Interacting fields at spatial infinity
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We study the properties of massive fields extrapolated to the blowup of spatial infinity ( i ^ 0 ), extending the program initiated by Laddha [Squinting at massive fields from infinity, ]. In the free theory, we find an explicit representation of boundary two-point functions and boundary to bulk two-point functions, and also present a Hamilton–Kabat–Lifschytz–Lowe (HKLL)-type reconstruction formula for local bulk operators in terms of smeared boundary operators. We study interacting Wightman correlators and find that, generically, interacting massive fields decay slower than free fields as one approaches i ^ 0 . We propose that meaningful correlators at i ^ 0 can be obtained through a Lehmann–Symanzik–Zimmermann (LSZ)-like prescription that isolates the on-shell part of bulk Wightman correlators before extrapolating them to i ^ 0 . We show that a natural basis for operators at i ^ 0 , defined via this prescription, is given by the average of “in” and “out” operators defined at i − and i + , respectively. Therefore, correlators at i ^ 0 and cross-correlators between i ^ 0 , i − , and i + can be represented within the class of asymptotic observables studied by Caron-Huot [What can be measured asymptotically?, ]. We present several sample calculations.
DOI: 10.1103/hm1z-qbfw
Institution: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Funders: National Science Foundation, California Institute of Technology, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara
OpenAlex ID: W4399270490