RS 1, massless scalar field, and sep of vars.

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mathematical derivation of solutions to a differential equation related to a massless scalar field in the context of Randall-Sundrum models, specifically transitioning from one equation to another involving Bessel functions. Participants explore the separation of variables technique and its implications for boundary conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about the transition from the original differential equation to a form resembling Bessel's equation, noting a discrepancy in the resulting expression.
  • Another participant points out the importance of careful variable substitution, emphasizing that the parameter in Bessel's equation is the variable being differentiated.
  • A different participant suggests that boundary terms may need to be added to correctly define the problem, referencing external lecture notes for further clarification.
  • Some participants mention the necessity of treating the N=0 mode separately from other modes, indicating that this aspect may not have been adequately addressed in the initial steps.
  • One participant acknowledges the correction regarding the separation of variables and expresses a desire to revisit the problem after further review of relevant literature.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correct approach to the problem, with multiple competing views and unresolved issues regarding boundary conditions and the treatment of different modes.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made during the separation of variables and the implications of boundary conditions that remain unresolved. The discussion highlights the complexity of the mathematical framework involved.

robousy
Messages
332
Reaction score
1
Hey, this is rather involved but I hope someone can help me out.

I am reading http://arxiv.org/abs/0704.3626 ( the casimir force in randall sundrum models) and am trying to get from equation 2.1 :

[tex]g^{\mu\nu}\partial_\mu\partial_\nu\Phi+e^{2ky}\partial_y(e^{-4ky}\partial_y\Phi)=0[/tex]

to equation 2.2 ...'The general solution for the non-zero modes can be eppressed in terms of Bessel functions of the 1st and 2nd kind as:

[tex]\chi(y)=e^{2ky}(a_1 J_2(\frac{m_Ne^{ky}}{k}) +a_2Y_2(\frac{m_Ne^{ky}}{k}) )[/tex]

I'll show you my attempts and if anyone has the patience can maybe help me.

First express field [tex]\Phi[/tex] as:
[tex]\Phi(x_\mu,y)=\phi(x_\mu)\chi(y)[/tex]

Plug this into the original differential equation

[tex](g^{\mu\nu}\partial_\mu\partial_\nu\phi)\chi+e^{2ky}(-4ke^{-4ky}\partial_y\chi +e^{-4ky}\partial^2_y\chi)\phi=0[/tex]

Divide by [tex]\phi\chi[/tex] to obtain


[tex]\frac{ (g^{\mu\nu}\partial_\mu\partial_\nu\phi) }{ \phi}+ <br /> <br /> <br /> \frac{e^{2ky}(-4ke^{-4ky}\partial_y\chi +e^{-4ky}\partial^2_y\chi)}{\chi}=0[/tex]

As the first term only depends on [tex]x_\mu[/tex] and the second on y, each term in the equation must be a constant, so for the [tex]\chi(y)[/tex] term we can write:

[tex]\frac{e^{2ky}(-4ke^{-4ky}\partial_y\chi +e^{-4ky}\partial^2_y\chi)}{\chi}=n^2[/tex]

where [tex]n^2[/tex] is some constant.

Tidying this up a bit we get:

[tex]e^{-2ky}\partial^2_y\chi} -4ke^{-2ky}\partial_y\chi-n^2\chi=0[/tex]

Make this easier to compare to Bessels equation by writing

[tex]e^{2ky} \rightarrow x^2, \chi\rightarrow y[/tex]

My final equation now looks like:

[tex]x^2y''-4kx^2y'-n^2y=0[/tex]

Whereas Bessels equation is

[tex]x^2y''+xy'+(x^2-n^2)y=0[/tex]

So this is my problem, I obtain an expression that is not quite bessels equation. Can anyone see the error of my logic??

Thank you so much.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
robousy said:
Hey, this is rather involved but I hope someone can help me out.

