Formal Description of Haag's Theorem
In its modern form, the Haag theorem may be stated as following : Consider two representations of the canonical commutation relations (CCR), and (where denote the respective Hilbert spaces and the collection of operators in the CCR). Both representations are called unitarily equivalent if and only if there exists some unitary mapping from Hilbert space to Hilbert space such that for each operator there exists an operator . Unitary equivalence is a necessary condition for both representations to deliver the same expectation values of the corresponding observables. Haag's theorem states that, contrary to ordinary non-relativistic quantum mechanics, within the formalism of QFT such a unitary mapping does not exist, or, in other words, the two representations are unitarily inequivalent. This confronts the practitioner of QFT with the so called choice problem, namely the problem of choosing the 'right' representation among a non-denumerable set of inequivalent representations. To date, the choice problem has not found any solution.
Read more about this topic: Haag's Theorem
Famous quotes containing the words formal, description and/or theorem:
“True variety is in that plenitude of real and unexpected elements, in the branch charged with blue flowers thrusting itself, against all expectations, from the springtime hedge which seems already too full, while the purely formal imitation of variety ... is but void and uniformity, that is, that which is most opposed to variety....”
—Marcel Proust (18711922)
“The great object in life is Sensationto feel that we exist, even though in pain; it is this craving void which drives us to gaming, to battle, to travel, to intemperate but keenly felt pursuits of every description whose principal attraction is the agitation inseparable from their accomplishment.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (17881824)
“To insure the adoration of a theorem for any length of time, faith is not enough, a police force is needed as well.”
—Albert Camus (19131960)