Imaginary free energy and decay rate

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between the imaginary part of free energy and decay rates in Euclidean quantum field theory. It establishes that the free energy consists of two components: a real normal parity component and an imaginary abnormal parity component, as detailed in L. Alvarez-Gaume and E. Witten's work (Nucl.Phys. B234 (1984) 269). In Minkowskian space, both components remain real in the absence of decay phase space but acquire an imaginary part when decay occurs, particularly above threshold energy levels.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Euclidean quantum field theory
  • Familiarity with partition functions
  • Knowledge of normal and abnormal parity components
  • Basic concepts of Minkowskian space and decay processes
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of the partition function in quantum field theory
  • Study the role of Levi-Civita pseudotensor in quantum mechanics
  • Explore decay processes in Minkowskian space
  • Examine L. Alvarez-Gaume and E. Witten's contributions to quantum field theory
USEFUL FOR

The discussion is beneficial for theoretical physicists, quantum field theorists, and researchers exploring the dynamics of decay rates and free energy in quantum systems.

santale
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
In euclidean quantum field theory, the imaginary part of the free energy, defined as the logaritm of the partition function, is it connected to the decay rate?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The free energy has two types of components, one without Levi-Civita pseudotensor (normal parity) and another with the epsilon tensor (abnormal parity).
In Euclidean field theory the normal parity component is always real, and the abnormal parity component is imaginary (see e.g.,
L. Alvarez-Gaume. E. Witten, Nucl.Phys. B234 (1984) 269).
In Minkowskian space both components are real if there is no phase space to decay, but develop an imaginary part above threshold (decay, inelastic channels, etc).
 

Similar threads

Graduate What’s the meaning of decay rate in optical Bloch equations?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Undergrad Do Photons Decay? QED Predictions & Measurements
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
4K
Graduate What is the cause of radioactive decay?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Graduate Scalar decay to one-loop in Yukawa interaction
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad The Mystery of Atomic Decay: Is it Truly Random or is There More at Play?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K
Undergrad Conservation laws during particle decay?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Graduate Phase difference between electric and magnetic dipole moment
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
1K
Undergrad Energy and momentum in quantum mechanics
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
Graduate Tunneling from Rectangular barrier - Exponential Decay ?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Undergrad Physical Meaning of the Imaginary Part of a Wave Function
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K