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The Universal C*-Algebra of the Electromagnetic Field

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An Erratum to this article was published on 22 December 2015

Abstract

A universal C*-algebra of the electromagnetic field is constructed. It is represented in any quantum field theory which incorporates electromagnetism and expresses basic features of the field such as Maxwell’s equations, Poincaré covariance and Einstein causality. Moreover, topological properties of the field resulting from Maxwell’s equations are encoded in the algebra, leading to commutation relations with values in its center. The representation theory of the algebra is discussed with focus on vacuum representations, fixing the dynamics of the field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    Detlev Buchholz

  2. Dipartimento di Matematica, Universitá di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy

    Fabio Ciolli, Giuseppe Ruzzi & Ezio Vasselli

Authors
  1. Detlev Buchholz
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  2. Fabio Ciolli
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  3. Giuseppe Ruzzi
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  4. Ezio Vasselli
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Correspondence to Detlev Buchholz.

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To the memory of Daniel Kastler and John E. Roberts

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Buchholz, D., Ciolli, F., Ruzzi, G. et al. The Universal C*-Algebra of the Electromagnetic Field. Lett Math Phys 106, 269–285 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11005-015-0801-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11005-015-0801-y

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