I L NUOVO CI~[ENTO Vow,. X V I I I , N.

6 16 Dicombre 19C0

The Conformal Invariance in Quantum Field Theory (') (**).

J. Y~'~ss
I.t~stitute ]or Theoretical Physics, Unirersity o] Vie,m~a . Vie~ota

(ricevuto il 18 Luglio 1960)

Summary. -- The properties of a conformal invariant q u a m u m field

theory are considered. A short discussion of the eonformal group in
four dimensions and of the topology, introduced into the pseudo-euclidean
space b y this group is given. W i t h the help of the commutation relations
the spectrum of the generators in Hilbert-space is investigated. W e find
t h a t the only possible discrete eigenvalue of p2 and of the P t ' s is zero
a,ud t h a t the generator for scale transformations S has a continuous spec-
trum. The eigenfunctions of S i n t h e x-representation are calculated, they
form a complete set. The conservation laws valid in an invariant theory
and the commutation relations predict a certain form of the conserved
quantities expressed in terms of the energy-momentum tensor and of
the co-ordinates. F o r scalar, spinor and vector fields the generators are
derived b y the action principle of Schwinger.

Introduction.

I t is w e l l k n o w n t h a t t h e s y m m e t r y p r o p e r t i e s of a p h y s i c a l s y s t e m a r e a n
i m p o r t a n t t o o l . I t r e d u c e s t h e m a t h e m a t i c a l c o m p l e x i t y of t h e s y s t e m a n d it
a l s o l e a d s t o p h y s i c a l c o n s e q u e n c e s , s u c h as c o n s e r v a t i o n laws.
I t w a s s h o w n b y E . NOETnER (~) t h a t in t h e L a g r a n g i a n f o r m a l i s m a con-
s e r v a t i o n l a w is a n i m m e d i a t e c o n s e q u e n c e of a n i n v a r i a n e e of t h e a c t i o n
i n t e g r a l a n d , on t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e k n o w l e d g e of a c o n s e r v ~ t i o n l a w i n d i c a t e s

(*) Scientific Note no. 6. Contract no. 61(052)-265.

(") The research reported in this document has been spm~sored in part b y The
United States Government.
(1) E. ~O~ETII]~R.* GSffin.ger NachricMen (1918), p. 235.
 THE CONFORMAL INVARIANCE IN QUANTUM FIELD THEORY 10S7

a. certain s y m m e t r y of the Lagrangian. But it is not sufficient for the existence

of a conservation law t h a t the ectuations of motion are inyariant. E.g. in
e l e m e n t a r y mechanics the equations of motion with a friction force are in-
v a r i a n t under time displacement b u t the Lagrangian is not and no conserved
energy exists. Hence we consider the invarianee of the action integral to be
more i m p o r t a n t , and therefore we shall use the Lagrangian fornmlism. The
invariance of the equations of motion are an immediate consequence of the
inv,~riance of the action integral.
In a q u a n t i z e d t h e o r y the conserved quantities are the generators of the
s y m m e t r y transformation in ttilbert-space. Therefore t h e y have to satisfy
the commutation relations v,~]id for the generators. This yields some new
information concerning the conserved quantities.
Reeently~ there was some interest in the eonformal group in four dimen-
sions (~). I t has been known since the work of H. B.~TE~[~" (3) tlmt this group
is the largest group of space-time transformations which leaves the Maxwell
equations invari~nt. The investigation of the eonformal invarianee of various
systems has been the subject of numerous papers (4), and it t u r n e d out, t h a t
the action integrals in field t h e o r y for massles~s free field are always eonform-
invariant.
I n this paper we shall give a short review of these investigations and the
methods used and extend these investigations to quantized systems. Espe-
cially we ~re interested in the spectrums of the generators as there was made
some a t t e m p t to characterize elementt~ry particles by the eigenvalues of the
generator of scale transformations ,q. ] t follows directly froln the commu-
tation relations t h a t the only possible disca:ete eigenwdue of - - p 2 and of the
P~'s is zero. Therefore~ we e~nnot expect t h a t eonformal s y m m e t r y is realized
in n~ture. For the operator S we find a continuous spectrum in the x-repre-
sentation and in the one particle subspaee of q u a n t u m field theory.
Using the Lagrangi~n formalism of q u a n t u m field theory introduced by
SCHWIN~E~ it is straightforward to derive the generators in terms of the fields.
This will be done for massless scalar~ spinor, and vector fields.
In a physical Lagrangian there will be terms such as the mass term, whM|
~re not conformal invariant, l~evertheless it may be possible to separate ~
eonformal invariant p a r t which m a y under certain conditions be the i m p o r t a n t

(2) IX. P . DORll, W . HEISEN:BERG, H. ~ITTER, S. ~CItI,IEDER ~Ild K . YAi~AZAKI:

