Related papers: Path integrals with discarded degrees of freedom
I obtain the quantum correction $\Delta V_\mathrm{eff}= (\hbar^2/8m) [(1- 4\xi \frac{d+1}{d})(\mathcal{S}')^2 + 2(1-4\xi)\mathcal{S}"]$ that appears in the effective potential whenever a compact $d$-dimensional subspace (of volume $\propto…
The path integral for the propagator is expanded into a perturbation series, which can be exactly summed in the case of $\delta$-function perturbations giving a closed expression for the (energy-dependent) Green function. Making the…
We develop a path integral representation for the dynamics of quantum systems with a finite-dimensional Hilbert space, formulated entirely within a discrete phase space. Starting from the discrete Wigner function defined on $\mathbb{Z}_d…
The partition function of a quantum statistical system in flat space can always be written as an integral over a classical Boltzmann factor $\exp[ -\beta V^{\rm eff cl({\bf x}_0)]$, where $V^{\rm eff cl({\bf x}_0)$ is the so-called…
't Hooft's derivation of quantum from classical physics is analyzed by means of the classical path integral of Gozzi et al.. It is shown how the key element of this procedure - the loss of information constraint - can be implemented by…
We make use of point transformations to introduce new canonical variables for systems defined on a finite interval and on the half-line so that new position variables should take all real values from $-\infty$ to $\infty$. The completeness…
We present a computer simulation model that is a one-to-one copy of an experimental realization of Wheeler's delayed choice experiment that employs a single photon source and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer composed of a 50/50 input beam…
A method is presented which restricts the space of paths entering the path integral of quantum mechanics to subspaces of $C^\alpha$, by only allowing paths which possess at least $\alpha$ derivatives. The method introduces two external…
Path integrals are a central tool when it comes to describing quantum or thermal fluctuations of particles or fields. Their success dates back to Feynman who showed how to use them within the framework of quantum mechanics. Since then, path…
The dynamic structure factor (DSF) is a mathematical function that contains information about inter-particle correlations and their time evolution. Mostly the classical molecular dynamics is used to calculate the DSF of the classical…
In this and subsequent paper arXiv:1011.5185 we develop a recursive approach for calculating the short-time expansion of the propagator for a general quantum system in a time-dependent potential to orders that have not yet been accessible…
The path integral formulation of quantum mechanics constructs the propagator by evaluating the action S for all classical paths in coordinate space. A corresponding momentum path integral may also be defined through Fourier transforms in…
The in-in path integral of a scalar field propagating in a fixed background is formulated in a suitable function space. The free kinetic operator, whose inverse gives the propagators of the in-in perturbation theory, becomes essentially…
A specific class of explicitly time-dependent potentials is studied by means of path integrals. For this purpose a general formalism to treat explicitly time-dependent space-time transformations in path integrals is sketched. An explicit…
We here put forward a new path-integral over Hilbert space and show that it reproduces quantum mechanics exactly. This approach works by optimizing the generating functional under a variation of the final state; it is hence an example of a…
The (Feynman) propagator $G(x_2,x_1)$ encodes the entire dynamics of a massive, free scalar field propagating in an arbitrary curved spacetime. The usual procedures for computing the propagator -- either as a time ordered correlator or from…
The transformation of the path integral measure under the reduction procedure in the dynamical systems with a symmetry is considered. The investigation is carried out in the case of the Wiener--type path integrals that are used for…
We consider a reduction procedure in Wiener-type path integral for a finite-dimensional mechanical system with a symmetry representing the motion of two interacting scalar particles on a manifold that is the product of the total space of…
The motion of a particle in the field of dispiration (due to a wedge disclination and a screw dislocation) is studied by path integration. By gauging $SO(2) \otimes T(1)$, first, we derive the metric, curvature, and torsion of the medium of…
In quantum field theory the path integral is usually formulated in the wave picture, i.e., as a sum over field evolutions. This path integral is difficult to define rigorously because of analytic problems whose resolution may ultimately…