Algebraic QFT in curved spacetime and quasifree Hadamard states: An introduction

Abstract

Within this chapter we introduce the overall idea of the algebraic formalism of QFT on a fixed globally hyperbolic spacetime in the framework of unital *-algebras. We point out some general features of CCR algebras, such as simplicity and the construction of symmetry-induced homomorphisms. For simplicity, we deal only with a real scalar quantum field. We discuss some known general results in curved spacetime like the existence of quasifree states enjoying symmetries induced from the background, pointing out the relevant original references. We introduce, in particular, the notion of a Hadamard quasifree algebraic quantum state, both in the geometric and microlocal formulation, and the associated notion of Wick polynomials.