Plotting a potential function in MATLAB

maxtor101

Hi all,

I would like to be able to plot this function in MATLAB


[itex] \mathcal{V} (\phi_{1}, \phi_{2}) = m^2(\phi_{1}^2 + \phi_{2}^2) + \lambda( \phi_{1}^2 + \phi_{2}^2)^2[/itex]


Where [itex] \phi_{1,2} , m^2 , \lambda \in \mathbb{R} [/itex] and [itex] \lambda > 0 [/itex]


I am aware that the cases [itex] m^2 > 0 [/itex] and [itex] m^2 < 0 [/itex] yield two different plots.

I encountered this while doing some reading on QFT, this potential was used in a Lagrangian density while trying to demonstrate spontaneous U(1) symmetry breaking.

I would really like to be able to plot this in MATLAB but unfortunately I have minimal previous experience with it.

Would anybody here be able to help me please?

Thanks
Max

Yuu Suzumi

Hello Maxtor,

I believe the surf() function in matlab to be suited for your purposes.

After defining [itex] \phi_1, \phi_2, V [/itex] in MATLAB you would use it in this way:
surf(phi_1, phi_2, V). Information and examples are available here:

http://www.mathworks.de/de/help/matlab/ref/surf.html

All the best,
Yuu

maxtor101

Thank you for your reply!

phi1 = [-20:0.5:20];
phi2 = [-20:0.5:20];
lam = 1;
m = 1;

V = (m^2)*(phi1.^2 + phi2^2) + lam*(phi1.^2 + phi2.^2).^2 ;


surf(phi1, phi2, V)



I tried this but I get the following error:

Error using ^
Inputs must be a scalar and a square matrix.
To compute elementwise POWER, use POWER (.^) instead.

Error in p1a (line 6)
V = (m^2)*(phi1.^2 + phi2^2) + lam*(phi1.^2 + phi2.^2).^2 ;

maxtor101

Apologies, I got it working


[phi1, phi2] = meshgrid(-20:0.5:20);

lam = 1;
m = 1;

V = (m^2)*(phi1.^2 + phi2^2) + lam*(phi1.^2 + phi2.^2).^2 ;


surf(phi1, phi2, V)



thanks for your help!

Yuu Suzumi

You are very welcome