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3P1a Quantum Field Theory: Example Sheet 1 Michaelmas 2016

Corrections and suggestions should be emailed to B.C.Allanach@damtp.cam.ac.uk.

1. A string of length a, mass per unit length and under tension T is fixed at each
end. The Lagrangian governing the time evolution of small transverse displacements
y(x, t) is
Z a "  2  2 #
y T y
L= dx
0 2 t 2 x

where x identifies position along the string from one end point. By expressing the
Copyright 2016 University of Cambridge. Not to be quoted or reproduced without permission.

displacement as a sine series Fourier expansion of the form

r
2 X  nx 
y(x, t) = qn (t) sin
a n=1 a

show that the Lagrangian becomes

 
X 2 T  n 2 2
L= qn qn .
n=1
2 2 a

Derive the equations of motion. Hence show that the string is equivalent to an infinite
set of decoupled harmonic oscillators with frequencies
r  
T n
n = .
a

2. Show directly that if (x) satisfies the Klein-Gordon equation, then (1 x) also
satisfies this equation for any Lorentz transformation .
3. The motion of a complex field (x) is governed by the Lagrangian density

L = m2 ( )2 .
2
Write down the Euler-Lagrange field equations for this system. Verify that the La-
grangian is invariant under the infinitesimal transformation

= i, = i .

Derive the Noether current associated with this transformation and verify explicitly
that it is conserved using the field equations satisfied by .
4. Verify that the Lagrangian density
1 1
L = a a m2 a a
2 2
for a triplet of real fields a , where a {1, 2, 3} is invariant under the infinitesimal
SO(3) rotation by

a a + abc b c

Mathematical Tripos III: Quantum Field Theory 1 B.C.Allanach@damtp.cam.ac.uk, Michaelmas 2016

 Copies available at http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/examples/indexP3.html

where a is a unit vector. Compute the Noether current j . Deduce that the three
quantities
Z
Qa = d3 x abc b c

are all conserved and verify this directly using the field equations satisfied by a .

5. A Lorentz transformation xa xa = ab xb is such that it preserves the Minkowski

metric ab , meaning that ab xa xb = ab xa xb for all x. Show that this implies that

ab = cd ca db .
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Use this result to show that an infinitesimal transformation of the form

ab = ab + ab

is a Lorentz transformation when ab is antisymmetric: i.e. ab = ba .

Write down the matrix form for ab that corresponds to a rotation through an
infinitesimal angle about the x3 -axis. Do the same for a boost along the x1 -axis by
an infinitesimal velocity v.

6. Consider the infinitesimal form of the Lorentz transformation derived in the previous
question: x x + x . Show that a scalar field transforms as

(x) (x) = (x) x (x)

and hence show that the variation of the Lagrangian density is a total derivative

L = ( x L).

Using Noethers theorem, deduce the existence of the conserved current

j = [T x ].

The three conserved charges arising from spatial rotational invariance define the total
angular momentum of the field. Show that these charges are given by
Z
Qi = ijk d3 x xj T 0k xk T 0j .

Derive the conserved charges arising from invariance under Lorentz boosts. Show that
they imply
Z
d
d3 x xi T 00 = constant


dt
and interpret this equation.

Mathematical Tripos III: Quantum Field Theory 2 B.C.Allanach@damtp.cam.ac.uk, Michaelmas 2016

 Copies available at http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/examples/indexP3.html

7. Maxwells Lagrangian for the electromagnetic field is

1
L = F F ,
4
where F = A A and A is the 4-vector potential. Show that L is invariant
under gauge transformations
A A + ,
where = (x) is a scalar field with arbitrary (differentiable) dependence on x.
Using Noethers theorem, and the spacetime translational invariance of the action, to
construct the energy momentum tensor T for the electromagnetic field. Show that
the resulting object is neither symmetric nor gauge invariant. Consider a new tensor
Copyright 2016 University of Cambridge. Not to be quoted or reproduced without permission.

given by
= T F A .
Show that this object also defines four currents. Moreover, show that it is symmetric,
gauge invariant and traceless.
8. The Lagrangian density for a massive vector field C is given by
1 1
L = F F + m2 C C ,
4 2
where F = C C . Derive the equations of motion and show that when m 6= 0
they imply
C = 0.
Further show that C0 can be eliminated completely in terms of other fields by
i i C0 + m2 C0 = i C i . (1)
Construct the canonical momenta i conjugate to Ci where i {1, 2, 3} and show that
the canonical momentum conjugate to C0 is vanishing. Construct the Hamiltonian
density H in terms of C0 , Ci and i (NB: dont be concerned that the canonical
momentum for C0 is vanishing. C0 is non-dynamical; it is determined entirely in
terms of the other fields using Eq. (1)).
9. A class of interesting theories is invariant under the scaling of all lengths by
x (x ) = x and (x) (x) = D (1 x). (2)
Here, D is called the scaling dimension of the field. Consider the action for a real
scalar field given by
1 1
Z
S = d4 x m2 2 gp .
2 2
Find the scaling dimension D such that the derivative terms remain invariant. For
what values of m and p is the scaling in Eq. (2) a symmetry of the theory? How do
these conclusions change for a scalar field living in an (n + 1)dimensional spacetime
instead of a 3 + 1 dimensional spacetime?
In 3 + 1 dimensions, use Noethers theorem to construct the conserved current D
associated with scaling invariance.

Mathematical Tripos III: Quantum Field Theory 3 B.C.Allanach@damtp.cam.ac.uk, Michaelmas 2016