Topological surprises in de Sitter QFT in two-dimensions

Abstract

Motivated by the study of soluble models of quantum field theory, we illustrate a new type of topological effect by comparing the constructions of canonical Klein–Gordon quantum fields on the two-dimensional de Sitter spacetime as opposed to its double covering. We show that while the commutators of the two fields coincide locally, the global topological differences make the theories drastically different. Many of the well-known features of de Sitter quantum field theory disappear. In particular, there is nothing like a Bunch–Davies vacuum. Correspondingly, even though the local horizon structure is the same for the two universes, there is no Hawking–Gibbons thermal state. Finally, there is no complementary series of fields.