Causality and the S matrix

Abstract

A formalism is presented in order to impose causality conditions for finite‐range interactions which do not require the existence of wave packets with a sharp front. The absence of bound states and particle production is assumed. Two different causality conditions—referred to as strong and weak conditions—are studied. It is shown that in general the convolution kernel that connects the ingoing with the outgoing wave is not zero in the past. Some analytic properties of the S matrix are deduced.