Spectral methods in quantum field theory (Q1006174)

In these Lecture Notes the authors present the mathematics that is foundational to a variety of problems in quantum field theory, in particular the subtleties of calculating the zero-point energy, i.e.\ the energy of the vacuum. They apply scattering theory methods familiar from ordinary quantum mechanics. Chapter 1 introduces into the subject in a non-technical manner by turning to a simple case, a scalar quantum field in one space dimension interacting with a localized exterior potential. However, the approach is only sketched and the actual derivation of results is postponed until the subsequent chapters. In Chapter 2 details from the scattering theory are reviewed. The focus is on phase shifts and Levinson's Theorem. The ultimate goal is to apply scattering theory to QFT. In Chapter 3 the standard notions of QFT are reviewed and the spectral techniques are applied to the Casimir effect. Since the formal manipulation of divergent quantities leads to ambiguities, a convenient way to avoid them is to use dimensional regularization. In Chapter 4 the spectral method is used to compute vacuum energies for bosonic and fermionic fields in \(1+1\) dimensions. The concepts of supersymmetry, central charge, anomaly and BPS bound are addressed as well as the idea that a heavy fermion may create a soliton. Chapter 5 analyzes integer and fractional charges using the spectral method when a bosonic background field couples to charged fermions. So-called Hedgehog configurations are discussed in Chapter 6 in the context of two renormalizable models. Chapter 7 addresses the calculation of Casimir forces and stresses in more detail, while Chapter 8 treats flux tubes in QED and the Electroweak Model. Finally, in Chapter 9 so-called Q-balls are considered for background fields with simple time dependence. This monograph may and should be used by graduate students as a companion to the standard textbooks of QFT.