How to measure quantum fields? Implementing a causal measurement scheme

24.04.2026, 13:00  –  Campus Golm, Building 9, Room 2.22 and via Zoom
Arbeitsgruppenseminar Analysis

Jan Mandrysch (Wien)

Abstract:   While measurement processes in standard quantum mechanics are well understood, the extension of these ideas to quantum field theory (QFT) remains a key challenge. In particular, ensuring that measurements respect fundamental principles such as relativistic causality is crucial. A persistent issue concerning measurements in QFT is, though, that the usual axioms for QFT alone are insufficient to prevent superluminal signaling. In this talk, I will discuss a recent proposal by Fewster and Verch for a local, covariant and causal measurement framework in algebraic QFT. In particular, I will discuss completeness of the framework and motivate its underlying assumptions focussing on the concrete setting of a free scalar field and Gaussian measurements. We conclude that the Fewster-Verch approach is suitable to model typical measurements in QFT.

The talk is based on joint work with Miguel Navascués ( Lett Math Phys 115, 115 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11005-025-02001-3 ).
 

For more information and log in details please contact Christian Molle.