Introduction to the Theory of Fields

Introduction

H. Arod, L. Hadasz, Lectures on Classical and Quantum Theory of Fields,. Springer, 2010.
Literatura uzupeniajca:
1. L. H. Ryder, Quantum Field Theory. Cambridge Univ. Press, 1996.
2. R. Rajaraman, Solitons and Instantons. North-Holland, 1982.
3. T. Vachaspati,Kinks and Domain Walls. Cambridge Univ. Press, 2006.
4. K. A. Meissner, Klasyczna teoria pola. PWN ,2002.
5. V. Radovanovic, Kwantowa teoria pola w zadaniach. PWN, 2008.
6. S. Weinberg,The Quantum Theory of Fields. Vols. I, II. Cambridge Univ. Press, 1995.

1.1

Definitions

1. Field a physical object with infinite number of degrees of freedom

2. Gravitational field dynamical space-time (perhaps shouldnt be quantized at all, may be a classical
approximation)
3. Effective field mathematical construct introduced for an approximate description of certain physical system

1.2

Examples

1 real-valued ua (t, x), a = 1, , N < .

One complex field means that N = 2 = 1 + 2
Minkowski Spacetime - flat manifold
Electromagnetic field E = - -

A
t

and B = A.

2 The first type of fields is a theory of something that lives in the fields in the second type
3 Often in condensed matter, we talk of order parameter like in nematic liquid crystal
Description of Cooper Pairs Ensemble (t, x), approximate descriptions of electrons and ions should not
be quantized
Effective (t, x) used for approximation of dynamics of Pions, again should not be quantized

FieldTheory.nb

Lagrangian Formalism

2.1

Revision

The Euler-Langrange Equations

=
Where, Q =

qa

qa . Last equation holds because

qa

motion is obeyed Q =

2.2

()

q
qa -

()

q
qa =
a

qa

q a . Since the equation of

Xa is conserved.

Field form

Official

name

for

is

the

Lagrangian

density.

Typical

action

functional

t2

S[u] = t 3 x (ua (x), ua (x); x) = 4 x , dependence of x is through external field. If the

t1

dependence doesnt exist than the Lagrangian is called local. (1)

The stationary action principle

S[u]
ua (x)

= 0 criterium for physical fields (2)

ua (t1 , x) = u1a (x), ua (t2 , x) = u2a (x)

This comes from QT from final path formalism
Side note: Quantum wave packet evolves mainly through this trajectory
t2

S[ua (x)+ ua (x)]-S[ua (x)]

= t 3 x

lim

t1

S[u]
ua (x)

ua (t, x) where ua (x) is an arbitrary test function such that

ua (x) = 0 on the ends and goes to 0 with x .

We claim that the solution (stationary path) is

ua t,x

ua t,x

- (ua,

(t,x))

Proof: = (ua + ua , ua + ua ; x) - (ua , ua ; x) =

expansion and =

ua

ua + ua

- ua
( ua )

last

part

equals

zero

ua + (ua )

( ua )

+ O(2 ) by Tylor

(
by substituting the derivative by parts, after
ua )

- (
ua + 4 x ua
regruping S = 4 x u
a
ua )

The

ua

( ua )

because

of

the

boundary

conditions:

FieldTheory.nb

t2

( ua )

t 3 x ua

t1

t2

= t 3 x
3

t1

x0

ua

+
( ua )

t2

t 3 x
3

t1

xi

ua

(i ua )

=0

first becuase of ua = 0 at t1 , t2 and second because at x 0, ua 0.

2.3

Exercises

Check that = + F (ua (x); x) gives the same E-L eq. as

Knowing that F (ua (x); x) =
( F )
ua

Rozwizanie

F
ub

((u F(x)))
a

ub,v +

F
x

ua
2 F
ua ub

ub,v +

2 F
ua ub

Rozwizanie

ub,v +

F xv
xv x

F
ua

ua,v +

F
,
x

we plug it to E-L equations

=
F
ub

ub,v +

F
x

( ua (x))

2 F
x ua

F ua
ua x

- F
ba v =
u
b

2 F
x ua

2 Fv ub
ua ub xv

2 F
ua ub

2 F
x ua

ub,v +

2 Fv x
ua x xv

=0

Alternative solution: F ^ 4 x = F =

- v F
=
u

F
ua

ua = 0, because the variation of fields disapears on the

boundry.

Obtain E-L equations when a) = na ua , na 0, na constatnts b) = ab ua ub , ab - constants,

ab = ba
Rozwizanie

ub

( ub )

(na ua )
ub

Rozwizanie

ub

( ub )

ab ua ub
ub

(na ua )
(u ub )

= na ba = 0 nb = 0

Obtain E-L eq in the case (ua (x), ua (x), ua (x); x) where ua (t, x), t ua (t, x) have fixed values at t1 , t2
Rozwizanie

2.4

Conserved currents (I Noether Theorem)

Every continous symmetry gives rise to a conserved quantity.

x x = f (x; ), = ( )
ua (x)ua (x ) = Fa (ub (x); ) general form of transformation
When =0; the trivial transformation. x = f (x, 0) = x, ua (x )=0 = ua (x)
Infinitesimally x = x + (x) + O(2 ), (x) =
ua (x) = ua (x) + D ua D ua (x) =

Fa (ub (x);)
=0

4 x = J 4 x, J = det x
= det +
x

f (x;)

=0

- (x)

Killing vector

ua (x)
x

Lie derivative of ua in the direction

( (x)) + O(2 ) = 1 +

from Trace.

