Why Can We Drop Constant Terms in Quantum Field Theory Lagrangians?

In summary, the constant term in Lagrangian is a term that represents the potential energy of a system and does not depend on the system's coordinates or velocities. It is important in Lagrangian as it affects the equations of motion and can simplify them. The constant term is calculated by taking the difference between the total energy and the kinetic energy terms, or by comparing potential energies at different configurations. It can be negative, indicating a lower potential energy at a particular configuration. If a system is in equilibrium, the constant term will be zero as there is no net change in potential energy.
  • #1
spaghetti3451
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Why can we always drop any constant term in a Lagrangian density in quantum field theory?

This issue is somehow related to the constant term being some kind of cosmological constant?

Can you please explain this issue?
 
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  • #2
Well, in classical field theory the constant is superfluous, because the field equations are calculated in terms of the partial derivatives of the Lagrangian density.
In QFT the constant term should not influence the path integral (generating functional for the various Green functions). Can you show that?
 
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Related to Why Can We Drop Constant Terms in Quantum Field Theory Lagrangians?

What is the constant term in Lagrangian?

The constant term in Lagrangian is a term that does not depend on the system's coordinates or velocities. It is also referred to as the potential energy term, as it represents the potential energy of the system.

Why is the constant term important in Lagrangian?

The constant term is important in Lagrangian because it affects the equations of motion for a system. It can also help in simplifying the equations and making them easier to solve.

How is the constant term calculated in Lagrangian?

The constant term is calculated by taking the difference between the total energy of the system and the kinetic energy term in the Lagrangian. It can also be calculated by taking the difference between the potential energy of the system at a particular configuration and the potential energy at some reference configuration.

Can the constant term be negative in Lagrangian?

Yes, the constant term can be negative in Lagrangian. This would mean that the potential energy of the system at a particular configuration is less than the potential energy at the reference configuration.

What happens to the constant term if a system is in equilibrium?

If a system is in equilibrium, the constant term in Lagrangian will be equal to zero. This is because there is no net change in the potential energy of the system at equilibrium, and thus the potential energy at the configuration is equal to the potential energy at the reference configuration.

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