The principle of locality: effectiveness, fate, and challenges

DOI10.1063/1.3276100zbMATH Open1417.81137arXiv0911.5136OpenAlexW3123791797MaRDI QIDQ3580904FDOQ3580904

Authors: Sergio Doplicher 

Publication date: 13 August 2010

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

Abstract: The Special Theory of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics merge in the key principle of Quantum Field Theory, the Principle of Locality. We review some examples of its ``unreasonable effectiveness (which shows up best in the formulation of Quantum Field Theory in terms of operator algebras of local observables) in digging out the roots of Global Gauge Invariance in the structure of the local observable quantities alone, at least for purely massive theories; but to deal with the Principle of Local Gauge Invariance is still a problem in this frame. This problem emerges also if one attempts to figure out the fate of the Principle of Locality in theories describing the gravitational forces between elementary particles as well. Spacetime should then acquire a quantum structure at the Planck scale, and the Principle of Locality is lost. It is a crucial open problem to unravel a replacement in such theories which is equally mathematically sharp and reduces to the Principle of Locality at larger scales. Besides exploring its fate, many challenges for the Principle of Locality remain; among them, the analysis of Superselection Structure and Statistics also in presence of massless particles, and to give a precise mathematical formulation to the Measurement Process in local and relativistic terms; for which we outline a qualitative scenario which avoids the EPR Paradox.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0911.5136

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Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Quantum measurement theory, state operations, state preparations (81P15) Axiomatic quantum field theory; operator algebras (81T05) Operator algebra methods applied to problems in quantum theory (81R15)

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Cited In (9)

• Interpretation of quantum nonlocality by conformal quantum geometrodynamics
• `Localization' in quantum field theory: How much of QFT is compatible with what we know about space-time?
• Solving the nonlocality riddle by conformal quantum geometrodynamics
• Relocalization -- theory and practice
• Quantum spacetime, quantum geometry and Planck scales
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• Quantum Spacetime and Algebraic Quantum Field Theory
• The measurement process in local quantum physics and the EPR paradox
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