English

Discrete Scalar Quantum Field Theory

General Physics 2016-10-26 v1

Abstract

We begin with a description of spacetime by a 4-dimensional cubic lattice \sscript\sscript. It follows from this framework that the the speed of light is the only nonzero instantaneous speed for a particle. The dual space \sscripthat\sscripthat corresponds to a cubic lattice of energy-momentum. This description implies that there is a discrete set of possible particle masses. We then define discrete scalar quantum fields on \sscript\sscript. These fields are employed to define interaction Hamiltonians and scattering operators. Although the scattering operator SS cannot be computed exactly, approximations are possible. Whether SS is unitary is an unsolved problem. Besides the definitions of these operators, our main assumption is conservation of energy-momentum for a scattering process. This article concludes with various examples of perturbation approximations. These include simplified versions of electron-electron and electron-proton scattering as well as simple decay processes. We also define scattering cross-sections, decay rates and lifetimes within this formalism.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1610.07877,
  title  = {Discrete Scalar Quantum Field Theory},
  author = {Stan Gudder},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1610.07877},
  year   = {2016}
}

Comments

24 pages, 3 tables included in .tex file

R2 v1 2026-06-22T16:31:02.560Z