Locally covariant quantum field theory and the problem of  formulating the same physics in all spacetimes

Chris Fewster

doi:10.1098/rsta.2014.0238

Locally covariant quantum field theory and the problem of formulating the same physics in all spacetimes

Chris Fewster

Mathematics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The framework of locally covariant quantum field theory is
discussed, motivated in part using `ignorance principles'.
It is shown how theories can be represented by suitable
functors, so that physical equivalence of theories may be expressed via
natural isomorphisms between the corresponding functors.
The inhomogeneous scalar field is used to illustrate the ideas. It is argued that there are two reasonable definitions of the local physical content associated with a locally covariant theory;
when these coincide, the theory is said to be dynamically local.
The status of the dynamical locality condition is reviewed, as are its
applications in relation to (a) the foundational question of what it means
for a theory to represent the same physics in different spacetimes,
and (b) a no-go result on the existence of natural states.

Original language	English
Article number	20140238
Number of pages	16
Journal	Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Volume	373
Issue number	2047
Early online date	29 Jun 2015
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2014.0238
Publication status	Published - Aug 2015
Event	New Geometric Concepts in the Foundations of Quantum Physics - Chicheley Hall, United Kingdom Duration: 4 Nov 2013 → 5 Nov 2013

Access to Document

10.1098/rsta.2014.0238

Cite this

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title = "Locally covariant quantum field theory and the problem of formulating the same physics in all spacetimes",

abstract = "The framework of locally covariant quantum field theory isdiscussed, motivated in part using `ignorance principles'. It is shown how theories can be represented by suitablefunctors, so that physical equivalence of theories may be expressed vianatural isomorphisms between the corresponding functors. The inhomogeneous scalar field is used to illustrate the ideas. It is argued that there are two reasonable definitions of the local physical content associated with a locally covariant theory;when these coincide, the theory is said to be dynamically local.The status of the dynamical locality condition is reviewed, as are itsapplications in relation to (a) the foundational question of what it meansfor a theory to represent the same physics in different spacetimes,and (b) a no-go result on the existence of natural states. ",

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note = "New Geometric Concepts in the Foundations of Quantum Physics ; Conference date: 04-11-2013 Through 05-11-2013",

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