Quantum Newtonian Dynamics on a Light Front

Abstract

We recall the special features of quantum dynamics on a light-front (in an infinite momentum frame) in string and field theory. The reason this approach is more effective for string than for fields is stressed: the light-front dynamics for string is that of a true Newtonian many particle system, since a string bit has a fixed Newtonian mass. In contrast, each particle of a field theory has a variable Newtonian mass P^+, so the Newtonian analogy actually requires an infinite number of species of elementary Newtonian particles. This complication substantially weakens the value of the Newtonian analogy in applying light-front dynamics to nonperturbative problems. Motivated by the fact that conventional field theories can be obtained as infinite tension limits of string theories, we propose a way to recast field theory as a standard Newtonian system. We devise and analyze some simple quantum mechanical systems that display the essence of the proposal, and we discuss prospects for applying these ideas to large N_c QCD.

13 pages, 3 figures, LaTex, psfig, references added, APS copyright

References in corpus (2)

• Gauge Theory Correlators from Non-Critical String Theory
• Quantum Chromodynamics and Other Field Theories on the Light Cone

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking at Infinite Momentum without P+ Zero-Modes
• A Worldsheet Description of Large N_c Quantum Field Theory
• Zero momentum modes in discrete light-cone quantization
• QCD Fishnets Revisited
• Defining the Force between Separated Sources on a Light Front
• Electromagnetic duality and light-front coordinates