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The physical state space of quantum electrodynamics

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Abstract

Starting from the fact that electrically charged particles are massive, we derive a criterion which characterizes the state space of quantum electrodynamics. This criterion clarifies the special role of the electric charge amongst the uncountably many superselection rules in quantum electrodynamics and provides a basis for a general analysis of the infrared problem. Within this framework we establish the existence of asymptotic electromagnetic fields in all charge-sectors, find a general characterization of infra-particles and introduce a notion of asymptotic completeness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. II. Institute of Theoretical Physics, University of Hamburg, D-2000, Hamburg, Germany

    Detlev Buchholz

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  1. Detlev Buchholz
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Communicated by R. Jost

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Buchholz, D. The physical state space of quantum electrodynamics. Commun.Math. Phys. 85, 49–71 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02029133

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02029133

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