( (x)) + O(2 ) last step comes

FieldTheory.nb

Let us assume that for given and all in the vicinity of = 0

(6) J(x) ua (x ),
we

ua (x )
; x
x

have

the

K - x -

ua (x)
;
x

= ua (x),

x +

K (ub ;x;)
x

following

(ua, (x))

ua = u
a (x)

indentity

(the

Noether

identity)

u
ua (x), here ua = D ua (x) and x (x)
a, (x)

do not depend on x ua (x) obey the E-L eqs

2.5

where K (ub ; x, ) = K (ub ; x) + O(2 ) then

j
x

= 0, j = K (ua , x) - -

(ua, (x))

D ua (x)

Next lexture

J(x) ua (x ),

ua (x )
; x
x

= ua (x),

ua (x)
;
x

x +

K (ub ;x;)
x

x = x + x + , x (x)
ua (x ),

ua (x )
; x
x

przedostatni czon:
ostatni czon:
equal ua (x) +

xv

ua (x )
xv
ua (x)
x

ua (x)
;
x

= ua (x),

ua (x)

x
x

ua (x)

(ua (x ) - ua (x)) +

(ua (x ) - ua (x)) = ua (x) +

ud (x)
x

x + where ua (x) = D ua (x)

ua (x)

xv

x , so

x + x

(u
ua (x) a,v (x)

J = 1+

xv

ua (x)

; x + x

x ua
xv x

ua (x )
xv

ua (x)

xv

ua (x)
x
x

Lua (x),

; x

xv

ua (x)

xv

(ua (x ) - ua (x)) -

ua (x) +

ua (x) +

2 u

a (x)
xv x

(x ) ua (x)
xv
x

xv

ua (x)
(ua,v (x))
xv

ua (x )
; x
x

= + x

xv

(u
ua (x) + u
a,v )
a (x)

xv

+ where the first part is

the

last

(u
ua (x) +
a,v (x)

(x )
x

u
ua (x) =
a,v (x)

K - x -

(ua,v (x))

ua (x) in the order .

Symmetry transformations generate new solutions

Symmetry

ua (x)
+
xv

K
x

u
a (x)

part

equals

(u
ua (x).
a,v (x))

last one and first one give total derivative

2.6

J(x) ua (x ),

= +

ua (x)
x v

(ua,v (x))

ua (x )
xv

x +

= ua (x),

continous symm

conserved currents, conserved charges Q = j0 3 x

x
x

the

FieldTheory.nb

Symmetry

non-singular F

new solutions of E-L eqs ua (x ) = Fa (ub (x); )

M = {(ct, x) : t [t , t ], x 3 }
S[u] = 4 x

interpretting as active transformations x = f (x; ), (x ) Cartesian coordinates in M.

= f (, ) M.
Then inv. condition (6)
S [u ] = S [u] + x K (u; x, w) 4 x

Lets compute directional derivative of both sides of this

S [u ]
ub ( y)

S [u ]
ub ( y)

= 4 x

S [u]
ub ( y)

+0 = 0
S [u ]
Fa (ua (x);)

ua (x ) u (x )=F (u(x); )
ub ( y)

x = f (x; )

such that 4 y
then

S [u ]

uc (x )

Fa (u(x);)
ub ( y)

x = f (z,w)
u (x )=F(u(z); )

-1 c
b

= 0 we assume that F is non-singular so there exists F

( y, z) = ca (x - z)

= 0 u also obeys E-L eqs!

Example W (x ) = (L )v W v (x) F (W; )

F (W (x),)
W ( y)
F
W

-1

= L v

W (x)
W ( y)

= L v v (x - y) = (L-1 ) (x - y)

( y, z) = (L ) ( y - z)

Scalar fields

3.1

Real scalar fields

(x) real-valued

x = (L )v xv + a , (L )v = L L+ , means L00 1, + means det L = 1.

