Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the scalar product of multi-particle states from a full Hamiltonian and one-particle states from a free Hamiltonian within the context of quantum field theory (QFT). Participants explore the implications of these states belonging to different subspaces of the Fock space and seek references for further understanding.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- Some participants propose that the scalar product of multi-particle states from the full Hamiltonian and one-particle states from the free Hamiltonian should be zero due to their belonging to different orthogonal subspaces of the Fock space.
- Others argue that the multi-particle state can be expressed as a sum of free single-particle and many-particle states, raising the question of whether any coefficients in front of the free single-particle states are non-zero.
- A later reply questions the assumption that the scalar product is zero, noting that the states are eigenvectors of different operators, which complicates the orthogonality argument.
- One participant clarifies the terminology used, distinguishing between the "full interacting Hamiltonian" and "full multiparticle interacting QFT in 4D," emphasizing the need for precise definitions in the discussion.
- References such as "Haag's theorem" and "unitarily inequivalent representations" are suggested for further exploration of the disjointness of Hilbert spaces in QFT.
- Another participant expresses confusion regarding the terminology and requests further clarification and references to understand the concepts better.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on the scalar product's value, with some asserting it should be zero while others question this assumption. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of the states' orthogonality and the definitions of the Hamiltonians involved.
Contextual Notes
Limitations include the potential misunderstanding of terms related to quantum field theory and the complexity of the relationship between free and interacting Hamiltonians, particularly in the context of infinite degrees of freedom.
Who May Find This Useful
Readers interested in quantum field theory, particularly those exploring the mathematical foundations of Hamiltonians and the structure of Fock space, may find this discussion relevant.