Local Quantum Physics

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XIV

   PDF

2. Background

   1. Quantum Mechanics

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 1-9

   2. The Principle of Locality in Classical Physics and the Relativity Theories

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 9-27

   3. Poincaré Invariant Quantum Theory

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 27-40

   4. Action Principle

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 40-44

   5. Basic Quantum Field Theory

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 44-53

3. General Quantum Field Theory

   1. Mathematical Considerations and General Postulates

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 55-60

   2. Hierarchies of Functions

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 60-75

   3. Physical Interpretation in Terms of Particles

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 75-83

   4. General Collision Theory

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 83-95

   5. Some Consequences of the Postulates

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 96-104

4. Algebras of Local Observables and Fields

   1. Review of the Perspective

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 105-112

   2. Von Neumann Algebras. C*-Algebras. W*-Algebras

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 112-129

   3. The Net of Algebras of Observables

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 129-143

   4. The Vacuum Sector

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 143-147

5. Charges, Global Gauge Groups and Exchange Symmetry

   1. Charge Superselection Sectors

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 149-156

   2. The DHR-Analysis

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 156-174

   3. The Buchholz-Fredenhagen (BF)-Analysis

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 174-184

   4. Global Gauge Group and Charge Carrying Fields

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 184-192

   5. Low Dimensional Space-Time and Braid Group Statistics

      • Rudolf Haag

      Pages 192-197

Four years aga Walter Thirring suggested to me that it would be desirable to have a book describing recent results of the "algebraic approach" to quantum field theory and statistical mechanics. After long deliberations with my younger colleagues I decided to write a book but to enlarge the topic, the guiding line be­ ing expressed in the title "Local Quantum Physics". In essence this concerns the synthesis between special relativity and our understanding of quantum physics, together with a few other principles of a general nature. The algebraic approach, that is the characterization of the theory by a net of algebras of local observ­ ables, provides a concise language for this and an efficient tool for the study of the anatomy of the theory and of the relevance of various parts to qualita­ tive physical consequences. It is introduced in Chapter III. In compliance with the original suggestion its main results of more recent vintage are described in Chapters IV to VI. The first two chapters serve to place this material into context and make the book reasonably self contained. There is a rough tem­ poral order. Thus Chapter I briefly describes the pillars of the theory existing before 1950. Chapter II deals with progress in understanding and techniques in quantum field theory, achieved for the most part in the fifties and early sixties.

• Algebraic field theory
• Algebraische Feldtheorie
• C* und W* Algebras
• C* und W* Algebren
• Charge structures symmetry
• Collision theory
• Quantenfeldtheorie
• charge structures
• quantum field theory
• quantum physics
• symmetry

• IL Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg 50, Fed. Rep. of Germany

  Rudolf Haag

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