Rigorous Bounds on Transport from Causality

Phys Rev Lett. 2023 Jun 30;130(26):261601. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.261601.

Abstract

We use causality to derive a number of simple and universal constraints on dispersion relations, which describe the location of singularities of retarded two-point functions in relativistic quantum field theories. We prove that all causal dissipative dispersion relations have a finite radius of convergence in cases where stochastic fluctuations are negligible. We then give two-sided bounds on all transport coefficients in units of this radius, including an upper bound on diffusivity.

MeSH terms

  • Causality
  • Quantum Theory*