Torque anomaly in quantum field theory

S. A. Fulling, F. D. Mera, and C. S. Trendafilova
Phys. Rev. D 87, 047702 – Published 22 February 2013

Abstract

The expectation values of energy density and pressure of a quantum field inside a wedge-shaped region appear to violate the expected relationship between torque and total energy as a function of angle. In particular, this is true of the well-known Deutsch-Candelas stress tensor for the electromagnetic field, whose definition requires no regularization except possibly at the vertex. Unlike a similar anomaly in the pressure exerted by a reflecting boundary against a perpendicular wall, this problem cannot be dismissed as an artifact of an ad hoc regularization.

  • Received 27 December 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.87.047702

© 2013 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

S. A. Fulling*

  • Departments of Mathematics and Physics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3368, USA

F. D. Mera

  • Department of Mathematics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3368, USA

C. S. Trendafilova

  • Department of Physics, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712-0264, USA

  • *fulling@math.tamu.edu; http://www.math.tamu.edu/~fulling
  • cyntrendafilova@gmail.com

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Issue

Vol. 87, Iss. 4 — 15 February 2013

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