Zeits. Natur]or., 14a, 441 (1959).
(a) H. BATE~AN: Proc. Lo~don Mafl*. Sot., 8, 223 (1910); E. CUNNL~C-tIA~: Proc.
Londo~ ]lath. Soc., 8, 77 (1910).
(4) E. B~SSm~-HAGE~: ]lath. Ann., 84, 258 (19-°1); J. A. MeL]~_xNA~': ~uovo
Cimento, 3, 1360 (1956); 5, 640 (1957); F. G/jRSEY: N'UOVO C,ime~to, 3, 988 (1956);
F. BOPP: Aq~..rb. Phys., 4, 96 (1959); P. A. M. DIRAC: An~. ]lath., 37, 429 (1936);
W. A. tI~N~R: The group o/ v-matrices a.~d the eon/ormal group, preprint.
1088 J. WES8

pa~t, e.g. a t h i g h e n e r g y t h e m a s s t e r m b e c o m e s u n i m p o r t a n t . I n such a case,

t h e k n o w l e d g e of t h e c o n f o r m a l s y m m e t r y a n d its consequences m a y be of
s o m e help.
F r o m t h e poifit of v i e w of general r e l a t i v i t y it m a y be of some i n t e r e s t
to h a v e an e x a m p l e of a q u a n t i z e d field t h e o r y whi,.h h,/s ,~ larger s y m m e t r y
g'roup t h a n t h e I, o r e n t z - g r o u p .

1. - T h e c o n f o r m a l group.

I n t h e f o u r - d i m e n s i o n a l , p s e u d o e u e l i d e a n space the c o n f o r m a l g r o u p is t h e
groul) of co-ordim~te t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s w h i c h leave t h e r e l a t i o n

(1.1) ds 2 = (dx°) ~ - - (axe) 2 - - (dx2) 2 - - (dx3) 2 = 0

i u v a r i a n t . T h e g r o u p is c o m p o s e d of the full i n h o m o g e n e o u s L o r e n t z - g r o u p ,
t h e ,~cale t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s

(1.2) S: x'" = ;t,~/' , (2 ~ 0),

(l .2a) ds '2 : - ).~ d.~

a n d t h e iuYelsion (5)

X~ 2
(1.3) I: X r~ ~ __
2 2 ~
X2
=
~0__X2

1
(1.3a) de"* = - - ds ~ .
X4

T h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s w h i c h consist of a n in~'ersion, ~ t r a n s l a t i o n a n d an
i n v e r s i o n f o r m an A b e l i a n s u b g r o u p :

(1.4) A : x '~
1 + 2ax ~- a~a'2

(1.Ca)

This s u b g r o u p d e p e n d s on four p ~ r ' m l e t e r s a n d is c o n t i n u o u s l y c o n n e c t e d

w i t h t h e u n i t (a = 0). I t is n o t h ~ r d t o p r o v e t h a t all transforma.tions, con-
t i n u o u s l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e unit, (!an be w r i t t e n as a p r o p e r L o r e n t z - t r a n s -

(5) S. L~E and :P. ENGEL: Theor~e der Tra~s]orn~atio~sgrupt~en (Leipzig, 1893), p. 351.
 THE CONFOI~MAL INVAItIANCE :IN QUANTU]~[ F I E L D Ttt~0]~Y 1089

forniation, a scale transformation and a transformation of the Abelian subgroud

(1..4) Thus the eonformal group is a 15-parameter group. I t follows from (t)
t h a t the translations are no longer an invariant subgroup.
Space-time reflections and inversion lead to disconnected parts, b u t it
should be noted t h a t time reflection and inversion are continuously connected.
This can be shown directly b y a continuous p a t h which connects the inver-
sion with the time reflection. B u t it follows immediately from the isomorphism
of the eonformal group to a Lorent-group in six dimensions (6) and the fact
t h a t each such generalized Lorentz-group consists of four parts (7). Thus. the
whole eonformal group has four disconnected parts.
Through the inversion, the light cone is mapped into infinity. As the tra.ns-
formations (1.4) consist of inversion, translation and inversion, again a light
cone is m a p p e d onto infinity, of course, the center is displaced from the origin.
I t follows from (1.4) t h a t

(1.5) l+2ax÷a2x 2 = a~ x + ~ =0.

is the equation for this light cone and therefore, the center is at - - a / ~ ~.
P r o m the transformation p r o p e r t y of ~v%

X~
(1.6) x '2 : - ,
i + 2ax + a~x~

follows t h a t the sign of x '* is different from the sign of x ~ when a2(x+(a/a2)) ~"
is negative. Therefore, a timelike vector can become spaeelikc and vice versa
through these transformations. As a,~(x~-(a/~)) 2 changes sign when the point
x passes through the above mentioned light cone which is mapped onto in-
finity, x '2 can only change its sigll by passing through infinity as long as x ~-
does not change the sign.
F r o m (1.6) it also follows t h a t points at the light cone transform into points
at t h e l i g h t eerie, as long as they are finite points in both co-ordinate systems.
This is not necessarily true for points which "l.re m a p p e d onto infinity, as can
be seen f r o m an example. F o r all points of the plane l @ 2 a x = 0 we h a v e
x ' 2 = 1/a 2, also for the points on the cut with the light cone x ~ = 0. There-
fore we can speak from an i n v a r i a n t light cone as long as we admit finite points
only.
According to (1.4a) the sign of ds 2 is inw~.riaut. F o r an infinitesimal dis-
tance therefore, spaeelike and timelike have an invariant meaning.

