Bound States as Emergent Quantum Structures

TL;DR

This paper explores how bound states, represented by poles in the scattering matrix, serve as emergent quantum structures that define the fundamental degrees of freedom in composite systems.

Contribution

It introduces an ontological framework for bound states as emergent quantum structures, highlighting their role in the fundamental description of composite systems.

Findings

Bound states are represented by poles in the scattering matrix.

They play a crucial role in defining the relevant degrees of freedom.

The paper discusses an example illustrating these concepts.

Abstract

Bound states arise in many interactions among elementary field states, and are represented by poles in the scattering matrix. The emergent nature of bound states suggests that they play a perhaps under-appreciated role in specifying the ontologically relevant degrees of freedom pertaining to composite systems. The basics of this ontology are presented, and it is discussed in light of an example of Arsenijevi\' c et al.