Causality imposes strong restrictions on the type of operators that may be observables in relativistic quantum theories. In fact, causal violations arise when computing conditional probabilities for certain partial causally connected measurements using the standard non covariant procedure. Here we introduce another way of computing conditional probabilities, based on an intrinsic covariant relational order of the events, which differs from the standard one when these type of measurements are included. This alternative procedure is compatible with a wider and very natural class of operators without breaking causality. If some of these measurements could be implemented in practice as predicted by our formalism, the non covariant, conventional approach should be abandoned. Furthermore, the description we promote here would imply a new physical effect where interference terms are suppressed as a consequence of the covariant order in the measurement process.
We show that Oeckl's boundary formalism incorporates quantum statistical mechanics naturally, and we formulate general-covariant quantum statistical mechanics in this language. We illustrate the formalism by showing how it accounts for the Unruh effect. We observe that the distinction between pure and mixed states weakens in the general covariant context, and surmise that local gravitational processes are indivisibly statistical with no possible quantal versus probabilistic distinction.
In classical relativistic mechanics, a "preferred" proper direction in spacetime for each particle is determined by the direction of its 4-momentum. Analogously, for each quantum particle we find a local direction uniquely determined by the many-particle wave function, which for each particle defines the proper foliation of spacetime. This can be used to formulate a relativistic-covariant version of Bohmian mechanics, with equivariant probability density on proper hypersurfaces.
We have studied a relativistically covariant Stern-Gerlach (SG) experiment for a relativistic spin and a Dirac spin. We have obtained the relativistic spin in an arbitrary frame by using the classical spin dipole tensor, which gives the covariant spin dipole interactions, and the relation between a spin and a spin magnetic dipole moment. The relativistic spin is shown to have problems to become a proper spin operator for a massive relativistic particle because of two reasons. First, the relativistic spin three-vector operators cannot satisfy the spin algebra. Second, the SG experiment for the …
In this paper, we derived Lorentz covariant quantum Liouville equation for the density operator which describes the relativistic quantum information processing from Tomonaga-Schwinger equation and an exact formal solution for the reduced-density-operator is obtained using the projector operator technique and the functional calculus. When all the members of the family of the hypersurfaces become flat hyperplanes, it is shown that our results agree with those of non-relativistic case which is valid only in some specified reference frame. To show that our new formulation can be applied to practic…
We start from the QED Lagrangian to describe a charged many-particle system coupled to the radiation field. A covariant density matrix approach to kinetic theory of QED plasmas, subjected to a strong external electro-magnetic field has recently been developed [1,2]. We use the hyperplane formalism in order to perform a manifest covariant quantization and to implement initial correlations to the solution of the Liouville-von Neumann equation. A perturbative expansion in orders of the fine structure constant for the correlation functions as well as the statistical operator is applied. The non-eq…
A space-time symmetric and explicitly Lorentz covariant path integral formalism of relativistic quantum mechanics is proposed, which produces partial locally correlations of quantum processes of massive particles with the velocity of light at low energy limits. A superluminal correlation is also possible if anti-particles that moving along reverse time direction are excited. This provides a new point of view to interpret EPR experiments, also leaks a light of hope for hidden variable theories.
The influence of the relativistic covariance requirement on the optimality of the symmetric state-dependent 1 -> 2 cloning machine is studied. Namely, given a photonic qubit whose basis is formed from the momentum-helicity eigenstates, the change to the optimal cloning fidelity is calculated taking into account the Lorentz covariance unitarily represented by Wigner's little group. To pinpoint some of the interesting results, we found states for which the optimal fidelity of the cloning process drops to 2/3 which corresponds to the fidelity of the optimal classical cloner. Also, an implication …
We give a relativistically covariant, wave-functional formulation of Bohm's quantum field theory for the scalar field based on a general foliation of space-time by space-like hypersurfaces. The wave functional, which guides the evolution of the field, is space-time-foliation independent but the field itself is not. Hence, in order to have a theory in which the field may be considered a beable, some extra rule must be given to determine the foliation. We suggest one such rule based on the eigen vectors of the energy-momentum tensor of the field itself.
We have shown the covariant relativistic spin operator is equivalent to the spin operator commuting with the free Dirac Hamiltonian. This implies that the covariant relativistic spin operator is a good quantum observable. The covariant relativistic spin operator has the pure quantum contribution which does not exist in the classical covariant spin operator. Based on this equivalence reduced spin states can be claerly defined. We have shown the change in the entropy of a reduced spin density matrix sweeps through the whole range according to the relative motion of an observer.