(s) F. K ~ I N : Gesammelte Mathem. Ab]ta~dtungen (Berlin, ]921).

(7) H BOER~R: DarstelI,u~gen yon Grupl)en (Berlin, 1955), p. 264 ft.
lO90 J. wEss

This short discussion of the topologT, introduced into the pseudo-euclidean

spa,ca tlu'ough the conform'al group becomes very (.leiu" il~ two dimensions.
In Fig. 1 we plot the x plane and the x' pbu:e. The light cones x 2 = 0,
(x-:-(a/a2)) ~--0 a n d x ' 2 = 0 , (x'--(a/a~}) 2 = 0 cut the phmes in 9 parts.
T h r o u g h the numbers I to I X we indicate onto which p a r t of the x' plane each
p a r t of the x plane is m a p p e d through the t r a n s f o r m a t i o n (1.4).

",,, 111 /// /

plan,,
VIU

,x
\\

,"

/
" ,,,"

" I
//

"

\
a

> (
/
VII

v,
/

...l+2ax=O
IV :

,
----

v
\N.
' \ /
ii tl
III

/ II ,, /IV ,,""/'<'a~, V N'~2=O

/ \

/ !
0 r
/
, ,,, ,, \
5)%
// \

Fig. l.

Ill general, a line in t h e x-plane t r a n s f o r m s into ~Lhyperbola, but it follo~vs

from
(x - - y)"
(1.7) (x'--y') 2 =
(1 + 2ax + a2x~)(1-~ 2ay + a2y2) '

t h a t light p a t h s t r a n s f o r m into light paths. The Yolume element dx~

= dx °dx 1dx ~dx 3 is not i n v a r i a n t ( V ' ~ dx is i n v a r i a n t ) , b u t

(1.3b) S: dx = ~ d x ' ,

(lAb) A: dx ~ (1 - - 2ax'~- ~2x'2)-4dx' .

5[any interesting questions of a continuous group can bc t r e a t e d already

with the help of t h e infinitesimal t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s , which in our case are

0v ~ q

(1.s)
 THE CONFORMAL INVARIANCE IN QUANTU.~I FIELD THEORY 1091

The infinitesimal transform'~tions form a ring, the so (.ailed Lie-ring. We

shortly indicate the way, how to fin4 the structure constants c*,~ of this ring•
The group is parametrized through 15 parameters ~z in a way that the unit
element I has the parameters ~ = 0 and there is a one to one correspon-
dence between the group elements in the neighboltrhood of the unit element
and the 15 numbers a s in the neighbourhood of ~ - - 0 . We simply denote
group elements by ( ~ . . . :Oq =:{:¢}. The parameters y of the product {:¢}{fi}
{~} are differentiable functions of the parameters a and ft.
We develop these functions and using I = tO j r t we find

0.9) n m ....

The structure constants are defined by

(1.10) t i a,

Now we make use of the fa(.t t h a t our group is a gPonp of transformations

of variables x

(1.11)

~tnd again we develope in ~:

( 1.11a) y = x + A , [ x ] a ~+A,k[x]at=t ~ q - . . . .

The transformation

(1.12) z - -
~-~fis[a'] -',,~
([ )

gives rise to the i d e n t i t y

([.13) A i [ x ] a ~ . ~ n f l m = Ai [2 @ A~ [x]~J]fl i - A/[.rlfi i - .tii [.r.](~ifl~ ~- ~Jflg-

Here we used (1.9) and ( t . l l a ) .

Eq. (1.13) leads to the formula we need:

11•~4)

F o r linear transformations (1.14) becomes the well known commutation

relation

(1.15) [Ai Ai]- -- AMs--A~-I t =e ~

i1 A~.
1092 ,1. W-ESS

NOW we only to insert the infinitesimal t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s (1.8) into (1.14)

to calculate the s t r u c t u r e constants. F o r linear representations, the commu-
tation relations b e t w e e n the generators of the t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s are

[P°, P ' ] - = 0 ,

[Mt,~, pal_ = g a p , __ g~,ap~

[8, Pq_ =- P ' ,

[8, M~'~]_ = O,

[ A ~', A~]_ = O,

[ a s', P~]_ - 2 { M ~'~- !/~,'~}.,

[A a, M'e~]_ = g~'Ct ~ - g~'LF',

[A ~, S]- = A~•

2. - Representation of the generators in Hilbert-space.

