In quantum field theory, we always use $U(+\infty,-\infty)|0\rangle= e^{i \theta}|0\rangle$, where $$U(+\infty,-\infty)=\lim_{\epsilon\rightarrow +0} \mathcal{T}\exp\{i \int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} e^{-\epsilon|t'|} H_i(t') dt\}$$ That is we adiabatically switch on the interaction and then switch off. My question is why the infinite time evolution of free vacuum is still a free vacuum? Can anyone explain in the following case ?
In the case, the field is massless like Maxwell field. I know there is adiabatic theorem in quantum mechanics, but it requires there is always a gap from the orginal state. But in QED, above the vacuum these is a continuous spectrum since photon is massless. Why $U(+\infty,-\infty)|0\rangle= e^{i \theta}|0\rangle$ still holds?
The same problem also exists in the condensed matter field where the spectra of phonon is gapless. Why does every qft textbook or quantum many-body textbook just say it's an adiabatic theorem?
If this equation is not correct, then we cannot get the following formula:
$$\langle\Omega|\mathcal{T}A(t_1)B(t_2)\cdots|\Omega\rangle=\frac{\langle 0|\mathcal{T} U(+\infty,-\infty)A(t_1)B(t_2)\cdots| 0\rangle}{\langle 0| U(+\infty,-\infty) | 0\rangle}$$