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A C*-Algebra for Quantized Principal U(1)-Connections on Globally Hyperbolic Lorentzian Manifolds

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Abstract

The aim of this work is to complete our program on the quantization of connections on arbitrary principal U(1)-bundles over globally hyperbolic Lorentzian manifolds. In particular, we show that one can assign via a covariant functor to any such bundle an algebra of observables which separates gauge equivalence classes of connections. The C*-algebra we construct generalizes the usual CCR-algebras, since, contrary to the standard field-theoretic models, it is based on a presymplectic Abelian group instead of a symplectic vector space. We prove a no-go theorem according to which neither this functor, nor any of its quotients, satisfies the strict axioms of general local covariance. As a byproduct, we prove that a morphism violates the locality axiom if and only if a certain induced morphism of cohomology groups is non-injective. We show then that, fixing any principal U(1)-bundle, there exists a suitable category of subbundles for which a quotient of our functor yields a quantum field theory in the sense of Haag and Kastler. We shall provide a physical interpretation of this feature and we obtain some new insights concerning electric charges in locally covariant quantum field theory.

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Correspondence to Claudio Dappiaggi.

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Communicated by Y. Kawahigashi

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Benini, M., Dappiaggi, C., Hack, TP. et al. A C*-Algebra for Quantized Principal U(1)-Connections on Globally Hyperbolic Lorentzian Manifolds. Commun. Math. Phys. 332, 477–504 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00220-014-2100-3

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