I n q u a n t u m t h e o r y the generators are operators in ttilbert-space. Tile

P~'s are tile e n e r g T - m o m e n t u m o p e r a t m s and the M~'~'s the operMors of gm-
gular m o m e n t u m . Recently, there was m a d e some a t t e m p t to identify the
generator 8 with a leptonic n u m b e r operator (2).
W e shall d r a w some conclusions f r o m the c o m m u t a t i o n relations (16) for
these operators. W e assume t h a t in a reasonable theoLT the P , ' s are hermi-
t i a n operators a n d therefore can be b r o u g h t into diagonal form. W e further
~,ssume t h a t pa __ p*p~ has discrete eigenwflues /~ and a continuos range of
eigenvalues L T h e corresponding eigenvectors !7 should be normalized in
the sense t h a t

('_,.1) / # , t ~ " = (Lk, ").).'" = 5 ( ) . - - 2 ' ) , :#,k = O.

From

(2.2)

follows t h a t 8 and P cannot be b o t h diagonal. Therefore the Yector ,~"~/~,i

is a linear combination of other eigenvectors:

(2.3) ,~[a, = Z c , [ , , 2 , + ~c,,[zi:.

e
 TttE CONFORMAL INVARIANCE IN QUANTUM FIELD THEORY 1093

W i t h the help of (1.2) and (2.3) eq. (2.2) becomes for m a t r i x elements be-
tween two eigenvectors of the discrete s p e c t r u m

(2.2a) e ~ ( / ~ - - tt~) = 2/~b,,.,,

W e find t h a t c,, = 0 for r v~ s and t h a t /~ ~ o, The only possible discrete

eigenvMue of P~ is zero. The rest of the ~pe(.trum has a continuous r a n g e
only. F o r m a t r i x elements in the continuous range eq. (2.2) becomes

(2.2b) (2 - - ).')e~. z, = 2 2 5(3. - - 2')

;rod has the solution c~z, -- - - 2). (d/d).) b ( 2 - - 2').

T h e s a m e applies to the c o m m u t a t o r [,UP'J = pv.
I n the nex$ sections where we discuss scalar, spinor, ,~nd vector fields, we
shall derive the generators b y the action principle of Sehwinger. W e expect
t h a t t h e y are of the f o r m

(2.4) T = j da~T~(x) ,
q

a.nd the conservation law

(2.~a)

to be satisfied if the theory is i n v a r i a n t against the t r a n s f o r m a t i o n generated

b y T. Hence T is i n d e p e n d e n t of the surface a and for praetical purposes we
e ' m t a k e a surface t = eonst.
l
(2.~b) T= j d~x.T°(,r).
,3
t = const.

I n the Heisenberg picture the t i m e dependem.e of an operator is given b y

dT ~I'
(2.5) --=at ~[t/, T]_ ~-, --~t '

where H :_ po ::+fd:x0oo(.,). (O.v is the enert.~'-momentum tensor) and ~T/gt - 0

only if T does not depend oll the t i m e explicitly. F o r the generators of the
c o n f o r m a l group we k n o w the c o m m u t a t o r s [H, T ) : , (see eq. (1.16)), and the
conservation h~w d T ] d t = 0 is a consequence of (2.4,). Thus, in the case of
T=: +~ eq. {2.5) becomes

(2.5a) iH + ~ = d~,r O°°(x) + ~ t ~xS°(x) = 0 •

1094 a. wi~ss

Therefore, the p a r t of S which depends explicitly on the time has to be

of the form

-- ifd~x O°°(x)t.

F r o m reasons of Lorentz invariance we conclude that, apart from terms

which do not contribute to the surface integral

(2.6) ,S~(x) = - i [O'~(x)x~ + ;~(x)],

where ~ ( x ) depends on the x~'s only via the fields.

W i t h the same m e t h o d we find t h a t for the generators A~ we have to
expect:

(2.7) Am(x) = (f"x'- 2x"x~)O~(x) - - 2x" ,~'Q(x) + X'°(x) •

We shall see t h a t the form of the generators derived b y the action prin-
ciple actually agrees with (2.6) and (2.7).
F o r a point particle with velocity of light ( e - - 1 ) we write the classical
energy m o m e n t u m tensor:

(2.8) O"~(x) = m n " n ~ ( d t ~(x - - a -- at),

3

where ~t2= O, ¢ ~ ( x - - a - - ~ t t ) is a fore" dimensional 6-function and m is the

mass of the particle. W i t h this tensor it is easy to verify t h a t the conser-
vation law (2.4a) holds for the quantities

(2.9)
A~" = (9~'~, ~ - - 2x",r~)O~.

