Help With Proving Peskin and Schroeder Eq. 2.33

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on proving Peskin and Schroeder equation 2.33, which involves the expression for momentum in quantum field theory. The user has transformed the fields into momentum space and performed integrals leading to a delta function, but struggles with the cancellation of operators to arrive at the final result of \(2a^{\dagger}_p a_p\). The key steps include integrating over spatial coordinates and utilizing the properties of creation and annihilation operators.

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  • Understanding of quantum field theory concepts, specifically momentum space representation.
  • Familiarity with Peskin and Schroeder's "An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory".
  • Knowledge of creation and annihilation operators in quantum mechanics.
  • Proficiency in performing integrals in three-dimensional momentum space.
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  • Study the derivation of momentum operators in quantum field theory.
  • Learn about the properties and commutation relations of creation and annihilation operators.
  • Review the delta function's role in quantum mechanics and field theory.
  • Explore examples of operator cancellations in quantum field theoretical proofs.
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Quantum physicists, graduate students in theoretical physics, and anyone studying quantum field theory who seeks to understand operator manipulations and momentum space representations.

Norman
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I am unsure if this is the proper forum for this, since it is not actually homework... but here goes anyway.

I am trying to Prove Peskin and Schroeder equation 2.33


P=-\int d^3 x \pi (x) \nabla \phi (x) = \int \frac{d^3 x}{(2 \pi)^3} p a^{\dagger}_p a_p

so far what I have done:
written the fields as the momentum space quantities, done the integral over the spatial coordinates to give me the delta function and integrated over the p' variables to give me this:

The last step forces p'=-p

\int \frac{d^3}{(2 \pi)^3} \frac{p}{2} (a^{\dagger}_{-p} a_{-p} + a^{\dagger}_{-p} a^{\dagger}_p - a_p a_{-p} - a_p a^{\dagger}_p )

I don't see how these operators cancel out to give :
() = 2a^{\dagger}_p a_p

Any help would be greatly appreciated... even just a hint would be very helpfull.
Thanks
 
Last edited:
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Why isn't the latex coming up?
 
LaTeX seems to be broken - hope they get it fixed soon!
 
Now that LaTeX works...

Anyone able to lend a hand?
 

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