Local causal structures, Hadamard states and the principle of local covariance in quantum field theory (Q543363)

In the framework of quantum field theory (QFT) over curved background, the authors discuss some mathematical instruments and physical insights that were applied recently in order to improve understanding of the foundations of the theory, particularly, the principle of general local covariance formulated in [\textit{R. Brunetti, K. Fredenhagen} and \textit{R. Verch}, Commun. Math. Phys. 237, No. 1--2, 31--68 (2003; Zbl 1047.81052)]. This principle led to the realization of QFT as a covariant functor between the category of globally hyperbolic Lorentzian manifolds (with isometric embeddings as morphisms) and the category of \(C^*\)-algebras (with unit-preserving monomorphisms as morphisms) and also to the new interpretation of local fields as natural transformations from smooth functions to suitable operators. On the other hand, nontrivial geometry of the background implies the difficult problem of the lack of a symmetry group which is sufficiently large to determine a natural ground state as in Minkowski space-time where Poincaré invariance enables this. Nonetheless, it is still possible to identify a class of physically relevant states as those fulfilling the so-called Hadamard conditions. This guarantees that the ultraviolet behavior of the state imitates properties of the Minkowski vacuum at short distances. This result has prompted a series of interesting developments in the analysis of physically relevant states in a curved background, but the authors focus mainly on a few recent advances [\textit{C. Dappiaggi, V. Moretti} and \textit{N. Pinamonti}, Rev. Math Phys. 18, No. 4, 349--415 (2006; Zbl 1107.81040); Commun. Math. Phys. 285, No. 3, 1129--1163 (2009; Zbl 1171.81019); J. Math. Phys. 50, No. 6, 062304, 38 p. (2009; Zbl 1216.81112)]. According to them, in asymptotically flat or in cosmological space-times, one can exploit the conformal structure of the manifold to identify a preferred null submanifold of co-dimension one (``conformal boundary'') in such a way that it is possible to coherently encode on this submanifold the information of the bulk algebra of observables. The local applicability of a similar scheme seems rather limited. However, one of the main goals of the reviewed paper is to show that such a procedure can in fact be set up at a local level and for all space-times of physical interest. In particular, this statement is established on the basis of a careful use of some rather well-known geometrical objects. Some important conclusions on the structure of local QFT are drawn and demonstrated in case of scalar field. Summing up, the possibility is demonstrated to make use of a long tradition, originating from \textit{B. S. Kay} and \textit{R. M. Wald} [Phys. Rep. 207, No. 2, 49--136 (1991; Zbl 0861.53074)], which allows one to exploit the geometrical properties of the boundary to identify for the algebra thereon a natural state which can be pulled-back to the bulk, yielding a counterpart which satisfies the microlocal spectrum condition; hence it is of Hadamard form. This guarantees that a local state may be identified as physically well-behaved, i.e., that this state is the same for all inertial observers at the given space-time point. The bulk state as well as the one on the boundary are invariant under a natural action of \(SO_0(3,1)\) and thus can be identified as a sort of local vacuum on a curved space-time independent of the frame.