Histories and observables in covariant field theory

DOI10.1016/J.GEOMPHYS.2010.11.002zbMATH Open1222.83160arXiv1010.3210OpenAlexW2026615606MaRDI QIDQ633995FDOQ633995

Authors: Frédéric Paugam 

Publication date: 2 August 2011

Published in: Journal of Geometry and Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Motivated by DeWitt's viewpoint of covariant field theory, we define a general notion of non-local classical observable that applies to many physical lagrangian systems (with bosonic and fermionic variables), by using methods that are now standard in algebraic geometry. We review the (standard) methods of local functional calculus, as they are presented by Beilinson and Drinfeld, and relate them to our construction. We partially explain the relation of these with the Vinogradov's secondary calculus. The methods present here are all necessary to understand mathematically properly and with simple notions the full renormalization of the standard model, based on functional integral methods. This article can be seen as an introduction to well grounded classical physical mathematics, and as a good starting point to study quantum physical mathematics, that make frequent use of non-local functionals, like for example in the computation of Wilson's effective action. We finish by describing briefly a coordinate free approach to the classical Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism for general gauge theories, in the language of homotopical geometry.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1010.3210

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zbMATH Keywords

superspacesdifferential spacescovariant field theoryfunctor of pointshomotopical geometrylocal and non-local functionalsspaces of fields

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Applications of differential geometry to physics (53Z05) Quantum measurement theory, state operations, state preparations (81P15) Renormalization group methods applied to problems in quantum field theory (81T17) Quantum field theory on curved space or space-time backgrounds (81T20) Einstein's equations (general structure, canonical formalism, Cauchy problems) (83C05) Relativistic gravitational theories other than Einstein's, including asymmetric field theories (83D05) Categoricity and completeness of theories (03C35) Path integrals in quantum mechanics (81S40) Geometrodynamics and the holographic principle (83E05)

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Cited In (5)

• Quantum fields in nonstatic background: A histories perspective
• Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism in the functional approach to classical field theory
• A new approach to model categorical homotopy fiber sequences
• Homotopical algebraic context over differential operators
• Indeterminacies and models of homotopy limits

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