Scalar: (x ) = (x)
-1
-1
x = L (x - a) (x ) = L (x - a)

-1

FieldTheory.nb

-1
for contrast (x) = L (x - a)
F

F((x); ) = (x)

= 0, D (x) = - (x)

(x)
x

= (a , ), L = , = ( )
=

1
2

v v -

the mass term

1
2

1
2

m2 2 - V ((x)) where V is the interaction potential (with + its the field potential),

m2 2

It obeys (I.6) with K = 0, J = 1

E-L eq (x) + m2 (x) + V ((x)) = 0
Energy-momentum results from inv. under translations: =
Conserved currents follows from j = - + T v v = T - is for spacetime, enumerates directions of translations, T v : the energy momentum tensor
( j ) = (T ) Tv = v - v

j0 = (T )0
T00 =

1
2

(0 )2 +

energy

1
2

i i +

1
2

E = 3 x j00 = 3 x T00 ,

current,

(0 )2 - = T00 ,

m2 2 + V ()

ji , i = 1, 2, 3 momentum currents - 3 x j0i = P i the total momentum of the field - j0i = -0 i ,

- 0 i 3 x = P i

3.2
(x), x , x = (x )
=

1
2

v v - U() - field potential, U() =

(x) + m2 + V () = 0, V =
0 = 0 E = 12 (0 )2 +
P i = - 0 i 3 x
V () =

4!

1
2

1
2

1
2

m2 2 + V () - interaction (potential)

i i +

1
2

m2 2 + V () 3 x

4 , > 0 E 0

+ m 2 +

3!

3 = 0 (3)

Model extreamly popular in condensed matter physics also used to describe the Higgs. In case of potential

FieldTheory.nb

V () =

3!

3 gives us unbounded energy.

The classical ground state = the classical vacuum: 0 0 (obeys (3), and E = 0)
(x) = 0 + (x), (3) + m2 +
( m2 >>

3!

3 ,

6 m2

3!

3 = 0 the last part is much smaller and we get Klein-Gordon eq.

>> 2 )

(x) = - k x c(k) 4 k
Klein-Gordon (-k2 + m2 ) c(k) - k x 4 k = 0 (-k2 + m2 ) c(k) = 0 c(k) = b(k) (m2 - k2 )
is a solution in generalized functions, note () 0

k0 -(k)
k0 +(k)

2
2
2
2
2
(m - k ) = (m + k - k0 ) =
b(k), k +
b-(k), k

2 (k)

2 (k)

2
m2 + k > 0, if (m2 > 0)

(k) =

0
0


(x) = - (k) x + k x b(k), k + (k) x + k x b-(k), k

3 k

2 (k)

if integral is 4 dimensional than k0 is not dependent

..
(t) = -m2 (t)

a(k) = c0 k - k0 = c0 0 k - k0 plane wave

c0

(k0 )

cos(k z - 0 )

-k-k

a(k) = c0 (k) a wave packet v g = k (k)k=k =

0

(t = 0, x) = k x a(k) + - k x a* (k)

k0
,
(k0 )

vg < 1, (m2 > 0)

3 k

2 (k)

(t = 0, x) = - (k) k x a(k) + (k) - k x a* (k)

3 k

2 (k)

(2 )3

- q x 3 x (0, x) = 2 (q) [a(q) + a* (-q)]

3

(2 )

- q x 3 x (0, x) = 2 [- a(q) + a* (-q)]

a(q) = (2 )3 3 y - q y [- (q) (0, y) + (0, y)] (t, x) = - 3 y (t, x - y),

t,x- y
(0, y) = 3 y t (0, y)

3
(t, x - y) = 2 (2 )3 k (k) t- kx- y - - (k) t+ kx- y = * (t, x - y)
(k)

t (t, x - y) = - 2 (21)3 3 k (k) t- kx- y - - (k) t+ kx- y

def

(t, x) =

2 (2 )3

3 k
(k) t- k x

(k)

f (t, x) S(4 ), supp f (t, x) : t2 < x2 < 0, (t, x) f (t, x) t 3 x = 0, for all such fs.
(2 )3

2 (q)

where

- - (k) t+ k x Pauli-Jordan generalized function. Dissapears in the

open region t2 - x2 < 0, (t, x) = 0

() = (k0 ) (k2 - m2 ) () 4 k

FieldTheory.nb

(t, x) =

(2 )3

4 k (k0 ) (k2 - m2 ) ( k x - - k x )

4 x (x) f (x) =

(2 )3

4 x 4 k (k0 ) (k2 - m2 ) k x f (x) - 4 x 4 k (k0 ) (k2 - m2 ) - k x f (x)

last

part is the second integral

For any space-like x, x2 < 0, there exists L(x) L+ such that L(x) X = -X.

(x0 )2 = -r2 = x2 , L+ acts on the hyperboloid transitively L (x(0) , x) : L(x(0) , x) x = x(0) .

1

-1
J L+ ,
J=
,
J x(0) = -x(0) ,
-1
-1
-1 (0)
-1
(0)
L(x) X = L (x , x) J x = L (x(0) , x) (-x(0) ) = -x
In the second integral k = L-1 (x) k , - L

-1 (x) k x

= -L

-1 (x) k L-1 (x) L(x) x

def -1
L(x) = L (x(0) , x) J L(x(0) , x),

= - k

L(x) x

= + k

4 k (k0 ) (k2 - m2 ) = 4 k (k0 ) k2 - m2 , (k0 ) because k2 = m2 0

L y=0 y=0
(t, x) = - 3 y (t, x - y) (0, y) - 3 y t (t, x - y) (0, y) explicit propagation for ground state