Quantum field theory (QFT) is the basic physical theory that combines quantum theory with special relativity in order to describe elementary particles. Besides its phenomenological success, QFT still contains many open mathematical problems, and continues to be a driving force for many developments in mathematics.
In our group, we mostly focus on an approach to QFT that is called algebraic QFT (AQFT) or local quantum physics, emphasizing the central role of Einstein locality (causality) in this theory. The mathematical description of a quantum field theory in this framework consists of a net of observable algebras (either C*-algebras in a representation-independent version, or von Neumann algebras for specific representations, for example vacuum representations) that is indexed by the open regions of spacetime and subject to a number of physically motivated axioms, expressing in particular the covariance and locality of the theory.
Some themes of current research with links to articles are:
- Standard subspaces and associated subfactors (see extended abstracts [CL23, CL25] and [CL25])
- Relative entropies and other f-divergences on von Neumann algebras [CFLS26]
- Construction of interacting quantum field theories from so-called Borchers triples with the help of Tomita-Takesaki theory (see review [L15])
- Twisted Araki-Woods von Neumann algebras ([CL22])
- Scattering theory in QFT, in particular in integrable models ([AL17],[BCL21])
- Structure theory of Borchers triples and non-local examples of QFTs ([LS22])
- Braided structures in QFT and solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation (unitary braidings) ([LPW19],[CL21])
2027
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Coupling of the continuum and semiclassical limit. Part I: convergence of eigenvalues
(2027)
DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2602.23156
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2026
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Integral representations of f-divergences for general von Neumann algebras
(2026)
URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.05195
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The classification problem for unitary R-Matrices with two eigenvalues
(2026)
DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2603.20158
URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.20158
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Unitary R-matrices, mostly with two eigenvalues
Oberwolfach Mini-Workshop: The Yang–Baxter Equation and Representations of Braid Groups (Oberwolfach, 27.10.2025 - 31.10.2025)
DOI: 10.4171/owr/2025/49
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Causal quantum-mechanical localization observables in lattices of real projections
(2026)
DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2602.11392
URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.11392
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2025
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Inclusions of Standard Subspaces
In: Communications in Mathematical Physics 406 (2025), Art.Nr.: 283
ISSN: 0010-3616
DOI: 10.1007/s00220-025-05458-4
URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.16085
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Standard Subspaces and twisted Araki-Woods subfactors
Subfactors and Applications (Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach, 28.07.2025 - 01.08.2025)
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Relative positions of half-sided modular inclusions
In: Letters in Mathematical Physics 115 (2025), Art.Nr.: 118
ISSN: 0377-9017
DOI: 10.1007/s11005-025-02008-w
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2024
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Standard Subspaces in Quantum Field Theory and Representation Theory
2024
(Oberwolfach Reports, Bd.20)
DOI: 10.14760/OWR-2023-50
URL: https://publications.mfo.de/handle/mfo/4092
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Operator-Algebraic Constructions of QFT Models in Two Dimensions
In: Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics (Second Edition), 2024, S. 291-303
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-323-95703-8.00268-8
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780323957038002688?via=ihub
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Crossing symmetry and the crossing map
In: Reviews in Mathematical Physics (2024)
ISSN: 0129-055X
DOI: 10.1142/S0129055X24610051
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KMS states on Z2-crossed products and twisted KMS functionals
In: Annales Henri Poincaré (2024)
ISSN: 1424-0637
DOI: 10.1007/s00023-024-01516-0
URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.15574
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Twisted Araki-Woods Algebras, the Yang-Baxter Equation, and quantum field theory
In: Geometric Methods in Physics XL, Birkhäuser, 2024, S. 127-144 (Trends in Mathematics)
ISBN: 978-3-031-62406-3
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62407-0
URL: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-62407-0
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Numerical results on quantum energy inequalities in integrable models at the two-particle level
In: Physical Review D 109 (2024), Art.Nr.: 085022
ISSN: 2470-0010
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.109.085022
