Semi-Classical Field Theory as Decoherence Free Subspaces

Abstract

We formulate semi-classical field theory as an approximate decoherence-free-subspace of a finite-dimensional quantum-gravity hilbert space. A complementarity construction can be realized as a unitary transformation which changes the decoherence-free-subspace. This can be translated to signify that field theory on a global slice, in certain space-times, is the simultaneous examination of two different superselected sectors of a field theory. We posit that a correct course graining procedure of quantum gravity should be WKB states propagating in a curved background in which particles exiting a horizon have imaginary components to their phases. The field theory appears non-unitary, but it is due to the existence of approximate decoherence free sub-spaces. Furthermore, the importance of operator spaces in the course-graining procedure is discussed. We also briefly touch on Firewalls.