Bonn 2010 – scientific programme

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MP: Fachverband Theoretische und Mathematische Grundlagen der Physik

MP 4: Quantum Field Theory on Curved Spacetime

MP 4.2: Talk

Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 15:25–15:50, JUR H

Generalised free fields in curved spacetime. — •Ko Sanders — Institute for theoretical physics, Göttingen (D)

Quantum field theory in curved spacetime can be conveniently formulated in the general axiomatic setting of locally covariant quantum field theory (LCQFT). We raise the question whether the local and (smoothly) covariant axioms of LCQFT reduce to Wightman field theory in Minkowski spacetime with all its analytic structure. This is of some interest, because no-go results like the Jost-Schroer Theorem in Wightman theory, which prevent the construction of interacting quantum fields, are often based on arguments involving analytic continuation.

We illustrate our question by the simplest example of a non-free quantum field: the generalised free scalar field. We give a local and covariant definition of these fields and discuss what non-local (but natural) assumption is needed to make them reduce exactly to the generalised free fields of Wightman theory. We especially point out where analytic continuation finds its origin.