I n this case S = ~ = O.
W e can evaluate the quantities 8 and A ~ and we get

(2.9a)
A t` -- Pt'a~ - - 2a ~'a~

a" is the space time co-ordinate of the particle in a n y co-ordim~te system. If

we choose a system with the x 1 axis in the direction of motion, the S and A " s
allow a simple interpretation. As ~z = 0 they have the form S = E ( a ° - - a 1)
and A 0 = - - E ( a ° - al) ~, A ~ = E ( a ° - al) ~ and t h e y are obviously conserved for
:~ light p a t h where a I = a ° + c o n s t .
 T H E CONFO:R~IAL I N V A R I A N C E IN QUANTUM F I E L D TI~[EORY 1095

2"1. Spectrum o] the operator S. - In quantum me(.lmnics the cla.~sieal

quantities (2.9) become operators. In the x-representation ~t the time t = 0
the scale transformation operator is represented by

(2.10) xp = -- ixV = -- ir --
~r"

This operator is not hermitean but we find by partied integration

{2.11) - - i f d [ 2 f drr~)*r ~-~O= ifdY2fdrr2~[r~.4-3} ~0 ~ ,

0 (I

Therefore the operator

{~ 3/
{2.12) N=--i r~r + ~ [ ,

is hermitean and satisfies the correct commut~tion relations. The eigenfunctions

of S to the eigenvalue s ,~re
1 1
(2.13) u~(r) -- ~ / ~ ~/r3 exp [is In r] .

They are orthonormal and (.omplete in the sense that

u*(r) u,(r) r* dr - O(s -- s'),

0
,(2.1t)

ju,(r')u.(r) ds = ~ ~5(r-- r') .

-rio

The r~nge of s is the range of ~11 real numbers.

The unit a~T operator corresponding to u finite scale transformation is ob-
tained from S by integrat.ion:

~2.1~5) l '3
g = exp a 12 + r ~. .

I t is re:~dily shown that

(2.16) exp 2 [~ ÷ r ~[_ ](r) = exp ~ /(re ~) ,

and that U is :~ unit~ry operator.

1096 J. wlgs8

I n q u a n t u m field Lheory c e r t a i n (.ommutatioll relations exist b e t w e e n t h e

field oI)erator a n d t h e g e n e r a t o r S. I n t h e n e x t section we will find this com-
m u t a t o r s for scM~r, spinor, a n d v e c t o r fields. F o r a st)thor field t h e y are (*)

3 0
(2.17) - ~[s, ~ = ,5 ~ + ~-,, 5Z~ ~ .

I n t h e one-p~rticle s u b s p a e e there are s t a t e s of t h e f o r m

t =o

w h e r e u,(x) are eigenfunetions of t h e o p e r a t o r (:2.12) a n d 101 is the v a c u u l a

state. B y the use of t h e i n v a r i a n c e of t h e v a ( . u u m s t a t e a g a i n s t sc~ie tra.ns-
f o r m a t i o n s f r o m (2.17) a n d (2.18) follows
/a r
(2.19) ,s I¢' = j a~x ~,~(,) [sv,*]_ 10> =
X=O

B y p a r t i a l i n t e g c a t i o n we find

(2.2o) ~18 = s i s ) .
T h u s we see t h a t a l r e a d y ill tile one parti(.le s u b s p a c e tile s p e c t r u m of tlle
o p e r a t o r S is c o n t i n u o u s a n d h a s t h e r a n g e of all real n u m b e r s .

2"2. Tra)ts]ormatio~t p r o p e r t y o/ tke D ]u~ctio)~, - To p r o v e the i n v a r i a m . e

of field c o m m u t a t o r s we shall need t h e t:ansformation properties of t h e
function

(2.21) D ( x ) = _:t e(xO) ~(x,) "

2~

\Ve h a v e ween t h a t t h e light cone is i n v a r i a n t as long ~s x a n d ,r' at(-

finite points. I f we consider only such p o i n t s we find

(2.22) ( x2
~(x'~') = (~ 1 -}- 2ax + a~x ~ )
= [ 1 + 2 a x + a2x ' [(~(x2) .

F o r points on the light cone the sign of ,c '° is

(2.23) e(x '°) -- l.x''° I - ix°l(1 + 2ax -}- a~x ~)

- x '° -- x ° l l + 2 a x + a 2 x 2 1
- "

(') These are the commutation relations used by W. HI~IS~_XB~I~C,(:).

 THE CON:FORX~IAL INVARIANOE IN- QUANTUm[ FIELD TIIEO~,Y 1097

FinMly we get

(2.2~) D(x') (I + 2ax + ,'-',,'~)D(.r).

