The expectation value of the field operator

TL;DR

This paper explores the evolution over time of expectation values of quantum field operators from an initial state, addressing a less-studied aspect of quantum field theory beyond scattering calculations.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of the time evolution of field operator expectation values, offering insights into their behavior outside the context of S-matrix calculations.

Findings

Insights into the temporal behavior of field operator expectation values

Potential implications for non-scattering quantum field phenomena

Foundational understanding of quantum field dynamics

Abstract

Much of the mathematical development of quantum field theory has been in support of determining the S-matrix in order to calculate scattering cross sections. However there is also an interest in determining how expectation values of field operators evolve in time from an initial state. In this paper I will examine some aspects of this problem.