Generalized functions for quantum fields obeying quadratic exchange relations

Abstract

The axiomatic formulation of quantum field theory (QFT) of the 1950's in terms of fields defined as operator valued Schwartz distributions is re-examined in the light of subsequent developments. These include, on the physical side, the construction of a wealth of (2-dimensional) soluble QFT models with quadratic exchange relations, and, on the mathematical side, the introduction of the Colombeau algebras of generalized functions. Exploiting the fact that energy positivity gives rise to a natural regularization of Wightman distributions as analytic functions in a tube domain, we argue that the flexible notions of Colombeau theory which can exploit particular regularizations is better suited (than Schwartz distributions) for a mathematical formulation of QFT.