Symmetry Reduction of Quasi-Free States
Abstract
Given a group-invariant quasi-free state on the algebra of canonical commutation relations (CCR), we show how group averaging techniques can be used to obtain a symmetry reduced CCR algebra and reduced quasi-free state. When the group is compact this method of symmetry reduction leads to standard results which can be obtained using other methods. When the group is non-compact the group averaging prescription relies upon technically favorable conditions which we delineate. As an example, we consider symmetry reduction of the usual vacuum state for a Klein-Gordon field on Minkowski spacetime by a non-compact subgroup of the Poincar\'e group consisting of a 1-parameter family of boosts, a 1-parameter family of spatial translations and a set of discrete translations. We show that the symmetry reduced CCR algebra and vacuum state correspond to that used by each of Berger, Husain, and Pierri for the polarized Gowdy T3 quantum gravity model.