Dynamics and phase transitions for a continuous system of quantum particles in a box

A particular type of continuous quantum system with infinitely many particles is analyzed, and the existence of dynamics is proven in the GNS representations of certain states. The dynamics is not a group of automorphisms on the original algebra, so equilibrium states are defined in terms of the KMS condition in the representations of the states. The basic theorems about KMS states do not apply here. Nevertheless, for a special class of interactions it is proven that the central decomposition of an equilibrium state is concentrated on a Borel set of equilibrium factor states and that such factor states are precisely the extremal equilibrium states. Furthermore, the equilibrium factor states are in one-to-one correspondence with sets of functions satisfying a certain system of trace equations. This explicit correspondence is then used to show that there are no phase transitions for high temperature, and an example of a phase transition is constructed for low temperature. The phase transition also provides an example of continuous symmetry breaking. 1978 American Institute of Physics.

Dynamics and phase transitions for a continuous system of quantum particles in a box Academic Article