Avoiding Haag's theorem with parameterized quantum field theory

DOI10.1007/S10701-017-0065-8zbMATH Open1385.81030arXiv1501.05658OpenAlexW2223575606MaRDI QIDQ1709147FDOQ1709147

Authors: Ed Seidewitz 

Publication date: 27 March 2018

Published in: Foundations of Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Under the normal assumptions of quantum field theory, Haag's theorem states that any field unitarily equivalent to a free field must itself be a free field. Unfortunately, the derivation of the Dyson series perturbation expansion relies on the use of the interaction picture, in which the interacting field is unitarily equivalent to the free field but must still account for interactions. Thus, the traditional perturbative derivation of the scattering matrix in quantum field theory is mathematically ill defined. Nevertheless, perturbative quantum field theory is currently the only practical approach for addressing scattering for realistic interactions, and it has been spectacularly successful in making empirical predictions. This paper explains this success by showing Haag's Theorem can be avoided when quantum field theory is formulated using an invariant, fifth path parameter in addition to the usual four position parameters, such that the Dyson perturbation expansion for the scattering matrix can still be reproduced. As a result, the parameterized formalism provides a consistent foundation for the interpretation of quantum field theory as used in practice and, perhaps, for better dealing with other mathematical issues.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1501.05658

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zbMATH Keywords

perturbation theoryscatteringquantum field theoryrelativistic dynamicsspacetime pathsHaag's theoremparametrized quantum mechanics

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Axiomatic quantum field theory; operator algebras (81T05) Perturbative methods of renormalization applied to problems in quantum field theory (81T15) Special relativity (83A05) (S)-matrix theory, etc. in quantum theory (81U20) Applications of selfadjoint operator algebras to physics (46L60)

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Cited In (2)

• Towards a probabilistic foundation of relativistic quantum theory: the one-body Born rule in curved spacetime
• Haag's theorem, apparent inconsistency, and the empirical adequacy of quantum field theory

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