzburg--Landau theory for the fractional quantum Hall effect recently proposed by the first two authors. The system has two second-class constraints which can be implemented either in the reduced phase space or Dirac-Gupta-Bleuler formalism. Using the intrinsic formulation of statistics, we show that these two ways of implementing the constraints are inequivalent unless the vortices are quantized with conventional statistics; either fermionic or bosonic.
It has been known for some time that there are many inequivalent quantizations possible when the configuration space of a system is a coset space G/H. Viewing this classical system as a constrained system on the group G, we show that these inequivalent quantizations can be recovered from a generalization of Dirac's approach to the quantization of such a constrained system within which the classical first class constraints (generating the H-action on G) are allowed to become anomalous (second class) when quantizing. The resulting quantum theories are characterized by the emergence of a Yang-Mil…
In this paper we discuss the BRST-quantization of anomalous 2d-Yang Mills (YM) theory. Since we use an oscillator basis for the YM-Fock-space the anomaly appears already for a pure YM-system and the constraints form a Kac-Moody algebra with negative central charge. We also discuss the coupling of chiral fermions and find that the BRST-cohomology for systems with chiral fermions in a sufficiently large representation of the gauge group is completely equivalent to the cohomology of the finite dimensional gauge group. For pure YM theory or YM theory coupled to chiral fermions in small representat…
We analyze a generalization of the quantum Calogero model with the underlying conformal symmetry, paying special attention to the two-body model deformation. Owing to the underlying $ SU(1,1) $ symmetry, we find that the analytic solutions of this model can be described within the scope of the Bargmann representation analysis and we investigate its dynamical structure by constructing the corresponding Fock space realization. The analysis from the standpoint of supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSYQM), when applied to this problem, reveals that the model is also shape invariant. For a certain …
We find a topologically non-trivial structure of the Nambu monopole in two Higgs doublet model (2HDM), which is a magnetic monopole attached by two topologically stable $Z$ strings ($Z$ flux tubes) from two opposite sides. The structure is in sharp contrast to the topological triviality of the Nambu monopole in the standard model (SM), which is attached by a single non-topological $Z$ string. It is found that the Nambu monopole in 2HDM possesses the same fiber bundle structure with those of the `t Hooft-Polyakov monopole and the Wu-Yang description of the Dirac monopole, as a result of the fac…
We study the phase space structure of the Jackiw-Teitelboim model in its connection variables formulation where the gauge group of the field theory is given by local SL(2,R) (or SU(2) for the Euclidean model), i.e. the de Sitter group in two dimensions. In order to make the connection with two dimensional gravity explicit, a partial gauge fixing of the de Sitter symmetry can be introduced that reduces it to spacetime diffeomorphisms. This can be done in different ways. Having no local physical degrees of freedom, the reduced phase space of the model is finite dimensional. The simplicity of thi…
We quantize massive vector theory in such a way that it has a well-defined massless limit. In contrast to the approach by Stückelberg where ghost fields are introduced to maintain manifest Lorentz covariance, we use reduced phase space quantization with nonlocal dynamical variables which in the massless limit smoothly turn into the photons, and check explicitly that the Poincare algebra is fullfilled. In contrast to conventional covariant quantization our approach leads to a propagator which has no singularity in the massless limit and is well behaved for large momenta. For massive QED, where …
In this paper we show that the T-duality transform of Bouwknegt, Evslin and Mathai applies to determine isomorphisms of certain current algebras and their associated vertex algebras on topologically distinct T-dual spacetimes compactified to circle bundles with $H$-flux.
Abelian topologically massive gauge theories (TMGT) provide a topological mechanism to generate mass for any p-tensor boson in any dimension. Within the Hamiltonian formulation, the embedded topological field theory (TFT) is not made manifest. We therefore introduce a gauge invariant factorization of the classical phase space in two orthogonal sectors. The first of these sectors is that of gauge invariant dynamical variables with massive excitations. The second is that of a decoupled TFT. Through canonical quantization, a factorization of quantum states arises, enabling the projection from TMG…
We consider a spontaneously broken nonabelian topologically massive gauge theory in a broken phase possessing a residual nonabelian symmetry. Recently there has been some question concerning the renormalization of the Chern-Simons coefficient in such a broken phase. We show that, in this broken vacuum, the renormalized ratio of the Chern-Simons coupling to the gauge coupling is shifted by $1/4π$ times an integer, preserving the usual integer quantization condition on the bare parameters.
