Deriving charge for Noether current in free complex scalar field QFT

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on deriving the conserved Noether charge for a free complex scalar field in quantum field theory (QFT). The conserved charge is expressed as Q = \int \frac{\partial^3 p}{(2\pi)^3} ( a_p^* a_p - b_p^* b_p ), where a_p and b_p are the creation and annihilation operators for two types of particles. The Lagrangian used is L = \frac{1}{2} \partial_μ \psi \partial^μ \psi - \frac{1}{2} m^2 \psi^2, and the Noether current is derived from the symmetry \psi → e^{i\alpha} \psi. The final expression for Q is obtained after integrating and applying the appropriate commutation relations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum field theory (QFT) principles
  • Familiarity with Noether's theorem and conserved quantities
  • Knowledge of complex scalar fields and their Lagrangians
  • Proficiency in handling creation and annihilation operators
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of Noether currents in various field theories
  • Learn about the implications of symmetries in quantum field theory
  • Explore the role of creation and annihilation operators in QFT
  • Investigate the use of delta functions in integrals involving exponential terms
USEFUL FOR

Students and researchers in theoretical physics, particularly those focusing on quantum field theory, conservation laws, and particle physics. This discussion is beneficial for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of Noether's theorem and its applications in QFT.

Azelketh
Messages
38
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Hi I a attempting to derive the expression for the conserved Noether charge for a free complex scalar field.
The question I have to complete is: " show, by using the mode expansions for the free complex scalar field, that the conserved Noether charge (corresponding to complex phase rotations) is given by
Q= \int \frac{\partial^3 p}{(2\pi)^3} ( a_p^* a_p - b_p^* b_p) <br />
Where a_p, a_p^* and b_p, b_p^* are the creation and annihilation operators for 2 kinds of particles respectively"

Homework Equations



The Lagrangian for a free complex scalar field is;
L= \frac{1}{2} \partial_μ \psi \partial^μ \psi- \frac{1}{2}m^2\psi^2

I have recognized that there is a symmetry of\psi → e^{ i\alpha } \psi

which leads to a Noether current of
j_μ = i \partial _μ \psi^* \psi - i \partial _μ \psi \psi^*
Q= \int \partial ^3 x j_0 = i \int \partial ^3 x ( \partial _0 \psi^* \psi - \partial _0 \psi \psi^* )
Q=i \int \partial ^3 x ( \psi \dot{\psi^*} - \psi^* \dot{\psi} )
where
\dot{\psi} = \pi ^*
\dot{\psi^*} = \pi
so Q=i \int \partial ^3 x ( \psi \pi - \psi^* \pi ^* )
And the mode expansions;
\psi = \int \frac{\partial^3 P}{(2\pi)^3} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2 ω_p}}( a_p e^{ip.x } + b_p^* e^{-ip.x})
\psi^* = \int \frac{\partial^3 P}{(2\pi)^3} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2 ω_p}}( a_p^* e^{-ip.x} + b_p e^{ip.x })
\pi = i\int \frac{\partial^3 P}{(2\pi)^3} \sqrt{ \frac{ω_p}{2}}( a_p^* e^{-ip.x } - b_p e^{ip.x})
\pi^* = -i\int \frac{\partial^3 P}{(2\pi)^3} \sqrt{\frac{ω_p}{2}}( a_p e^{ip.x } - b_p^* e^{-ip.x})

The Attempt at a Solution



I have then plugged these into the Q equation;
Q=i \int \partial ^3 x [ \int \frac{\partial^3 P}{(2\pi)^3} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2 ω_p}}( a_p e^{ip.x } + b_p^* e^{-ip.x}) <br /> i\int \frac{\partial^3 P}{(2\pi)^3} \sqrt{ \frac{ω_p}{2}}( a_p^* e^{-ip.x } - b_p e^{ip.x})<br /> - \int \frac{\partial^3 P}{(2\pi)^3} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2 ω_p}}( a_p^* e^{-ip.x} + b_p e^{ip.x }) (-i)\int \frac{\partial^3 P}{(2\pi)^3} \sqrt{\frac{ω_p}{2}}( a_p e^{ip.x } - b_p^* e^{-ip.x}) ]
so factoring out the i's and 2 pi's from the integrals;
Q=\frac{i^2}{(2\pi)^6} \int \partial ^3 x [ \int \partial^3 P \frac{1}{\sqrt{2 ω_p}}( a_p e^{ip.x } + b_p^* e^{-ip.x}) <br /> \int \partial^3 P \sqrt{ \frac{ω_p}{2}}( a_p^* e^{-ip.x } - b_p e^{ip.x})<br /> + \int \partial^3 P \frac{1}{\sqrt{2 ω_p}}( a_p^* e^{-ip.x} + b_p e^{ip.x }) \int \partial^3 P \sqrt{\frac{ω_p}{2}}( a_p e^{ip.x } - b_p^* e^{-ip.x}) ]
It's at this point I'm utterly stuck on how to procede, I did think that could cancel the sqrt ω terms but they depend on p: ω_p = \sqrt{P^2 + m^2}
so as they are inside integrals dependent on P they can't be cancelled.

