Renormalizing solutions of the Klein-Gordon equation

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the renormalization of solutions to the Klein-Gordon (KG) equation to enable interpretation as probability densities. The proposed method involves defining a new field, \(\psi(\mathbf{r},t) = \varphi(\mathbf{r},t) / ||\varphi(t)||\), where \(||\varphi(t)||\) is the norm calculated over three-dimensional space. This new field preserves the norm but evolves according to a different equation, which may not retain Lorentz invariance. The concept of interpreting this renormalization as conditional probability is referenced, particularly in relation to existing literature.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Klein-Gordon equation
  • Familiarity with norm preservation in functional analysis
  • Knowledge of Lorentz invariance in physics
  • Basic concepts of probability density functions
NEXT STEPS
  • Investigate the implications of renormalization in quantum field theory
  • Study the concept of conditional probability in the context of quantum mechanics
  • Review the paper referenced (http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/1205.1992) for insights on covariant interpretations
  • Explore the relationship between norm-preserving transformations and relativistic equations
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, particularly those specializing in quantum field theory, researchers exploring the foundations of probability in quantum mechanics, and advanced students studying the implications of the Klein-Gordon equation.

nonequilibrium
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It is said that the solutions of the Klein-Gordon equation cannot be interpreted as probability densities since the norm isn't conserved in the time evolution.

Now a pretty evident idea seems to be to renormalize the solution at each moment so that it is renormalized (and hence interpretable as a probability density) by definition... More exactly, if [itex]\varphi(\mathbf r,t)[/itex] is a solution of the KG equation, then we can define a new field as [itex]\psi(\mathbf r,t) := \varphi(\mathbf r,t) / ||\varphi(t)||[/itex] where [itex]||\phi(t)|| := \int_{\mathbb R^3} \varphi(\mathbf r',t) \mathrm d \mathbf r'[/itex].

This defines a new norm-preserving field, which of course evolves according to a new equation (not KG). I'm not sure if this new equation is relativistic (i.e. Lorentz-invariant). I would think so, since I would expect the norm to be Lorentz-invariant, but I'm not entirely sure. Has the behaviour of this solution been investigated? Or is there an obvious reason why it is of no interest?
 
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Actually I suppose one wouldn't expect the norm to be Lorentz-invariant, so the resulting equation is probably not relativistic.
 
Mr. vodka, what you propose makes sense but is not new. It even can be viewed as being "covariant", provided that it is interpreted as CONDITIONAL probability. See e.g.
http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/1205.1992
Sec. 8.3.1, especially Eqs. (8.39)-(8.40).
 

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