Coloring Operads for Algebraic Field Theory

Abstract

In these proceedings we summarize previous work where we formalize a general concept of algebraic field theories using operads. After giving a gentle reminder of algebraic quantum field theory, operads and their algebras, we construct field theory operads, whose algebras are exactly algebraic field theories. Specifically, they satisfy a suitable version of the Einstein causality axiom. From this construction we get adjunctions between different types of field theories, including adjunctions related to local-to-global extensions and the time-slice axiom, and a quantization functor for linear field theories that is compatible with these structures. We also take first steps towards a derived linear quantization functor.