Particle creation, classicality and related issues in quantum field theory: I. Formalism and toy models

DOI10.1007/S10714-007-0526-ZMaRDI QIDQ934853zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors B. E. Eshmatov

Publication date 30 July 2008

Published in General Relativity and Gravitation (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/0708.1233

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Quantum field theory on curved space or space-time backgrounds (81T20) Methods of quantum field theory in general relativity and gravitational theory (83C47)

Abstract: The quantum theory of a harmonic oscillator with a time dependent frequency arises in several important physical problems, especially in the study of quantum field theory in an external background. While the mathematics of this system is straightforward, several conceptual issues arise in such a study. We present a general formalism to address some of the conceptual issues like the emergence of classicality, definition of particle content, back reaction etc. In particular, we parametrize the wave function in terms of a complex number (which we call excitation parameter) and express all physically relevant quantities in terms it. Many of the notions -- like those of particle number density, effective Lagrangian etc., which are usually defined using asymptotic in-out states -- are generalized as time-dependent concepts and we show that these generalized definitions lead to useful and reasonable results. Having developed the general formalism we apply it to several examples. Exact analytic expressions are found for a particular toy model and approximate analytic solutions are obtained in the extreme cases of adiabatic and highly non-adiabatic evolution. We then work out the exact results numerically for a variety of models and compare them with the analytic results and approximations. The formalism is useful in addressing the question of emergence of classicality of the quantum state, its relation to particle production and to clarify several conceptual issues related to this. In Paper II (arXiv:0708.1237), which is a sequel to this, the formalism will be applied to analyze the corresponding issues in the context of quantum field theory in background cosmological models and electric fields.

Recommendations

• Particle creation, classicality and related issues in quantum field theory: II. Examples from field theory
• Qft as pilot-wave theory of particle creation and destruction
• Quantum field theories in classical spacetimes and particles
• Trajectories and particle creation and annihilation in quantum field theory
• Quantum fields interacting with colliding plane waves: Particle creation.
• Quantized Fields and Particle Creation in Expanding Universes. I
• Density matrix of a quantum field in a particle-creating background
• Particle creation in asymptotically Minkowskian spacetimes
• Некоторые проблемы кинетического описания вакуумного рождения частиц в сильных полях
• THE GENERAL-COVARIANT AND GAUGE-INVARIANT THEORY OF QUANTUM PARTICLES IN CLASSICAL BACKGROUNDS

Cites work

• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 42053 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 486467 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 584568 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 947411 (Why is no real title available?)
• Cosmological Inflation and Large-Scale Structure
• Introduction to quantum effects in gravity
• Mathematical methods for physicists.
• Notes on semiclassical gravity
• On the Quantum Correction For Thermodynamic Equilibrium
• Quantized Fields and Particle Creation in Expanding Universes. I
• Quantum Fields in Curved Space
• Semiclassicality and decoherence of cosmological perturbations
• Squeezed vacua and the quantum statistics of cosmological particle creation

Cited in

(8)

• Particle creation in a time-dependent electric field revisited
• Cosmological particle creation beyond de Sitter
• Inverting a normal harmonic oscillator: physical interpretation and applications
• The time-dependent quantum harmonic oscillator revisited: Applications to quantum field theory
• Geometric phases and squeezed quantum states of relic gravitons
• Particle creation, classicality and related issues in quantum field theory: II. Examples from field theory
• Quantum evolution leading to classicality: a concrete example
• Gaussian wave packet states of scalar fields in a universe of de Sitter

This page was built for publication: Particle creation, classicality and related issues in quantum field theory: I. Formalism and toy models

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q934853)