I n the same way, using (1.7) we find

(2.24a) D ( x ' - - y') = (1 -F 2ax + a2,c~)(1 -F 2"9 + ~2y~) D(x - - }1) •

T h a t we c,~n restrict ourselves to finite points becomes clear when we

u n d e r s t a n d D(x) ns n distribution in the sense of L, SCH~¥ARZ~ i.e. we hnve to
consider the functionM

(2.25) D(/) =fn(x)/(x) d,,

where the testing function ](x) goes to zero, when x goes to infinity.
W e t r a n s f o r m (2.15) into t h e new co-ordinate s y s t e m

f_ ]'(x') . . . . d x ' .
(2.25a) D(I) = J i ) ( x ' ) (1 L 2ax' + a2x'") ~

lVe m a d e use of (1.4b) a n d (2.24). A s f l ( x ' ) ~ J ( x ) it has a finite value

when x' goes to infinity, therefore ] ' ( x ' ) ( l - 2ax'+a2.r'2) -3, the new testing
function goes to zero for x'--> ~ .
F o r scMe trnnsformations we had

(2.2~b) D(x'--y') = ~1 D(x--O)

. .

Under the infinitesimal transformations da" and "P/O.rt' t r ' m s f o r m s like

(2.2(i(~) d x " = (1 + e - - '_'ax) dx ~' + 2(x~ d z' - - x s ~ ) d,r",

(2.26b)

Taking into account the fact, t h a t D ( x y) is a function of (x~'--# ~) w e

find with (2.26b)

(2.27) , D(x'--y') - (1 + 3~c + 3 ~ y ) - - D ( x - - y ) +

cy, oy~

+ [W'(x,+ y2 - ~(x" + y")] ~ , D(x -- y).

1098 J. wEss

To discuss the invariance properties of the Lagrangian formalism, we h a v e

to define the transformation properties of the fields involved. When we deal
with scalar, spinor, or vector fields, the transformation properties are defined
for the Lorentz-group. We shall see t h a t t h e y can be define4 :fiso for the
transformations (2) and (4) in such a way, t h a t the usual action integral is
invariant. As a consequence, the field equations are invariant and we can
write down the conservation laws.
If, in the quantized theory, the c o m m u t a t i o n relations '~re invariant too,
we can expect, t h a t the representation of the fields and the transformed fields
are equivalent; i.e., the fields are correlated b y an unitary transform~ttion and
the action principle of Schwinger furnishes us with the generators of these
transformations in terms of the fields. F o r these generators the commutation
relations (6) must be satisfied, using the commutation relations for the fields.
However, the question as to whether or not these generators can be integrated
to the u n i t a r y transformations in Hilhert-space is still open.

3. - For a scalar field we define

,S': ¢(x') = ~ , x ) ,
(3.1)
I: cf'(x') = x*cflx) .

F r o m the scalar character of the field follows:

(3.2) A: q¢(x') -= (1 + 2ax + a~x ~) q~(x) ,

of course, tiffs transformation has the group properties. With (l.3b), (lAb)
and (2.26b) it is easy to verify, t h a t the action illtegral

(3.3) W----- 2 f d x ~ .~q¢t,,

is inv~riant up to a divergence under the infinitesimal transformations

~ d x ' qJ~,9 ' ' ~ ' - ~

1 j "ax~.,,~. ,
(3.4) ~W:
f . = f dx ~~ .

This is sufficient for the invariance of the field-equations and for the exist-
ence of conservation laws, which we derive now (1).
 T I I E CONFOR~IAL INV~I~IANCE IN QUANTUM F I E L D TItEORY 10(,)9

In general, the variation of the action integr~d l l ' = f ~ d x under an infi-

nitesimal variation

x'=x÷A~',
(3.5)
~o'(x') = q(x) + Aq,.
turns out to be

\
(3.6) 8f ~q"dx 3x~
-~2f
dx

if 5f contains only the first derivations of q~. Thus, if tlle fields s~,tisfy tile
field equations, the variation is expressible through a divergence. If now W
is invari,~nt under (3.5), then the variation (3.6) has to vanish; if W is invariant
up to a divergence, such as (3.4), then the variation (3.6) is equal to this
divergence; in both cases we obtain an identity, expressible as a diver,_,'ence,
this is a continuity equation.
F o r a scalar field, the divergence of (3.6) be(.omes (*)

(3.7) ~x~ (~.~A~-- 0~A ~.).

- - v X

With the help of the field equations it is readily verilied, that eq. (2.-1) holds
for the quantities

(3.8)

(3.8) A ~ = 2 . r ~ q . ~ - g~v~ + (2,r/',c -- .q~c~)1".~t,.

The field c o m m u t a t o r

(3.9) [~0(x), ~(y)]_ = -- i D ( x - - y)

turns out to be invariaut. F r o m (2.3) and (2.24a) follows

(3.9a) [~0'(x), ~ ' ( y ' ) ] _ -

=: (1 q- 2ax ~ a'~x-')(1 ~ 2ay ~- (dy ~) [~(x), ¢,(y)] . . . . i D(x'-- ?f) .

F o r scale transform~tions it is obvious.

(*) O~*~ = ep'" ~'" - - ½g"'~'~cp,~. .