I am at an utter loss how to proceed from here though. If anyone can offer any pointers or assistance is would be greatly appreciated.
EDIT: made a sign error in exponential's for \psi and \psi^*
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
You can try changing the order of integration and doing the x integration before the p integrations.
 
Ok, I see how you can change the order of the integration, and changing one of the P's to r to make it clearer to me, to get :
<br /> Q=\frac{-1}{(2\pi)^6} \int \partial ^3 x [ \int \partial^3 P \frac{1}{\sqrt{2 ω_p}}( a_p e^{ip.x } + b_p^* e^{-ip.x}) <br /> \int \partial^3 r \sqrt{ \frac{ω_r}{2}}( a_r^* e^{-ir.x } - b_r e^{ir.x}) <br /> + \int \partial^3 P \frac{1}{\sqrt{2 ω_p}}( a_p^* e^{-ip.x} + b_p e^{ip.x }) \int \partial^3 r \sqrt{\frac{ω_r}{2}}( a_r e^{ir.x } - b_r^* e^{-ir.x}) ]<br />
<br /> Q=\frac{-1}{(2\pi)^6} \int \partial ^3 x [ \int \partial^3 P \sqrt{\frac{ω_r}{ ω_p}}<br /> ( a_p e^{ip.x } + b_p^* e^{-ip.x}) <br /> \int \partial^3 r ( a_r^* e^{-ir.x } - b_r e^{ir.x}) <br /> + \int \partial^3 P \sqrt{\frac{ω_r}{ ω_p}}( a_p^* e^{-ip.x} + b_p e^{ip.x }) \int \partial^3 r ( a_r e^{ir.x } - b_r^* e^{-ir.x}) ]<br />
<br /> Q=\frac{-1}{(2\pi)^6} ( \int \partial^3 P \int \partial^3 r \int \partial ^3 x \sqrt{\frac{ω_r}{ ω_p}}( a_p e^{ip.x } + b_p^* e^{-ip.x} ) <br /> ( a_r^* e^{-ir.x } - b_r e^{ir.x}) <br /> + \int \partial^3 P \int \partial^3 r \int \partial ^3 x \sqrt{\frac{ω_r}{ ω_p}}( a_p^* e^{-ip.x} + b_p e^{ip.x })( a_r e^{ir.x } - b_r^* e^{-ir.x}) )<br />

<br /> Q=\frac{-1}{(2\pi)^6} ( \int \partial^3 P \int \partial^3 r \int \partial ^3 x \sqrt{\frac{ω_r}{ ω_p}}<br /> ( a_p a_r^* e^{i( p - r ).x} -a_p b_r e^{i( p + r).x} + b_p^* a_r^* e^{-i( p + r ).x} -b_p^* b_r e^{i( r - p ).x} )<br /> + \int \partial^3 P \int \partial^3 r \int \partial ^3 x \sqrt{\frac{ω_r}{ ω_p}}<br /> ( a_p^* a_r e^{i( r - p ).x} -a_p^* b_r^* e^{-i( P + r ).x} + b_p a_re^{i( p + r).x} - b_p b_r^* e^{i( p - r ).x} )<br />

I'm not sure how to go about integrating the x components;
I've never integrated anything over \partial^3 x and am struggling to find anything that can help explain it.
would;
<br /> \int \partial ^3 x a_p^* a_r e^{ i(p +r).x} = \frac{1}{ (i(p+r))^3}a_p^* a_r e^{ i(p +r).x}<br />
or as its a dot product in the exponential,
<br /> \int \partial ^3 x a_p^* a_r e^{ i(p +r).x} = \int \partial ^3 x a_p^* a_r e^{ i( (p1 +r1)x1 + (p2+r2)x2 +(p3+r3)x3 )}<br />
<br /> = \frac{1}{i^3(p1+r1)(p2+r2)(p3+r3) }a_p^* a_r e^{ i(p +r).x}<br />

But I'm sort of expecting the x integral to give some kind of delta function in r so that the r integral is easy leaving just the p integral ie the required result.
EDIT: maybe the commutation relations for the ap and bp operators will give delta functions, now to get the x integral out of the way first!
EDIT2: corrected sign error in exponential's.
 
Last edited:
The delta function will come in through a well known "identity" that you can find here http://dlmf.nist.gov/1.17 (see equation 1.17.12).

Before going further, make sure you have the correct signs in your exponential functions for ##\pi## and ##\pi^*## (that you used to construct ##Q##).
 
ah, I think its \psi and \psi^* that have the incorrect signs.
Will edit through all above to correct this.

Bloody sign errors, when will they end!
 
ahh finally solved it,
using
<br /> \int \partial^3 x e^{i(p+r).x} = (2\pi)^3 \delta^3(p+r)
and working through.

Thanks for the assitance TSny!
 

Similar threads

Replies
27
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
705
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
2K
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
3K