We study the time evolution of decaying particles in renormalizable models of Relativistic Quantum Field Theory. Significant differences between the latter and Non Relativistic QuantumMechanics are found —in particular, the Zeno effect seems to be absent in such RQFT models. Conventional renormalization yields finite time behaviour in some cases but fails to produce finite survival probabilitie...

The renormalization program has been shown to be a success operationally: 1. For a renormalizable theory, all ultraviolet divergences can be absorbed into redefinitions of bare quan­ tities, which are not observable. What is meant by the set of physical observables is unambiguous: it is well-defined in terms of a small number of physical couplings, masses and so forth. 2. The requirement of ren...

We analyze the particle-like excitations arising in relativistic field theories in states different than the vacuum. The basic properties characterizing the quasiparticle propagation are studied using two different complementary methods. First we introduce a frequency-based approach, wherein the quasiparticle properties are deduced from the spectral analysis of the twopoint propagators. Second,...

The pioneering work of early non-relativistic quantum theory led to the understanding that quantum dynamics on Hilbert space is a comprehensive predictive framework for microscopic phenomena. From the Bohr atom, through the nonrelativistic quantum theory of Schrödinger and Heisenberg, and the relativistic Dirac equation for hydrogen, agreement between calculation and experiment improved rapidly...

We show how the state of an unstable particle can be defined in terms of stable asymptotic states. This general definition is used to discuss and to solve some old problems connected with the short-time and large-time behaviour of the non-decay amplitude. CERN-TH/97-246 September 1997 ⋆ Address from Sept 1st, 1997 to August 31st, 1998.