Real Scalar Field, Hamiltonian, Conjugate Momentum

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the computation of the Hamiltonian and conjugate momentum for a real scalar field described by the Lagrange density L(x) = L(φ(x), ∂u φ(x)) = -1/2 (m² φ²(x) + ∂u φ(x) ∂u φ(x)). The conjugate momentum is derived as Π(t, x) = ∂L/∂(∂0 φ(x)), leading to the Hamiltonian H = ∫ d³x (1/2 m² φ² + 1/2 (∂i φ)² + 1/2 (∂0 φ)²). The discussion highlights the necessity of lowering indices using the metric tensor gαu to correctly compute the Hamiltonian and conjugate momentum.

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binbagsss
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## L(x) = L(\phi(x), \partial_{u} \phi (x) ) = -1/2 (m^{2} \phi ^{2}(x) + \partial_{u} \phi(x) \partial^{u} \phi (x))## , the Lagrange density for a real scalar field in 4-d, ##u=0,1,2,3 = t,x,y,z##, below ##i = 1,2,3 =x,y,z##

In order to compute the Hamiltonian I first of all need to compute the conjugate momentum:

## \Pi (t, x) = \frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{\phi (x)}} ##

I can see it's coming from the second term : ##- \partial_{u} \phi(x) \partial^{u} \phi (x)) = - \partial_{0} \phi(x) \partial^{0} \phi (x)) - \partial_{i} \phi(x) \partial^{i} \phi (x)) ##, where I'm only interested in ##\partial_{0} \phi(x) \partial^{0} \phi (x)) ##,

But I'm unsure how to deal with the one upper and one lower index.

The Hamiltonian is ## H = \int d^{3} x \dot{\phi} \Pi - L(t, {x}) = \int d^{3} x (1/2m^{2}\phi^{2} + 1/2( \partial_{i} \phi )^{2} + 1/2\dot{\phi^{2}}) ##

I can see I clearly need to lower an index. So if do ##g_{\alpha u} \partial ^{\alpha} \phi \partial_{u} \phi = (\partial _{u} \phi )^{2} = (\partial_{0} \phi(x))^{2} - (\partial_{i} \phi(x))^{2} ## , I get the correct answer that ##\Pi = \dot{\phi} ##

however then surely I have found ##g_{\alpha u} \Pi ## and subbed in ## g_{\alpha u} L ## in H, as a pose to ##L##

Many thanks in advance.
 
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binbagsss said:
## L(x) = L(\phi(x), \partial_{u} \phi (x) ) = -1/2 (m^{2} \phi ^{2}(x) + \partial_{u} \phi(x) \partial^{u} \phi (x))## , the Lagrange density for a real scalar field in 4-d, ##u=0,1,2,3 = t,x,y,z##, below ##i = 1,2,3 =x,y,z##

In order to compute the Hamiltonian I first of all need to compute the conjugate momentum:

## \Pi (t, x) = \frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{\phi (x)}} ##

I can see it's coming from the second term : ##- \partial_{u} \phi(x) \partial^{u} \phi (x)) = - \partial_{0} \phi(x) \partial^{0} \phi (x)) - \partial_{i} \phi(x) \partial^{i} \phi (x)) ##, where I'm only interested in ##\partial_{0} \phi(x) \partial^{0} \phi (x)) ##,

But I'm unsure how to deal with the one upper and one lower index.

The Hamiltonian is ## H = \int d^{3} x \dot{\phi} \Pi - L(t, {x}) = \int d^{3} x (1/2m^{2}\phi^{2} + 1/2( \partial_{i} \phi )^{2} + 1/2\dot{\phi^{2}}) ##

I can see I clearly need to lower an index. So if do ##g_{\alpha u} \partial ^{\alpha} \phi \partial_{u} \phi = (\partial _{u} \phi )^{2} = (\partial_{0} \phi(x))^{2} - (\partial_{i} \phi(x))^{2} ## , I get the correct answer that ##\Pi = \dot{\phi} ##

however then surely I have found ##g_{\alpha u} \Pi ## and subbed in ## g_{\alpha u} L ## in H, as a pose to ##L##

Many thanks in advance.

anyone?

I believe the following is related:

Showing that ##\partial^{u}\alpha(\phi^*\partial_{u}\phi)=\partial_{u}\alpha(\phi^*\partial^{u}\phi) ##

I don't really know how to approach this, since I need to raise one index and lower the other, but they are the same index so I can't use the obvious like ##g_{ab}x^{b}=x_{a}## etc.
 
it's okay got it :thumbup:, thanks for the help guys
 

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