1100 a. w~ss

F r o m the action principle we learn t h a t the generators of the t n m s f o r -

mations in Itilbert-spaee are

(3.~o)

The integrNs are independent of the surface. This was the reason wily
we a d d e d te t e r m q)2 in A~. This tert, l does not occur in (3.6) but it com-
m u t e s w i t h ~0 on space-like surfaces and m a k e s A~ i n d e p e n d e n t of the surface.
F o r sp,~ce-like surfaces it is ea.sy to verify t h a t

(3.~)
i [.4~, ~(~)] = ~.

As a consequence of (3.11) tile generators satisfy the c o m m u t a t i o n rela-

tions (1.16).

4. - For a WeyMield we define

(4.1) p'(~,,') = D e t (~1--1) ~ 1-I ~p(,") ?

where F is the m a t r i x defined b y

(4.2) F+a~Fdx~ = a~dx'~ ,

a ° is the unit matrix, a l a2, a3 are the Pauli matri(.es in the usual represen-
tation a n d dx' is related to dx t h r o u g h (2.26a). In ease of the scale trans-
f o r m a t i o n F is obviously ).½ and we h a v e

(~.3) S: ~o'(x') = i -~ ~,(,r).

To find tile m a t r i x F for tile t r a n s f o r m M i o n (i.4) we m a k e use of the re*

lation

(4.4) (.%o~)(%~ ~') = x ~ = Dot (.%a~),

where ~ are the conjugates of a~: ~ o ~ ao, K ~ = _ a ~

 T I l E CONFORI~AL I N V A R I A N C E IN QUANTU_~[ F I E L D THEORY ll0l

Eq. (1.4) can also be w r i t t e n in t h e f o r m

1
(4.~a) (;r, a ' ) - ' = ~ ,r, G~ ,

~n~d leads to the i d e n t i t y

, x+ a" = ( x , a')-~
I: (x+~ ~) = ~
(~.5)
P: (x',a +) = ( x : - F e + ) a ~ = x + ~ + e : a ~.

For the transformation A = IPI it follows

, = (xo + ag) ,~. . . . . . .

(4.6) /[ a : (xo o~) ~ + 2~x + ~X" = [(x,, ~ ) - ' -~ (a~ o~')]=~.
[ ~o' ~ = [(.+~ ~) ' + ~o ~o] , .

5:ow we use d M - ~ - - - M - ~ d M M :~ a n d cah.ulate dx+a::

-- -I
(4.7) dx',a ~ = [.(,r,a+)-~÷ ((%a':)] [.,'aq-~(a"d.r,)[.Gal z -1 ~ -1
[(,,',,~') ÷ (GK')] `~ .

( ' o m p a r i n g this w i t h (4.2) shows t h a t

1 -~ x~a,~v(r ~'
O.s) = I X v O.v]--l[(;)~ r o . v ) - i _~ ( ~ [ v ~ v ) ] 1 --~ i ~ - - ~ . ~ X - ~ ,- (/222 *

A c c o r d i n g to (4.]) we h a v e to define

C~.9) A: V,'(x') (1 ~ 2(~.c ' a~.,"-')(I --}-%.r ~°a")~(,r)

t h a t b e c o m e s for the inRnitesimal t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s

(4.9(¢) A : ~ ' ( x ' ) -- (1 + 2~.r ~o.,',fi~G') ~(.,').

Tile aeti(m i n t e g r a l

1 v
(4.10) ~,r" ~(,r) dx

is i n v a x i a n t ag~,inst scale t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s . F o r the t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s (1.4) it

need s o m e calculation to p r o v e it.
We note that

(4.11) ~e ~ (1 - - 2 ~ x - - ~ , x ~ ~ ' a ' ) = 0 ,

70 - I1 N u o v o Uimento.
1102 J. wEss

and therefore we get

(4.12) " +~x~a ~'~ ~(x) = (Det F) ~~+'(:~') F- a~F ~-~ ~pr (x)r

~ r o m (2.26a), (2.26b) ~md (~t.2) follows

(4.13) Y+a~F ~-~ = (1 -- 4~x) a" ~x,V ,

and from (1.tb) and (Det F ) 2 = ( I - 4xx) follows the inv~rianee of tim acti(m
integrM and consequently the invariance of the field equations.
~or the L~gr~ngian (t.10) the divergence of (3.6) becomes

(~.~) {ly,+o~ Alo + T~Ax~}

where
1
T/,~ = -- ~ ~o+o~0.~ and jo = y)+aey~.