A pseudoclassical model for P,T-invariant system of topologically massive U(1) gauge fields is analyzed. The model demonstrates a nontrivial relationship between continuous and discrete symmetries and reveals a phenomenon of ``classical quantization''. It allows one to identify SU(1,1) symmetry and S(2,1) supersymmetry as hidden symmetries of the corresponding quantum system. We show this P,T-invariant quantum system realizes an irreducible representation of a non-standard super-extension of the (2+1)-dimensional Poincare group.
By means of an appropriate re-scaling of the metric in a Lagrangian, we are able to reduce it to a kinetic term only. This form enables us to examine the extended complexified solution set (complex moduli space) of field theories by finding all possible geodesics of this metric. This new geometrical standpoint sheds light on some foundational issues of QFT and brings to the forefront non-perturbative core aspects of field theory. In this process, we show that different phases of the theory are topologically inequivalent, i.e., their moduli space has distinct topologies. Moreover, the different…
Target space duality is reconsidered from the viewpoint of quantization in a space with nontrivial topology. An algebra of operators for the toroidal bosonic string is defined and its representations are constructed. It is shown that there exist an infinite number of inequivalent quantizations, which are parametrized by two parameters $ 0 \le s, t < 1 $. The spectrum exhibits the duality only when $ s = t $ or $ -t $ (mod 1). A deformation of the algebra by a central extension is also introduced. It leads to a kind of twisted relation between the zero mode quantum number and the topological wi…
We consider the $ U(1) $ sigma model in the two dimensional space-time which is a field-theoretical model possessing a nontrivial topology. It is pointed out that its topological structure is characterized by the zero-mode and the winding number. A new type of commutation relations is proposed to quantize the model respecting the topological nature. Hilbert spaces are constructed to be representation spaces of quantum operators. It is shown that there are an infinite number of inequivalent representations as a consequence of the nontrivial topology. The algebra generated by quantum operators i…
We study the properties of the topologically nontrivial doublet solution arisen in the biscalar theory with a fourth-power potential introducing an example of the spontaneous breaking of symmetry. We rule out the zero-brane (non-minimal point particle) action for this doublet as a particle with curvature. When quantizing it as the theory with higher derivatives, we calculate the quantum corrections to the mass of the doublet which could not be obtained by means of the perturbation theory.
In curved spacetimes, the lack of criteria for the construction of a unique quantization is a fundamental problem undermining the significance of the predictions of quantum field theory. Inequivalent quantizations lead to different physics. Recently, however, some uniqueness results have been obtained for fields in non-stationary settings. In particular, for vacua that are invariant under the background symmetries, a unitary implementation of the classical evolution suffices to pick up a unique Fock quantization in the case of Klein-Gordon fields with time-dependent mass, propagating in a stat…
It is well-known that there exist infinitely-many inequivalent representations of the canonical (anti)-commutation relations of Quantum Field Theory (QFT). A way out, suggested by Algebraic QFT, is to instead define the quantum theory as encompassing all possible (abstract) states. In the present paper, we describe a quantization scheme for general linear (aka. free) field theories that can be seen as intermediate between traditional Fock quantization and full Algebraic QFT, in the sense that: * it provides a constructive, explicit description of the resulting space of quantum states; * it doe…
In this note, we discuss the renormalizability of Horava-Lifshitz-type gravity theories. Using the fact that Horava-Lifshitz gravity is very closely related to the stochastic quantization of topologically massive gravity, we show that the renormalizability of HL gravity only depends on the renormalizability of topologically massive gravity. This is a consequence of the BRST and time-reversal symmetries pertinent to theories satisfying the detailed balance condition.
