Pauli-Jordan Function and Scalar Field Quantization in $\kappa$-Minkowski Noncommutative Spacetime

Phys. Rev. D 98, 045017 (2018) We study a complex free scalar field theory on a noncommutative background spacetime called $\kappa$-Minkowski. In particular we address the problem of second quantization. We obtain the algebra of creation and annihilation operators in an explicitly covariant way. Our procedure does not use canonical/Hamiltonian formulations, which turn out to be ill-defined in our context. Instead we work in a spacetime covariant way by introducing a noncommutative Pauli-Jordan function. This function is obtained as a generalization of the ordinary, commutative, one by taking into account the constraints imposed by the symmetries of our noncommutative spacetime. The Pauli-Jordan function is later employed to study the structure of the light cone in $\kappa$-Minkowski spacetime, and to draw conclusions on the superluminal propagation of signals.