Annihilation in Quantum Field Theory

We develop a theory based on Bohmian mechanics in which particle world lines can begin and end. Such a theory provides a realist description of creation and annihilation events and thus a further step towards a “beable-based” formulation of quantum field theory, as opposed to the usual “observable-based” formulation which is plagued by the conceptual difficulties—like the measurement problem—of quantum mechanics. PACS numbers 03.65.Ta (foundations of quantum mechanics) 42.50.Ct (quantum description of interaction of light and matter) Mathematisches Institut der Universität München, Theresienstraße 39, 80333 München, Germany. E-mail: [email protected] Department of Mathematics Hill Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 110 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8019, USA. E-mail: [email protected] Mathematisches Institut der Universität München, Theresienstraße 39, 80333 München, Germany. E-mail: [email protected] Dipartimento di Fisica, INFN sezione di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]