Tagged Questions

2
votes
1answer
67 views

Imaginary time in QFT

I'm reading chapter 4 of Introduction to Quantum Field Theory by Peskin & Schroeder. In the $\phi^4$ theory, the authors state that the ground state of the interaction theory $|\Omega\rangle$ can ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views

Volume element $\mathrm{d}^4k =\mathrm{d}k^0 \,|\mathbf{k}|^2\,\mathrm{d}|\mathbf{k}| \,\mathrm{d}(\cos\theta) \,\mathrm{d}\phi$ in Minkowski space?

Suppose we have an integral $$\int \mathrm{d}^4k \,\ f(k)$$ we want to evaluate and that we're in Minkowski space with some metric $(+,-,-,-)$. Is it true that: $$\mathrm{d}^4k = \mathrm{d}k^0\ ...
2
votes
0answers
33 views

Intuition behind the notion of reflection positivity

I came across Yuji's question. I'm finding it difficult to parse the meaning behind what's said on Wikipedia. Could someone give an explanation of the concept involved? I would also appreciate ...
3
votes
1answer
212 views

Wick Rotation, interpretation of $\bar{p}^2$ vs the usual $p^2=m^2$

Suppose we use the metric $(+,-,-,-)$ thus the momentum squared is $p^2 = p_0^2-\vec{p}^2 = m^2>0$ Defining $p_E:=\mathrm{i}\cdot p_0$ and $\bar{p}:=(\,p_E,\vec{p})$ with Euclidean norm ...
6
votes
3answers
376 views

Relation between statistical mechanics and quantum field theory

I was talking with a friend of mine, he is a student of theoretical particle physics, and he told me that lots of his topics have their foundations in statistical mechanics. However I thought that the ...
5
votes
1answer
248 views

Analytic continuation of imaginary time Greens function in the time domain

Consider the imaginary time Greens function of a fermion field $\Psi(x,τ)$ at zero temperature $$ G^τ = -\langle \theta(τ)\Psi(x,τ)\Psi^\dagger(0,0) - \theta(-τ)\Psi^\dagger(0,0)\Psi(x,τ) \rangle $$ ...
7
votes
0answers
304 views

Wick rotation and spinors

I am quite familiar with use of Wick rotations in QFT, but one thing annoys me: let's say we perform it for treating more conveniently (ie. making converge) a functional integral containing spinors; ...
15
votes
4answers
168 views

What is a simple intuitive way to see the relation between imaginary time (periodic) and temperature relation?

I guess I never had a proper physical intuition on, for example, the "KMS condition". I have an undergraduate student who studies calculation of Hawking temperature using the Euclidean path integral ...