The Divergence of the Klein-Gordon Energy-Momentum Tensor

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the derivation of the Klein-Gordon energy-momentum tensor and the challenges faced in proving the divergence. The initial steps involve applying the product rule to the tensor equations, leading to the emergence of the equation of motion. Participants express frustration over inconsistencies found in online solutions and course manuals, particularly regarding the treatment of coefficients and terms in the equations. The final steps highlight the need for clarity in tensor notation and the correct manipulation of terms to achieve the desired results. The conversation emphasizes the importance of accurate derivation in theoretical physics.
GooberGunter
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Homework Statement
Prove that the Energy-Momentum Tensor for the Klein-Gordon Equation does not diverge
$$\partial_\mu T^{\mu\nu}=0$$
Relevant Equations
$$T^{μν}=∂^μϕ∂^νϕ−η^{μν}L$$
$$L=\frac{1}{2}\partial^2 \phi - \frac{1}{2}m^2 \phi^2$$
I've tried this problem so, so, so so so many times. Given the equations above, the proof starts easily enough:
$$\partial_\mu T^{\mu\nu}=\partial_\mu (∂^μ ϕ∂^ν ϕ)-\eta^{\mu\nu}\partial_\mu[\frac{1}{2}∂^2ϕ−\frac{1}{2}m^2ϕ^2]$$
apply product rule to all terms
$$=\partial^\nu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\mu \phi + \partial^\mu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\nu \phi - \eta^{\mu\nu}[\frac{1}{2}(\partial_\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\sigma \phi + \partial^\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial_\sigma \phi)-\frac{1}{2}m^2\partial_\mu(\phi^2)]$$
And the equation of motion starts to appear:
$$=\partial^\nu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\mu \phi + \eta^{\mu\nu}(m^2 \phi \partial_\mu \phi) +\partial^\mu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\nu \phi - \eta^{\mu\nu}\frac{1}{2}(\partial_\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\sigma \phi + \partial^\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial_\sigma \phi)$$
Finally we can eliminate 2 of the 5 terms
$$=\partial^\nu \phi \cdot (\partial_\mu \partial^\mu \phi + m^2 \phi) +\partial^\mu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\nu \phi - \eta^{\mu\nu}\frac{1}{2}(\partial_\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\sigma \phi+ \partial^\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial_\sigma \phi)$$
$$=\partial^\nu \phi[0] +\partial^\mu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\nu \phi - \eta^{\mu\nu}\frac{1}{2}(\partial_\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\sigma \phi + \partial^\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial_\sigma \phi)$$

This is the last step I arrive at
$$=\partial^\mu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\nu \phi - \eta^{\mu\nu}\frac{1}{2}(\partial_\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\sigma \phi + \partial^\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial_\sigma \phi)$$
Every solution I've found online has an error or skips this crucial step.

This solutions manual from a UMD course skips a step between (31) and (32) and too readily removes the 1/2 coefficient in (31). I'm sure its a typo.
This solution from another post just raises the index of the first derivative and lowers the sigma index in the second derivative, but the closest I can replicate is:

$$=\partial^\mu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\nu \phi - \frac{1}{2}(\eta^{\mu\nu} \delta^{\sigma}_\nu\partial_\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\sigma \phi + \partial^\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \eta^{\mu\nu} \delta^{\sigma}_\nu \partial_\sigma \phi)$$
$$=\partial^\mu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\nu \phi - \frac{1}{2}(\partial^\nu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\nu\phi + \partial^\nu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\nu \phi)$$

Depending on what you decide to contract, you end up with 2 equations that don't resolve to 0.
$$\partial^\mu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\nu \phi -\partial^\nu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\nu\phi$$
$$\partial^\mu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\nu \phi - \partial^\mu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\mu \phi$$

My understanding of tensor notation is still a little shaky, I only studied a chapter from a mathematical methods textbook. Where did I go wrong? Any help is greatly appreciated!
 
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GooberGunter said:
This is the last step I arrive at
$$=\partial^\mu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\nu \phi - \eta^{\mu\nu}\frac{1}{2}(\partial_\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\sigma \phi + \partial^\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial_\sigma \phi)$$​
I think this is good so far.

Show that the first term may be written $$\partial^\mu \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\nu \phi =\partial_\mu \phi \cdot \partial^\mu \partial^\nu \phi =\partial_\sigma \phi \cdot \partial^\sigma \partial^\nu \phi$$

Show that the second term may be written $$ \eta^{\mu\nu}\frac{1}{2}(\partial_\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial^\sigma \phi + \partial^\sigma \phi \cdot \partial_\mu \partial_\sigma \phi) = \frac{1}{2}(\partial_\sigma \phi \cdot \partial^\nu \partial^\sigma \phi + \partial^\sigma \phi \cdot \partial^\nu \partial_\sigma \phi)$$ Then proceed onward.
 
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