Constraints on negative-energy fluxes

Journal Article · Sat Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.43.3972· OSTI ID:5592263

Ford, L H ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155 (USA)

Locally negative energy due to quantum coherence effects in quantum field theory is discussed. In a previous work, it was argued that a beam carrying negative energy must satisfy an uncertainty-principle-type inequality of the form {vert bar}{Delta}{ital E}{vert bar}{Delta}{ital t}{le}1, where {vert bar}{Delta}{ital E}{vert bar} is the magnitude of the negative energy that may be transmitted in a time {Delta}{ital t}. This conclusion applied only to two-dimensional spacetime, and was based on an examination of particular classes of quantum states. In the present work, we give more precise formulations of this type of inequality for a free massless scalar field in both two- and four-dimensional flat spacetime. These inequalities are proven to hold for all quantum states. The physical interpretation of these inequalities is also discussed, and it is argued that they are likely to prevent negative energy from producing such large-scale effects as violations of the second law of thermodynamics or of cosmic censorship.

• OSTI ID: 5592263
• Journal Information: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (USA), Vol. 43:12; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
SPACE-TIME
EIGENSTATES
ENERGY DENSITY
FOUR-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
RENORMALIZATION
SCALAR FIELDS
THERMODYNAMICS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FIELD THEORIES
645400* - High Energy Physics- Field Theory