An algebraic characterization of vacuum states in Minkowski space. II: Continuity aspects (Q1973938)

A strong, recent trend in the algebraic formulation of quantum field theory seeks to gain fundamental insight into the nature of space-time and its role in relativistic quantum physics, by encoding the pertinent geometrical symmetries in algebraic relations of the net of algebras of observables. The main mathematical tool used in this effort to render space-time geometry a derived concept, is the modular theory of von Neumann algebras [see \textit{H. J. Borchers}, J. Math. Phys. 41, 3604--3673 (2000; Zbl 1031.81547) and references therein]. The present paper is based on the set of axioms denoted as ``Condition of Geometric Modular Action'' (CGMA), introduced by the authors in Part I [\textit{D. Buchholz} and \textit{S. J. Summers}, Commun. Math. Phys. 155, 449--458 (1993; Zbl 0788.46074) and \textit{D. Buchholz, O. Dreyer, M. Florig} and \textit{S. J. Summers}, Rev. Math. Phys. 12, 475--560 (2000; Zbl 1044.81082)], henceforth referred to as [BS], and [BDFS], respectively. It explores the consequences CGMA entails for the determination of the vacuum states, and therewith continues earlier work [BS], that has shown that a state satisfying the CGMA ``determines a local net of wedge algebras in Minkowski space on which the proper Poincaré group acts covariantly through some (anti)unitary projective representation which leaves the state fixed.'' The authors show that the CGMA alone suffices to ensure that the ensuing representations of the translation subgroup are in fact strongly continuous, dropping an additional condition that was posed in [BDFS] to achieve this result. This is a highly desirable feature from the physical viewpoint, since it enables the defintion of the generators of spacetime translations, and thus, identification of the energy-momentum content of the theory. Selection criteria for physical vacuum states, like the spectrum condition, are usually formulated in terms of these objects, and make explicit reference to the geometry of Minkowski space. The \textit{modular stability condition}, also introduced in [BDFS], says that for any wedge \(W\) and real \(t\), all modular unitaries \(\Delta^{it}_W\) shall be contained in the group generated by the modular involutions \(\{J_W\}\) of all wedges. It thus avoids to take any recourse to a predefined geometry. Yet the authors are able to extract a startling time asymmetry from CGMA and modular stability. The unitary representation of the spacetime translations associated to any state satisfying these conditions has energy-momentum supported \textit{either} in the closed forward \textit{or} backward light cone.