Kontsevich S Deformation Quantization And Quantum Field Theory

This book provides an introduction to deformation quantization and its relation to quantum field theory, with a focus on the constructions of Kontsevich and Cattaneo & Felder. This subject originated from an attempt to understand the mathematical structure when passing from a commutative classical algebra of observables to a non-commutative quantum algebra of observables. Developing deformation quantization as a semi-classical limit of the expectation value for a certain observable with respect to a special sigma model, the book carefully describes the relationship between the involved algebraic and field-theoretic methods. The connection to quantum field theory leads to the study of important new field theories and to insights in other parts of mathematics such as symplectic and Poisson geometry, and integrable systems. Based on lectures given by the author at the University of Zurich, the book will be of interest to graduate students in mathematics or theoretical physics. Readers will be able to begin the first chapter after a basic course in Analysis, Linear Algebra and Topology, and references are provided for more advanced prerequisites.

This book is a survey of the theory of formal deformation quantization of Poisson manifolds, in the formalism developed by Kontsevich. It is intended as an educational introduction for mathematical physicists who are dealing with the subject for the first time. The main topics covered are the theory of Poisson manifolds, star products and their classification, deformations of associative algebras and the formality theorem. Readers will also be familiarized with the relevant physical motivations underlying the purely mathematical construction.

This book develops a novel approach to perturbative quantum field theory: starting with a perturbative formulation of classical field theory, quantization is achieved by means of deformation quantization of the underlying free theory and by applying the principle that as much of the classical structure as possible should be maintained. The resulting formulation of perturbative quantum field theory is a version of the Epstein-Glaser renormalization that is conceptually clear, mathematically rigorous and pragmatically useful for physicists. The connection to traditional formulations of perturbative quantum field theory is also elaborated on, and the formalism is illustrated in a wealth of examples and exercises.

A unique and definitive review of mathematical aspects of quantization and quantum field theory for graduate students and researchers.

This book originated from lecture notes for the course given by the author at the University of Notre Dame in the fall of 2016. The aim of the book is to give an introduction to the perturbative path integral for gauge theories (in particular, topological field theories) in Batalin–Vilkovisky formalism and to some of its applications. The book is oriented toward a graduate mathematical audience and does not require any prior physics background. To elucidate the picture, the exposition is mostly focused on finite-dimensional models for gauge systems and path integrals, while giving comments on what has to be amended in the infinite-dimensional case relevant to local field theory. Motivating examples discussed in the book include Alexandrov–Kontsevich–Schwarz–Zaboronsky sigma models, the perturbative expansion for Chern–Simons invariants of 3-manifolds given in terms of integrals over configurations of points on the manifold, the BF theory on cellular decompositions of manifolds, and Kontsevich's deformation quantization formula.

In recent years topology has firmly established itself as an important part of the physicist's mathematical arsenal. It has many applications, first of all in quantum field theory, but increasingly also in other areas of physics. The main focus of this book is on the results of quantum field theory that are obtained by topological methods. Some aspects of the theory of condensed matter are also discussed. Part I is an introduction to quantum field theory: it discusses the basic Lagrangians used in the theory of elementary particles. Part II is devoted to the applications of topology to quantum field theory. Part III covers the necessary mathematical background in summary form. The book is aimed at physicists interested in applications of topology to physics and at mathematicians wishing to familiarize themselves with quantum field theory and the mathematical methods used in this field. It is accessible to graduate students in physics and mathematics.

The Proceedings consists of 6 lectures each from Prof L Takhtajan and Prof F Smirnov which were presented during the workshop. Contents:Lectures on Integrable Massive Models of Quantum Field Theory (F A Smirnov):General Problems of the Quantum Field Theory. Completely Integrable ModelsSpace of States. Form Factors. A Set of Axioms for Form FactorsLocal Commutativity and Asymptotic ConditionsForm Factors in SU(2)-Invariant Thirring ModelNecessary Properties of the Currents Form Factors in SU(2)-Invariant Thirring ModelProperties of Currents in SU(2)-Invariant Thirring ModelLectures on Quantum Groups (L A Takhtajan):Historical Introduction. Algebraic BackgroundPoisson-Lie Groups, CYBE and Modified CYBE. Connection with ISM. Lie-Algebraic Meaning of CYBE and Modified CYBEQuantization Procedure as a Deformation of the Algebra of Classical ObservablesWeyl Quantization. Quantization of Poisson-Lie Groups Associated with CYBEQYBEQuantization of Poisson-Lie Groups Associated with Modified CYBE. Quantum Matrix Algebras. Quantum Determinant and Quantum Groups SL(n) and GL (n)Quantum Vector Spaces for the Quantum Groups SLq(n), GLq(n) and their Real Forms. Quantum Groups Oq(N), SPq(n), Quantum Vector Spaces Associated with them and their Real FormsQuantization of the Universal Enveloping Algebras of the Simple Lie Algebras. Elements of the Representations Theory Readership: Mathematical physicists. keywords:

This work describes a general construction of a deformation quantization for any Poisson bracket on a manifold which comes from an action of $R^d$ on that manifold. These deformation quantizations are strict, in the sense that the deformed product of any two functions is again a function and that there are corresponding involutions and operator norms. Many of the techniques involved are adapted from the theory of pseudo-differential operators. The construction is shown to have many favorable properties. A number of specific examples are described, ranging from basic ones such as quantum disks, quantum tori, and quantum spheres, to aspects of quantum groups.