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2023
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Modular Structure and Inclusions of Twisted Araki-Woods Algebras
In: Communications in Mathematical Physics (2023)
ISSN: 0010-3616
DOI: 10.1007/s00220-023-04773-y
URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00220-023-04773-y
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Classification of unitary R-matrices by braid group characters
Oberwolfach Workshop 2309a "Skew Braces and the Yang-Baxter Equation" (Oberwolfach, 26.02.2023 - 04.03.2023)
DOI: 10.4171/OWR/2023/9
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Inclusions of Standard Subspaces
Mini-Workshop on Standard Subspaces in Quantum Field Theory and Representation Theory (Oberwolfach, 29.10.2023 - 03.11.2023)
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2022
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Deformations of half-sided modular inclusions and non-local chiral field theories
In: Communications in Mathematical Physics (2022)
ISSN: 0010-3616
DOI: 10.1007/s00220-022-04324-x
URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00220-022-04324-x
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2021
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High Energy Bounds On Wave Operators
In: Journal of Operator Theory 86 (2021), S. 61-91
ISSN: 0379-4024
DOI: 10.7900/jot.2020feb01.2285
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Yang–Baxter endomorphisms
In: Journal of the London Mathematical Society-Second Series 103 (2021), S. 633-671
ISSN: 0024-6107
DOI: 10.1112/jlms.12387
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Braid groups, the Yang–Baxter equation, and subfactors
In: Snapshots of Modern Mathematics from Oberwolfach (2021)
ISSN: 2626-1995
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2020
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Fock representations of ZF algebras and R-matrices
In: Letters in Mathematical Physics 110 (2020), S. 1623-1643
ISSN: 0377-9017
DOI: 10.1007/s11005-020-01271-3
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2019
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Yang-Baxter representations of the infinite symmetric group
In: Advances in Mathematics 355 (2019), Art.Nr.: 106769
ISSN: 0001-8708
DOI: 10.1016/j.aim.2019.106769
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2018
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SO(d, 1) -Invariant Yang–Baxter Operators and the dS/CFT Correspondence
In: Communications in Mathematical Physics 357 (2018), S. 159-202
ISSN: 0010-3616
DOI: 10.1007/s00220-017-2942-6
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Approximation numbers of weighted composition operators
In: Journal of Functional Analysis 274 (2018), S. 1928-1958
ISSN: 0022-1236
DOI: 10.1016/j.jfa.2018.01.010
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2017
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Inverse Scattering and Local Observable Algebras in Integrable Quantum Field Theories
In: Communications in Mathematical Physics 354 (2017), S. 913-956
ISSN: 0010-3616
DOI: 10.1007/s00220-017-2891-0
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Quantum backflow and scattering
In: Physical Review A 96 (2017), Art.Nr.: 012112
ISSN: 1050-2947
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.96.012112
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2016
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Recent Mathematical Developments in Quantum Field Theory
In: Oberwolfach reports 13 (2016), S. 2069-2122
ISSN: 1660-8933
DOI: 10.4171/OWR/2016/36
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Modular nuclearity: A generally covariant perspective
In: Axioms 5 (2016), Art.Nr.: 5
ISSN: 2075-1680
DOI: 10.3390/axioms5010005
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Thermal equilibrium states for quantum fields on non-commutative spacetimes
In: Felix Finster, Johannes Kleiner, Christian Röken, Jürgen Tolksdorf (Hrsg.): Quantum Mathematical Physics, Springer International Publishing, 2016, S. 179-199
ISBN: 9783319269023
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-26902-3_10
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Strict deformation quantization of locally convex algebras and modules
In: Journal of Geometry and Physics 99 (2016), S. 111-144
ISSN: 0393-0440
DOI: 10.1016/j.geomphys.2015.09.013
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2015
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Algebraic constructive quantum field theory: Integrable models and deformation techniques
In: Romeo Brunetti, Claudio Dappiaggi, Klaus Fredenhagen, Jakob Yngvason (Hrsg.): Advances in Algebraic Quantum Field Theory, Springer International Publishing, 2015 (Mathematical Physics Studies)
ISBN: 9783319213538
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-21353-8_10
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Localization in Nets of Standard Spaces
In: Communications in Mathematical Physics 336 (2015), S. 27-61
ISSN: 0010-3616
DOI: 10.1007/s00220-014-2199-2
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Linear hyperbolic PDEs with noncommutative time
In: Journal of Noncommutative Geometry 9 (2015), S. 999-1040
ISSN: 1661-6952
DOI: 10.4171/JNCG/214
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2014
