Field operator eigenstates & Fock states(Hatfield's Sch rep)

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SUMMARY

In the discussion regarding Hatfield's "Quantum Field Theory of Point Particles and Strings," the Schrödinger representation of quantum field theory (QFT) is examined, particularly focusing on the field operators ## \hat \varphi(\vec x) ## and their eigenstates. The ground state of the field, denoted as ## |0\rangle ##, is questioned whether it is an eigenstate of ## \hat \varphi(\vec x) ##, specifically if ## \hat \varphi(\vec x)|0\rangle=0 ## is correct. Additionally, the relationship between Fock states created by ## \hat a_k ## and ## \hat a_k^\dagger ## and the eigenstates of ## \hat \varphi(\vec x) ## is explored, with a suggestion that these eigenstates may represent coherent states due to the annihilation nature of ## \hat \varphi(\vec x) ##.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum field theory (QFT) principles
  • Familiarity with field operators and eigenstates
  • Knowledge of Fock space and its states
  • Basic concepts of coherent states in quantum mechanics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the Schrödinger representation in quantum field theory
  • Review the properties of eigenstates of field operators
  • Examine the relationship between Fock states and coherent states
  • Read "QFT for Mathematicians" by Robin Ticciati, particularly chapter 2
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Physicists, graduate students in quantum mechanics, and researchers interested in quantum field theory and its mathematical foundations.

ShayanJ
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In chapter 10 of his book "Quantum Field Theory of Point Particles and Strings", Hatfield treats what he calls the Schrödinger representation of QFT. He starts with a free scalar field and introduces field operators ## \hat \varphi(\vec x) ## and its eigenstates ## \hat \varphi(\vec x)|\phi\rangle=\phi(\vec x)|\phi \rangle ##. Then he says that the "coordinate" representation of the field state ## |\Psi\rangle ## is given by the wave-functional ## \Psi[\phi]=\langle \phi |\Psi\rangle##. I have two questions about this:

1) Is the ground state of the field, one of the eigenstates of ## \hat \varphi(\vec x) ##, i.e. is ## \hat \varphi(\vec x)|0\rangle=0 ## correct?( At the bottom of page 224 of his book "A modern introduction to quantum field theory", Maggiore calls ## \phi(\vec x)=0 ## the vacuum. It seems to me its related to my question. Is he correct or just being sloppy? )

2) What is the relationship between the Fock states that are created by ## \hat a_k ## and ## \hat a_k^\dagger ## and their superpositions that are created by ## \hat \varphi(\vec x) ## and ## \hat \varphi^\dagger(\vec x) ## and the eigenstates of ## \hat \varphi(\vec x) ##? Can we say that the eigenstates of ## \hat \varphi(\vec x) ## are some kind of a coherent state because ## \hat \varphi(\vec x) ## is an anihilation operator for Fock states?

Thanks
 
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I refer you to the book by Robin Ticciati "QFT for Mathematicians" chapter 2, hopefully after reading this chapter you'll understand your misconceptions. (I don't have time to copy the answer here, I am studyding for Stat Mech... :-)).
 
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Thanks. Ticciati's formula for the ground state was surprising for me. But there was no answer to my second question. Or at least I couldn't find it!
 

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