The new relativistic equations of motion for the particles with spin s=1, s=3/2, s=2 and nonzero mass have been introduced. The description of the relativistic canonical quantum mechanics of the arbitrary mass and spin has been given. The link between the relativistic canonical quantum mechanics of the arbitrary spin and the covariant local field theory has been found. The manifestly covariant field equations that follow from the quantum mechanical equations, have been considered. The covariant local field theory equations for spin s=(1,1) particle-antiparticle doublet, spin s=(1,0,1,0) partic…
We provide geometric quantization of the vertical cotangent bundle V^*Q equipped with the canonical Poisson structure. This is a momentum phase space of non-relativistic mechanics with the configuration bundle Q -> R. The goal is the Schrodinger representation of V^*Q. We show that this quantization is equivalent to the fibrewise quantization of symplectic fibres of V^*Q -> R, that makes the quantum algebra of non-relativistic mechanics an instantwise algebra. Quantization of the classical evolution equation defines a connection on this instantwise algebra, which provides quantum evolution in …
The investigation of arXiv 1409.2766v2 [quant-ph] has been continued by the general form of the numerous equations with partial values of arbitrary spin, which were considered in above mentioned preprint. The general forms of quantum-mechanical and covariant equations for arbitrary spin together with the general description of the arbitrary spin field formalism are presented. The corresponding relativistic quantum mechanics of arbitrary spin is given as the system of axioms. Previously ignored partial example of the spin s=(0,0) particle-antiparticle doublet is considered. The partial example …
The Relativistic Dynamical Inversion technique, a novel tool for finding analytical solutions to the Dirac equation, is written in explicitly covariant form. It is then shown how the technique can be used to make a change from Cartesian to spherical coordinates of a given Dirac spinor. Moreover the most remarkable feature of the new method, which is the ease of performing non-trivial change of reference frames, is demonstrated. Such a feature constitutes a potentially powerful tool for finding novel solutions to the Dirac equation. Furthermore, a whole family of normalizable analytic solutions…
In a recent paper [Phys. Rev. A 61, 022117 (2000)], quant-ph/9906034, A. Peres argued that quantum mechanics is consistent with special relativity by proposing that the operators that describe time evolution do not need to transform covariantly, although the measurable quantities need to transform covariantly. We discuss the weaknesses of this proposal.
The first part of the paper reviews applications of 2-spinor methods to relativistic qubits (analogies between tetrads in Minkowski space and 2-qubit states, qubits defined by means of null directions and their role for elimination of the Peres-Scudo-Terno phenomenon, advantages and disadvantages of relativistic polarization operators defined by the Pauli-Lubanski vector, manifestly covariant approach to unitary representations of inhomogeneous SL(2,C)). The second part deals with electromagnetic fields quantized by means of harmonic oscillator Lie algebras (not necessarily taken in irreducibl…
We construct relativistic quantum Markov semigroups from covariant completely positive maps. We proceed by generalizing a step in Stinespring's dilation to a general system of imprimitivity and basing it on Poincaré group. The resulting noise channels are relativistically consistent and the method is applicable to any fundamental particle, though we demonstrate it for the case of light-like particles. The Krauss decomposition of the relativistically consistent completely positive identity preserving maps (our set up is in Heisenberg picture) enables us to construct the covariant quantum Markov…
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. …
We propose a fibre bundle formulation of the mathematical base of relativistic quantum mechanics. At the present stage the bundle form of the theory is equivalent to its conventional one, but it admits new types of generalizations in different directions. In the present, second, part of our investigation, we consider a covariant approach to bundle description of relativistic quantum mechanics. In it the wavefunctions are replaced with (state) sections of a suitably chosen vector bundle over space-time whose (standard) fibre is the space of the wavefunctions. Now the quantum evolution is descri…
In Bell inequality tests, the evolution of the wavefunction is not covariant, i.e. not invariant under velocity boost that change the time ordering of events, but the laws that govern the probability distribution of possible results are. In this note I investigate what this could mean and whether there could be some covariant "real quantum stuff". This clarifies the implication of the Free Will Theorem and of relativistic spontaneous localization models based on the flash ontology (rGRWf). Some implications for the concept of time(s) are spelled out.
Local variables can't describe the quantum correlations observed in tests of Bell inequalities. Likewise, we show that nonlocal variables can't describe quantum correlations in a relativistic time-order invariant way.
The Suarez-Scarani model is a non-covariant (frame-dependent) relativistic (time-ordered causal) nonlocal extension of quantum theory, which is not refuted by the experiments proposed in Reference [arXiv:1005.5173v1]. The covariant extensions considered in this Reference are actually self-contradictory and do not require experimental falsification.
In two recent papers exact Hermite-Gaussian solutions to relativistic wave equations have been obtained for both electromagnetic and particle beams that include Gouy phase. The solutions for particle beams correspond to those of the Schrödinger equation in the non-relativistic limit. Here, distinct canonical and kinetic 4-momentum operators will be defined for quantum particles in matter wave beams. The kinetic momentum is equal to the canonical momentum minus the fluctuating terms resulting from the transverse localization of the beam. Three results are obtained. First, the total energy of a …
I present a short overview of my recent achievements on the Bohmian interpretation of relativistic quantum mechanics, quantum field theory and string theory. This includes the relativistic-covariant Bohmian equations for particle trajectories, the problem of particle creation and destruction, the Bohmian interpretation of fermionic fields and the intrinsically Bohmian quantization of fields and strings based on the De Donder-Weyl covariant canonical formalism.
We solve the problem of formulating Brownian motion in a relativistically covariant framework in 3+1 dimensions. We obtain covariant Fokker-Planck equations with (for the isotropic case) a differential operator of d'Alembert form. Treating the spacelike and timelike fluctuations separately in order to maintain the covariance property, we show that it is essential to take into account the analytic continuation of "unphysical" fluctuations. We discuss the notion of locality in this framework and possible implications for entangled states.
On the basis of a 5-dimensional form of space-time transformations non-relativistic quantum mechanics is reformulated in a manifestly covariant manner. The resulting covariance resembles that of the conventional relativistic quantum mechanics.
The recently developed relativistically covariant formulation of wave function reduction is illustrated for Lipkin's proposal to study CP violation in the coherent decay of kaon pairs. Covariant results are obtained in agreement with an amplitude approach proposed in the literature.
