Composite Structure and Causality

Abstract

We study the question of whether a composite structure of elementary particles, with a length scale $1/\Lambda$, can leave observable effects of non-locality and causality violation at higher energies (but $\lesssim \Lambda$). We formulate a model-independent approach based on Bogoliubov-Shirkov formulation of causality. We analyze the relation between the fundamental theory (of finer constituents) and the derived theory (of composite particles). We assume that the fundamental theory is causal and formulate a condition which must be fulfilled for the derived theory to be causal. We analyze the condition and exhibit possibilities which fulfil and which violate the condition. We make comments on how causality violating amplitudes can arise.