{
  "id": "0810.4903",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2008-10-27T18:46:07.000Z",
  "updated": "2008-10-27T18:46:07.000Z",
  "title": "The direction of time in quantum field theory",
  "authors": [
    "Peter Morgan"
  ],
  "comment": "Submitted to the FQXi essay contest, on the subject of The Nature of Time",
  "categories": [
    "quant-ph"
  ],
  "abstract": "The algebra of observables associated with a quantum field theory is invariant under the connected component of the Lorentz group and under parity reversal, but it is not invariant under time reversal. If we take general covariance seriously as a long-term goal, the algebra of observables should be time-reversal invariant, and any breaking of time-reversal symmetry will have to be described by the state over the algebra. In consequence, the modified algebra of observables is a presentation of a classical continuous random field.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2008-10-27T18:46:07.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "quantum field theory",
      "observables",
      "classical continuous random field",
      "time-reversal symmetry",
      "lorentz group"
    ],
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 0,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable",
      "adsabs": "2008arXiv0810.4903M"
    }
  }
}