English

Randomness and Irreversibility in Quantum Field Theory

High Energy Physics - Theory 2007-05-23 v1

Abstract

Quantum fluctuations, through quantum corrections, have the potential to lead to irreversibility in quantum field theory. We consider the virtual ``charge" distribution generated by quantum corrections in the leading log, short range approximation, and adopt for it a statistical interpretation. This virtual charge density has fractal structure, and it is seen that, independently of whether the theory is or is not asymptotically free, it describes a system where the equilibrium state is at its classical limit (0\hbar \rightarrow 0). We also present a simple analysis of how diffusion of the charge density proceeds as a function of the distance at which the system is probed.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.hep-th/9305150,
  title  = {Randomness and Irreversibility in Quantum Field Theory},
  author = {J. Perez-Mercader},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:hep-th/9305150},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

RevTeX, 13 pages plus 4 Figures (available from the author upon request), LAEFF--93/006

R2 v1 2026-07-22T15:46:14.464Z