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Towards an Operator-Algebraic Construction of Integrable Global Gauge Theories
In: Annales Henri Poincaré 15 (2014), S. 645-678
ISSN: 1424-0637
DOI: 10.1007/s00023-013-0260-x
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2013
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Wick rotation for quantum field theories on degenerate Moyal space(-time)
In: Journal of Mathematical Physics 54 (2013), Art.Nr.: 022307
ISSN: 0022-2488
DOI: 10.1063/1.4790886
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On the Equivalence of Two Deformation Schemes in Quantum Field Theory
In: Letters in Mathematical Physics 103 (2013), S. 421-437
ISSN: 0377-9017
DOI: 10.1007/s11005-012-0599-9
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2012
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Deformations of Quantum Field Theories and Integrable Models
In: Communications in Mathematical Physics 312 (2012), S. 265-302
ISSN: 0010-3616
DOI: 10.1007/s00220-011-1390-y
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2011
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Scaling limits of integrable quantum field theories
In: Reviews in Mathematical Physics 23 (2011), S. 1115-1156
ISSN: 0129-055X
DOI: 10.1142/S0129055X11004539
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Warped Convolutions, Rieffel Deformations and the Construction of Quantum Field Theories
In: Communications in Mathematical Physics 304 (2011), S. 95-123
ISSN: 0010-3616
DOI: 10.1007/s00220-010-1137-1
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Deformations of Quantum Field Theories on Spacetimes with Killing Vector Fields
In: Communications in Mathematical Physics 305 (2011), S. 99-130
ISSN: 0010-3616
DOI: 10.1007/s00220-011-1210-4
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2010
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Deformations of operator algebras and the construction of quantum field theories
XVIth International Congress on Mathematical Physics
DOI: 10.1142/9789814304634_0040
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2008
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Noncommutative deformations of Wightman quantum field theories
In: Journal of High Energy Physics (2008), Art.Nr.: ARTN 131
ISSN: 1029-8479
DOI: 10.1088/1126-6708/2008/09/131
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Construction of quantum field theories with factorizing S-matrices
In: Communications in Mathematical Physics 277 (2008), S. 821-860
ISSN: 0010-3616
DOI: 10.1007/s00220-007-0381-5
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2007
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Wedge-local quantum fields and noncommutative Minkowski space
In: Journal of High Energy Physics (2007), Art.Nr.: ARTN 012
ISSN: 1029-8479
DOI: 10.1088/1126-6708/2007/11/012
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Towards the construction of quantum field theories from a factorizing S-matrix
In: Rigorous Quantum Field Theory, Springer Basel, 2007, S. 175-197 (Progress in Mathematics, Bd.251)
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7643-7434-1_13
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2005
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On the existence of local observables in theories with a factorizing S-matrix
In: Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General 38 (2005), S. 3045-3056
ISSN: 0305-4470
DOI: 10.1088/0305-4470/38/13/015
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2004
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Modular nuclearity and localization
In: Annales Henri Poincaré 5 (2004), S. 1065-1080
ISSN: 1424-0637
DOI: 10.1007/s00023-004-0190-8
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2003
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Polarization-free quantum fields and interaction
In: Letters in Mathematical Physics 64 (2003), S. 137–154
ISSN: 0377-9017
DOI: 10.1023/A:1025772304804
URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0303062
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- Der modulare Hamiltonoperator und relative Entropie in wechselwirkenden Quantenfeldtheorien
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG, 2026-28, PI: Markus Fröb - Von Kaven Award 2022
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG, Gandalf Lechner - Quantum Fields and Operator Algebras I
Heisenberg professorship, first funding period, (DFG, LE 2222/3-1), 2021-2024, PI: Gandalf Lechner - Quantum Fields and Operator Algebras II
Heisenberg professorship, second funding period, (DFG, LE 2222/3-1), 2024-2026, PI: Gandalf Lechner - Operator Algebras: Subfactors, K-Theory, Conformal Field Theory
grants from EPSRC, London Mathematical Society, Clay Mathematics Institute, 2022, PIs: Gandalf Lechner, Ulrich Pennig (Cardiff), Mathew Pugh, (Cardiff)
Completed projects (selection)
- Algebraic Quantum Field Theory in the UK
LMS Research Groups grant (Chris Fewster (York), Robin Hillier (Lancaster), Gandalf Lechner) - Operator Algebras and Quantum Physics
May-June 2019, program at the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, Stony Brook (Stefan Hollands (Leipzig), Vaughan Jones (Vanderbilt), Gandalf Lechner, Roberto Longo (Rome)) - Deformations of Quantum Field Theories
FWF Grant P22929-N16, 2011-14, (Gandalf Lechner, Jakob Yngvason (Vienna))