Quantum field theory in curved spacetime

TL;DR

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the mathematical foundations and key phenomena of quantum field theory in curved spacetime, including particle creation, stress-energy tensor, and effects like Hawking and Unruh.

Contribution

It systematically develops the algebraic framework and discusses fundamental issues and phenomena in quantum field theory on curved backgrounds.

Findings

Construction of *-algebra for scalar fields on globally hyperbolic spacetimes

Analysis of particle creation and limitations of the particle concept

Discussion of Hawking and Unruh effects

Abstract

An encyclopedia article on mathematical aspects of quantum field theory in curved spacetime. Section titles are: Introduction and preliminaries; Construction of *-algebra for a real linear scalar field on globally hyperbolic spacetimes and some general theorems; Particle creation and the limitations of the particle concept; Theory of the stress-energy tensor; Hawking and Unruh effects; Non-globally hyperbolic spacetimes and the time-machine question; Other related topics and some warnings.