Operator Product Expansion - General

General

In quantum field theory, the operator product expansion (OPE) is a convergent expansion of the product of two fields at different points as a sum (possibly infinite) of local fields.

More precisely, if x and y are two different points, and A and B are operator-valued fields, then there is an open neighborhood of y, O such that for all x in O/{y}

where the sum is over finitely or countably many terms, Ci are operator-valued fields, ci are analytic functions over O/{y} and the sum is convergent in the operator topology within O/{y}.

OPEs are most often used in conformal field theory.

The notation is often used to denote that the difference G(x,y)-F(x,y) remains analytic at the points x=y. This is an equivalence relation.

Read more about this topic:  Operator Product Expansion

Famous quotes containing the word general:

    In truth, a mature man who uses hair-oil, unless medicinally, that man has probably got a quoggy spot in him somewhere. As a general rule, he can’t amount to much in his totality.
    Herman Melville (1819–1891)

    There is a mortifying experience in particular, which does not fail to wreak itself also in the general history; I mean “the foolish face of praise,” the forced smile which we put on in company where we do not feel at ease, in answer to conversation which does not interest us. The muscles, not spontaneously moved but moved, by a low usurping wilfulness, grow tight about the outline of the face, with the most disagreeable sensation.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    What use Milton, a silly story
    Of our lost general parents,
    eaters of fruit?
    Gary Snyder (b. 1930)