Correlators Are Simpler than Wave Functions
Abstract
Recent works reveal a simplicity in equal-time correlators absent from wave functions. We show that it follows from the fact that correlators are full spacetime integrals rather than half-spacetime integrals as for the wave function. This makes striking properties manifest: some wave function singularities are absent, factorization simplifies, and around every pole the Laurent expansion has a vanishing first subleading term. Near the total-energy pole, the expansion to second order is generated by a differential operator on scattering amplitudes.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation
Theoretical and Computational Physics
Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Physical Review Letters
- Publisher
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Volume
- 137
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 061601–061601
- Publication date
- 16 July 2026
- Language
- EN