Wightman axioms

E284685

The Wightman axioms are a set of rigorous mathematical conditions that formalize relativistic quantum field theory in terms of operator-valued distributions on Hilbert space.

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Predicate Object
instanceOf axiomatic system
framework in mathematical physics
alsoKnownAs Wightman formulation of quantum field theory
linked to: Wightman axioms

Wightman framework
appliesTo relativistic quantum fields in Minkowski space
assumes Minkowski spacetime structure
contrastsWith canonical quantization approach
path-integral formulation of quantum field theory
defines n-point Wightman functions as vacuum expectation values of fields
describes relativistic quantum field theory
ensures analytic properties of correlation functions
positivity of the Hilbert space inner product
relativistic causality in quantum field theory
field constructive quantum field theory
mathematical physics
quantum field theory
formalizes relativistic quantum field theory
goal to provide a mathematically rigorous foundation for quantum field theory
hasLimitation difficulty in constructing interacting models in four dimensions
historicalPeriod 1950s
implies CPT invariance under suitable assumptions
spin–statistics connection under suitable assumptions
influenced development of constructive quantum field theory
rigorous proofs of CPT and spin–statistics theorems
introducedBy Arthur Wightman
namedAfter Arthur Wightman
relatedTo Haag–Kastler axioms
linked to: Haag-Kastler axioms

LSZ reduction formula
Osterwalder–Schrader axioms
algebraic quantum field theory
requires covariance of fields under Poincaré transformations
cyclicity of the vacuum for the field algebra
existence of a Hilbert space of states
fields as operator-valued tempered distributions
local commutativity (microcausality)
spectrum of energy–momentum in the closed forward light cone
unique Poincaré-invariant vacuum vector
unitary representation of the Poincaré group
usesConcept Hilbert space
Poincaré group
Wightman functions
covariance
locality
operator-valued distributions
spectrum condition
tempered distributions
vacuum state

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Referenced by (9)

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Osterwalder–Schrader axioms relatedTo Wightman axioms
Heisenberg operator formulation of quantum mechanics influenced algebraic quantum field theory
linked to: Wightman axioms
spin–statistics theorem hasAlternativeFormulation Wightman axioms framework
linked to: Wightman axioms
Yang–Mills existence and mass gap problem involves Wightman axioms or Osterwalder–Schrader axioms
linked to: Wightman axioms
Wightman functions componentOf Wightman axioms
Wightman correlation functions satisfies Wightman axioms
Wightman correlation functions framework Wightman axiomatic framework
linked to: Wightman axioms
Wightman axioms alsoKnownAs Wightman formulation of quantum field theory
linked to: Wightman axioms