From Bargmann's superselection rule to quantum Newtonian spacetime

DOI10.1007/S10701-012-9673-5zbMATH Open1261.81085arXiv1108.3804OpenAlexW2037683814MaRDI QIDQ1929322FDOQ1929322

Authors: H. Hernandez-Coronado 

Publication date: 7 January 2013

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

Abstract: Bargmann's superselection rule, which forbids the existence of superpositions of states with different mass and, therefore, implies the impossibility of describing unstable particles in non-relativistic quantum mechanics, arises as a consequence of demanding Galilean covariance of Schr"odinger's equation. However, the usual Galilean transformations inadequately describe the symmetries of non-relativistic quantum mechanics since they fail to take into account relativistic time contraction effects which can produce non-relativistic phases in the wavefunction. In this paper we describe the incompatibility between Bargmann's rule and Lorentz transformations in the low-velocities limit, we analyze its classical origin and we show that the Extended Galilei group characterizes better the symmetries of the theory. Furthermore, we claim that a proper description of non-relativistic quantum mechanics requires a modification of the notion of spacetime in the corresponding limit, which is noticeable only for quantum particles.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1108.3804

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zbMATH Keywords

unstable particlesBargmann superselection ruleextended Galilei group

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Axiomatic quantum field theory; operator algebras (81T05) Quantum scattering theory (81U99)

Cites Work

• On unitary ray representations of continuous groups
• Galilei Group and Nonrelativistic Quantum Mechanics
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Quantum Theory in Accelerated Frames of Reference
• Some useful properties of a theory of variable mass particles
• The Galilean covariance of quantum mechanics in the case of external fields
• On Galilei invariance in quantum mechanics and the Bargmann superselection rule
• Lorentz-like covariant equations of non-relativistic fluids
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Cited In (5)

• Induced representation of the \((1 + 1)\)-quantum extended Galilei algebra on the Bargmann space-time. Induced representation on Bargmann space-time
• Imprints of the underlying structure of physical theories
• On Galilei invariance in quantum mechanics and the Bargmann superselection rule
• Quantum equivalence principle without mass superselection
• Quantum origin of (Newtonian) mass and Galilean relativity symmetry

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