I am reading http://arxiv.org/abs/0704.3626 ( the casimir force in randall sundrum models) and am trying to get from equation 2.1 :

[tex]g^{\mu\nu}\partial_\mu\partial_\nu\Phi+e^{2ky}\partial_y(e^{-4ky}\partial_y\Phi)=0[/tex]

to equation 2.2 ...'The general solution for the non-zero modes can be eppressed in terms of Bessel functions of the 1st and 2nd kind as:

[tex]\chi(y)=e^{2ky}(a_1 J_2(\frac{m_Ne^{ky}}{k}) +a_2Y_2(\frac{m_Ne^{ky}}{k}) )[/tex]

I'll show you my attempts and if anyone has the patience can maybe help me.

First express field [tex]\Phi[/tex] as:
[tex]\Phi(x_\mu,y)=\phi(x_\mu)\chi(y)[/tex]

Plug this into the original differential equation

[tex](g^{\mu\nu}\partial_\mu\partial_\nu\phi)\chi+e^{2ky}(-4ke^{-4ky}\partial_y\chi +e^{-4ky}\partial^2_y\chi)\phi=0[/tex]

Divide by [tex]\phi\chi[/tex] to obtain


[tex]\frac{ (g^{\mu\nu}\partial_\mu\partial_\nu\phi) }{ \phi}+ <br /> <br /> <br /> \frac{e^{2ky}(-4ke^{-4ky}\partial_y\chi +e^{-4ky}\partial^2_y\chi)}{\chi}=0[/tex]

As the first term only depends on [tex]x_\mu[/tex] and the second on y, each term in the equation must be a constant, so for the [tex]\chi(y)[/tex] term we can write:

[tex]\frac{e^{2ky}(-4ke^{-4ky}\partial_y\chi +e^{-4ky}\partial^2_y\chi)}{\chi}=n^2[/tex]

where [tex]n^2[/tex] is some constant.

Tidying this up a bit we get:

[tex]e^{-2ky}\partial^2_y\chi} -4ke^{-2ky}\partial_y\chi-n^2\chi=0[/tex]

Make this easier to compare to Bessels equation by writing

[tex]e^2ky \rightarrow x^2, \chi\rightarrow y[/tex]

My final equation now looks like:

[tex]x^2y''-4kx^2y'-n^2y=0[/tex]

Whereas Bessels equation is

[tex]x^2y''+xy'+(x^2-n^2)y=0[/tex]

So this is my problem, I obtain an expression that is not quite bessels equation. Can anyone see the error of my logic??

Thank you so much.

But I don't see how you can make that change of variable. In Bessel equation, the parameter "x" is the variable differentiated with respect to! So you must be more careful. I will look into it when I have some time tonight.
 
Cool Kdv, any help appreciated, and I see what you are saying about the change of variable so thank you on that point.
 
Hmmm I seem to remember working this out before. I think the problem is that you have to add boundary terms to make it work right, that is, to get a good definition of von Neuman or Dirichlet B.C.'s.

Check out the Lecture notes by Gherghetta : http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/0601213. I think he works it out in detail, but I could be wrong.

Also you have to be careful. The separation of variables that you should use is

[tex]\Phi(x_{\mu},y) = \sum_n \phi_n(x_{\mu})\chi_n(y)[/tex]

up to some constant that gives you the correct mass dimension. This gives you the KK tower, etc.
 
robousy said:
Cool Kdv, any help appreciated, and I see what you are saying about the change of variable so thank you on that point.

I can't get it to work out. But I suspect there is something more to the story. They mention treating separately the N=0 mode from the others and this does not show up at all in the steps you followed. See the post by BenTheMan too.
 
I couldn't get it to work out either, so I glanced at the reference given in the original post's paper. This reference is the the link given in BenTheMan's post. As BenTheMan said, there's another term.
 
Ok guys, I did have a look at the Les Houches Lectures last week but it didn't help much. I'll take another look this evening and see if I can make progress. Thanks all for having a look at this.

Cheers for the correction in my separation of vars Ben. Hope all is good with you!

Rich
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
962
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K