Superluminal Local Operations in Quantum Field Theory: A Ping-Pong Ball Test
Abstract
It is known that, in quantum field theory, localized operations, e.g., given by unitary operators in local observable algebras, may lead to non-causal, or superluminal, state changes within their localization region. In this article, it is shown that, both in quantum field theory as well as in classical relativistic field theory, there are localized operations which correspond to "instantaneous" spatial rotations (leaving the localization region invariant) leading to superluminal effects within the localization region. This shows that "impossible measurement scenarios" which have been investigated in the literature, and which rely on the presence of localized operations that feature superluminal effects within their localization region, do not only occur in quantum field theory, but also in classical field theory.
- Publication:
-
Universe
- Pub Date:
- October 2023
- DOI:
- 10.3390/universe9100447
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2308.16673
- Bibcode:
- 2023Univ....9..447M
- Keywords:
-
- quantum field theory;
- classical field theory;
- local operations;
- faster-than-light communication;
- superluminal signalling;
- impossible measurements;
- Quantum Physics;
- General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology;
- High Energy Physics - Theory
- E-Print:
- v2 (revised version): Reference added, some parts of notation improved. This version agrees with the journal publication. As the journal publication is affected by some editing problems, the revised arXiv version is recommended instead