Haag theorem
Haag's theorem ([a1], see also [a4]), in the context of canonical quantum field theory, states in its generalized form [a2] that a canonical quantum field which for fixed 1) is irreducible; 2) has a cyclic vector
that is a) annihilated by the Hamiltonian (i.e., the generator of time translations) and b) unique as a translation-invariant state; and 3) is unitarily equivalent to a free field in Fock [Fok] representation at time
, is itself a free field.
Haag's theorem reflects the fact that canonical quantum dynamics is determined by the choice of the ground state [a3] or "vacuum" . Since by the assumptions the field shares the ground state with a free one, it is free itself; interacting fields generate non-Fock representations of the CCR (cf. Commutation and anti-commutation relationships, representation of).
References
[a1] | R. Haag, "On quantum field theories" Danske Mat.-Fys. Medd. , 29 : 12 (1955) pp. 17–112 |
[a2] | G. Emch, "Algebraic methods in statistical mechanics and quantum field theory" , Wiley (1972) |
[a3] | L. Streit, "Energy forms: Schroedinger theory, processes. New stochastic methods in physics" Physics reports , 77 : 3 (1980) pp. 363–375 |
[a4] | R.F. Streater, A.S. Wightman, "PCT, spin and statistics, and all that" , Benjamin (1964) |
Haag theorem. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Haag_theorem&oldid=15077