The free quantum states of topologically massive electrodynamics and gravity in 2+1 dimensions, are explicitly found. It is shown that in both theories the states are described by infrared-regular polarization tensors containing a regularization phase which depends on the spin. This is done by explicitly realizing the quantum algebra on a functional Hilbert space and by finding the Wightman function to define the scalar product on such a Hilbert space. The physical properties of the states are analyzed defining creation and annihilation operators. For both theories, a canonical and covariant q…
We study the behaviour of quantum field theories defined on a surface $S$ as it tends to a null surface $S_n$. In the case of a real, free scalar field theory the above limiting procedure reduces the system to one with a finite number of degrees of freedom. This system is shown to admit a one parameter family of inequivalent quantizations. A duality symmetry present in the model can be used to remove the quantum ambiguity at the self-dual point . In the case of the non-linear $σ$-model with the Wess-Zumino-Witten term a similar limiting behaviour is obtained. The quantization ambiguity in this…
It is shown that exact solvability of the finite temperature massless Thirring model, as well as of its zero temperature case, in canonical quantization scheme originates from the intrinsic hidden exact linearizability of Heisenberg equations by means of dynamical mapping onto the Schrödinger physical fields. The normal forms of different one- and two- parametric (thermo) field's solutions are obtained. They are connected with each other by making use of generalized conformal shift transformations. The sequential use of bosonic canonical transformations provides a correct renormalization, anti…
We discuss three mathematical structures which arise in topologically massive abelian gauge theory. First, the euclidean topologically massive abelian gauge theory defines a contact structure on a manifold. We briefly discuss three solutions and the related contact structures on the flat 3-torus, the AdS space, the 3-sphere which respectively correspond to Bianchi type I, VIII, IX spaces. We also present solutions on Bianchi type II, VI and VII spaces. Secondly, we discuss a family of complex (anti-)self-dual solutions of the euclidean theory in cartesian coordinates on R3 which are given by (…
We discuss the canonical quantization of non-unitary time evolution in inflating Universe. We consider gravitational wave modes in the FRW metrics in a de Sitter phase and show that the vacuum is a two-mode SU(1,1) squeezed state of thermo field dynamics, thus exhibiting the link between inflationary evolution and thermal properties. In particular we discuss the entropy and the free energy of the system. The state space splits into many unitarily inequivalent representations of the canonical commutation relations parametrized by time $t$ and non-unitary time evolution is described as a traject…
The quantum Maxwell theory at finite temperature at equilibrium is studied on compact and closed manifolds in both the functional integral- and Hamiltonian formalism. The aim is to shed some light onto the interrelation between the topology of the spatial background and the thermodynamic properties of the system. The quantization is not unique and gives rise to inequivalent quantum theories which are classified by θ-vacua. Based on explicit parametrizations of the gauge orbit space in the functional integral approach and of the physical phase space in the canonical quantization scheme, the Gri…
It has been argued that a particular type of quantum-vacuum variable $q$ can provide a solution to the main cosmological constant problem and possibly also give a cold-dark-matter component. We now show that the same $q$-field may suggest a new interpretation of the big bang, namely as a quantum phase transition between topologically inequivalent vacua. These two vacua are characterized by the equilibrium values $q=\pm \, q_{0}$ and there is a kink-type solution $q(t)$ interpolating between $q=- q_{0}$ for $t\to -\infty$ and $q= +q_{0}$ for $t\to \infty$, with conformal symmetry for $q=0$ at $…
Topologically massive Yang-Mills theory is studied in the framework of geometric quantization. Since this theory has a mass gap proportional to the topological mass m, Yang-Mills contribution decays exponentially at very large distances compared to 1/m, leaving a pure Chern-Simons theory with level number k. In this paper, the near Chern-Simons limit is studied where the distance is large enough to give an almost topological theory, with a small contribution from the Yang-Mills term. It is shown that this almost topological theory consists of two copies of Chern-Simons with level number k/2, v…
The loop quantization of the Schwarzschild interior region, as described by a homogeneous anisotropic Kantowski-Sachs model, is re-examined. As several studies of different -inequivalent- loop quantizations have shown, to date there exists no fully satisfactory quantum theory for this model. This fact poses challenges to the validity of some scenarios to address the black hole information problem. Here we put forward a novel viewpoint to construct the quantum theory that builds from some of the models available in the literature. The final picture is a quantum theory that is both independent o…
The Fock quantization of fields propagating in cosmological spacetimes is not uniquely determined because of several reasons. Apart from the ambiguity in the choice of the quantum representation of the canonical commutation relations, there also exists certain freedom in the choice of field: one can scale it arbitrarily absorbing background functions, which are spatially homogeneous but depend on time. Each nontrivial scaling turns out into a different dynamics and, in general, into an inequivalent quantum field theory. In this work we analyze this freedom at the quantum level for a scalar fie…
