Spatially averaged quantum inequalities do not exist in four-dimensional spacetime

L. H. Ford, Adam D. Helfer, and Thomas A. Roman
Phys. Rev. D 66, 124012 – Published 26 December 2002
PDFExport Citation

Abstract

We construct a particular class of quantum states for a massless, minimally coupled free scalar field which are of the form of a superposition of the vacuum and multimode two-particle states. These states can exhibit local negative energy densities. Furthermore, they can produce an arbitrarily large amount of negative energy in a given region of space at a fixed time. This class of states thus provides an explicit counterexample to the existence of a spatially averaged quantum inequality in four-dimensional spacetime.

  • Received 20 August 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.66.124012

©2002 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

L. H. Ford*

  • Institute of Cosmology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155

Adam D. Helfer

  • Department of Mathematics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211

Thomas A. Roman

  • Institute of Cosmology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155

  • *Email address: ford@cosmos.phy.tufts.edu
  • Email address: adam@math.missouri.edu
  • Permanent address: Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT 06050. Email address: roman@ccsu.edu

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 66, Iss. 12 — 15 December 2002

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review D

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×