Math Physics Seminar

Speaker:
Palle Jorgensen
Topic:
Reflection positivity, duality, spectral theory, and applications. Relativistic quantum fields vs Euclidean fields.

Abstract:

We consider reflection-positivity (Osterwalder–Schrader positivity, OS-p.) as it is used in the study of renormalization questions in physics. This refers to specific Hilbert spaces that arise before and after reflection. Our focus is a comparative study of the associated spectral theory, now referring to the canonical operators in these two Hilbert spaces. Indeed, the inner product which produces the respective Hilbert spaces of quantum states changes, and comparisons are subtle. We analyze in detail a number of geometric and spectral theoretic properties connected with axiomatic reflection positivity, as well as their probabilistic counterparts; especially the role of the Markov property. This view also suggests two new theorems; in rough outline: It is possible to express OS-positivity purely in terms of a triple of projections in a fixed Hilbert space, and a reflection operator. For such three projections, there is a related property, often referred to as the Markov property; and it is well known that the latter implies the former; i.e., when the reflection is given, then the Markov property implies OS-p., but not conversely. In this paper we shall prove two theorems which flesh out a more precise relationship between the two.

Event Date:
October 26, 2021 - 2:30pm to 3:20pm
Location:
VAN 309 or Online (See URL)
Calendar Category:
Seminar
Seminar Category:
Mathematical Physics