Variation of the kinetic term in scalar field theory

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the variation of the kinetic term in scalar field theory with respect to the metric tensor, specifically comparing two methods of variation. Method 1 yields a result of $(\delta g_{\mu\nu})\,\partial^\mu\phi\,\partial^\nu\phi$, while Method 2 results in $-(\delta g_{\rho\sigma})\,\partial^\rho\phi\,\partial^\sigma\phi$, highlighting a discrepancy due to the omission of metric variations in Method 1. The key error identified is the neglect of the variations of the metric in the definition of the covariant derivative of the scalar field, $\partial^\mu \phi = g^{\mu\nu}\partial_\nu \phi$. This oversight leads to the differing signs in the results.

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The discussion is beneficial for theoretical physicists, graduate students in physics, and researchers focusing on scalar field theory and general relativity, particularly those interested in the mathematical foundations of field variations.

Baela
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Varying ##\partial_\lambda\phi\,\partial^\lambda\phi## wrt the metric tensor ##g_{\mu\nu}## in two different ways gives me different results. Obviously I'm doing something wrong. Where am I going wrong?

Method 1: \begin{equation}
(\delta g_{\mu\nu})\,\partial^\mu\phi\,\partial^\nu\phi
\end{equation}

Method 2: \begin{align}&\quad\,\, (\delta g^{\mu\nu})\,\partial_\mu\phi\,\partial_\nu\phi \nonumber \\
&=(-g^{\mu\rho}g^{\nu\sigma}\delta g_{\rho\sigma})\,\partial_\mu\phi\,\partial_\nu\phi \quad (\because \delta g^{\mu\nu}=-g^{\mu\rho}g^{\nu\sigma}\delta g_{\rho\sigma} \,\,\text{as can be checked by varying the identity}\,\, g^{\mu\lambda}g_{\lambda\nu}=\delta^\mu_\nu) \nonumber\\
&=-(\delta g_{\rho\sigma})\,\partial^\rho\phi\,\partial^\sigma\phi
\end{align}
The second result differs from the first one by a minus sign. What's going wrong?
 
Last edited:
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In Method 1 you are missing the variations of the metric inside the definitions ##\partial^\mu \phi = g^{\mu\nu}\partial_\nu \phi##.
 

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