\(P(\varphi)_{2}\) quantum field theories and Segal's axioms (Q934633)

The paper shows that Euclidean quantum field theory in two dimensions with polynomial interactions satisfies Segal's axioms in their primitive form. That is, there is a representation of closed Riemannianian 1-manifolds by separable Hilbert spaces, and of oriented compact Riemannian 2-manifolds by Hilbert-Schmidt operators. For these representations, disjoint union corresponds to tensor product, orientation reversal corresponds to adjoint, and isomorphisms in the former category of 1- and 2-manifolds correspond to Hilbert space isomorphisms. The strategy to show that \(P(\varphi)_2\) satisfies this definition the author starts by associating real Hilbert spaces to circles of radius \(R\) and showing that this space is independent of \(R\), the interaction polynomial, and the mass \(m_0\geq0\). This Hilbert space is generated by the measure class of Gaussian probability measures on \(\mathcal{D}'(S^1)\) associated with the covariance \((m_0^2+\Delta)^{-d/2}\). The Feynman-Kac measures for the double of Riemannian surfaces with geodesic boundaries naturally lead to a representation of the kind mentioned above. Locality properties of zeta function determinants enter as crucial technical tools.