Geometric Flavours of Quantum Field Theory on a Cauchy Hypersurface: Gaussian Analysis for the Hamiltonian Formalism and Applications to Cosmology

TL;DR

This thesis develops a geometric Hamiltonian framework for quantum field theory on curved spacetimes, integrating Gaussian analysis, classical and quantum formalisms, and applications to cosmology, revealing new insights into quantum-gravitational coupling.

Contribution

It introduces a geometric Hamiltonian approach to QFT on curved spacetimes, combining Gaussian analysis with classical and quantum formalisms, and explores covariant time derivatives in Schr"odinger equations.

Findings

Extended Koopman-van Hove formalism to classical statistical field theory.

Developed new quantum representations and integral transforms for QFT.

Derived particle creation effects in cosmological models.

Abstract

This thesis explores Quantum Field Theory (QFT) on curved spacetimes using a geometric Hamiltonian approach to the Schr\"odinger-like representation. In particular it studies the theory of the scalar field described through its configurations over a Cauchy hypersurface. It is focused on mathematical consistency based on analytic and geometric tools. The mathematical aspects of Gaussian integration theory in infinite-dimensional Topological Vector Spaces (TVS) are thoroughly reviewed. It also reviews the complex and holomorphic versions of important results and concepts of Gaussian integration. For example, the Wiener-It\^o decomposition theorem or the definition of Hida test functions. The physical framework builds upon three interconnected levels: classical General Relativity (GR), Classical Statistical Field Theory (CSFT), and QFT. The work begins by extending the Koopman-van Hove (KvH) formalism of classical statistical mechanics to CSFT. This description is based upon prequantization theory. It reveals features inherent to both CSFT and QFT, that help delineate the genuine quantum features of a theory. Upon the prequantum program, the QFT of the scalar field is built mixing Geometric Quantization with the choice of Wick and Weyl orderings. Various quantum representations are introduced: the holomorphic, Schr\"odinger, field-momentum, and antiholomorphic. The relation among them is studied using integral transforms, including novel infinite-dimensional Fourier transforms. From a geometrical analysis, it is argued that a covariant time derivative that modifies the evolution equations should be added to the Schr\"odinger equation. This connection is unique and required by the geometrodynamical description ofthe coupling of QFT and GR. Finally, studying the free model on cosmological spacetimes it obtains particle creation effects on a dynamical equation.