Jonathan Sorce, PhD

The "quasiequivalence" problem in quantum field theory asks when two distinct physical settings are described by the same von Neumann algebra. In the most general setting within free quantum field theory, necessary and sufficient criteria for quasiequivalence were determined by Araki and Yamagami in 1982. I will revisit the quasiequivalence problem with a mathematically equivalent but physically distinct framing: when can one physical state be realized as an excitation of another? The new perspective offered by this framing allows a significant simplification of the Araki-Yamagami proof, and generalizations of their results.

To participate in this event virtually via Zoom, go to https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/99570315915.