Signal propagation on $\kappa$-Minkowski spacetime and non-local two-point functions

Abstract

We study the propagation of quantum fields on $\kappa$-Minkowsi spacetime. Starting from the non-commutative partition function for a free field written in momentum space we derive the Feynman propagator and analyze the non-trivial singularity structure determined by the group manifold geometry of momentum space. The additional contributions due to such singularity structure result in a deformed field propagation which can be alternatively described in terms of an ordinary field propagation determined by a source with a blurred spacetime profile. We show that the $\kappa$-deformed Feynman propagator can be written in terms of vacuum expectation values of a commutative non-local quantum field. For sub-Planckian modes the $\kappa$-deformed propagator corresponds to the vacuum expectation value of the time-ordered product of non-local field operators while for trans-Plankian modes this is replaced by the Hadamard two-point function, the vacuum expectation value of the anti-commutator of non-local field operators.