F r o m the invarianee of W follows a eontinuity equat.ion for the quantities

3
S~ = ~ iJ~ + T~x ~,
(4.15)
A~ = _ J x~ + T~,(g~x 2 - - 2x~'x~,) + --{y~ a'~a"at'y~x~, •

With the help of the symmetric energy momentum tensor 0t,v

tile conserved quantities can be brought into a nm(.h simpler form. I t is well
known t h a t the tensor 0~,, is obtained from the tensor T,~ by addling fl di-
vergence

(4.17) 0~,o = T,o + ~ G~,,~ ,

where
 T H E CONFORMAL 15iVAP.IANCE IN QUANTU'~I F I E L D THEORY ]1();~

and

H s~'v =-~Vo~(a
i _~t a ~ - - ~°a')~, ~ --
Hs~,

F o r ~ function ]~(,r) whieh vuni,~hes sufficiently at infinity the integral

(~.38) ~# ~ ( /,(x)) = o ,

vanishes as a consequence of t 1 9 , ~ = _ G~e~. Therefore

(t.19) f da#O'*' = i d a , , T ;'~ •

I f we ,~dd (~/P+e)(G-~t,,~Ax~') to tile. qu,~ntities (4.15) we get in b o t h eases

0 ~ A x , and f r o m (4.18) follows

(1.20)

This f o r m agrees w i t h (2.6) and (2.7) and remembering" t h a t 0~" is s y m m e -

tric a n d has a vanishing t r a c e it is easy to verify t h a t eq. (2.~) is valid.
The field c o m m u t a t o r s

[W(x), W(Y)]+ = 0 ,
(4.21) {

~re invariant. The action principle leads to the generator~ in Hilbert-~pace

nnd it is re~dily shown t h a t

(4:.22) iIfda~O~Ay~, ,p(x)

[J i-

The ctlrrent J~(.*~') t r a n s f o r m s under (l.4) like

(4.23) J~'(.r') ~ (1 ± 6~,r)J%r) + 2 ( . , ' / x ~ - - x ~ ) J + ' ( x )

a n d therefore fda~J%,') is invariant. ] t is also easily seen for s(.ale D'ans-

f orm~t, ions.
1104 J. wEss

5. - The Maxwell equations are invariant, when the ce~'tm" field a'(a') tr~ms-
f o r m {.ontravarialltly. F r o m (2.26b) follows for the infinitesimal t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s

[ a"(x') = (1 + 2~x) .'(,~) + 2(x0~'--,r%),d(,~').

(5.l.) J
/ a"(x') = (1 - - e ) a % r ) .

W i t h this deRnition, the action integral

(5.-°) L = -- ¥ x(a~.~,-- a..,) ~ ,

is i n v a r i a n t , a n d therefore the Maxwell equations are invm'iant. H o w e v e r the

L o r e n t z condition

0
(5.3) 0x--; a~(x) = o,

is not i n v a r i a n t under (5.1) for we find

(5.4)

Therefore, the t r a n s f o r m a t i o n (5.1) has to be completed b y a gauge trans-

f o r m a t i o n ; it should be n o t e d t h a t this gauge t r a n s f o r m a t i o n depends on the
fiehl a~(x).
A,~ a conscquence, the v a r i a t i o n of the action integral

(5.5) L = -- ~4,a,'4, dx

can not be zero under the v a r i a t i o n (5. I), b u t turns out lo be

(5.6) - 1- [. - ~ ~ /
j (~x,,

W e find theft the expectation value of the variation, t~tken for states which
obey the Lorentz-eondition, is i n v a r i a n t up to a divergence. This is not suf-
ficient to p r o v e the invariance of the equations of motion, but it is sufficient
to derive a couservation law which is satisfied for the expectation values.
 T H E CONFORMAL INVARIANCIg IN QUANTU3[ F I E L D TIIEORY 1105

B y a direct procedure we get from (3.6), (5.1), (5.1¢~), (5.6)(*)

(5.7) .4 ol~J~ = To" _ X x ' - - 2:~xaa. e a z 4- :tea j r ' --- 2 ao,~ "y. 2(x~x~-' /.(I.~"2 )%.o(~)."
N e = av, o a r @ TovJ'".

I t is easy to verify t h a t (~/?.r~),g~ is zero and t h a t the expectation value

of (~/~a'=)A=(x) is also zero.
We ea.n write the ('onserved quantities in ~t different and mor(~ ,.onvenient
form

[ Ao(a') 0o. A.r'.

(5.7a)
[ ;'o(,r) Oo~,r".
Again, the expeet~tion values of (?/?x,L~=(,c) is zero.
Therefor(,, the integrals: fSo. do ~, f,Y=d~ ~ and the cxpe(,tation values (,f tlw
integrals fA=do=, f~=do= are independent of the surface ~md we (.an evaluate
them for a. plane x o = ('onst. Disregarding terms, which art. space diver,,,'(,n(.es
one finds for the expectation values,

(5.s)
I
As the equations of motion derived from (5.15) axe not invaritmt under
(5.1) we ('annot expe(.t t h a t the ( ' o m m u t a t o r s

] [a~(x), aF,(y)] == i g , u D ( x - - y),

(5.9)
I [a,,.a(x), a,,(y)] = ig,v, ~ D(x-- y),

axe invaritmt. But using (2.24a), (2.27) and (5.1) one verifies that. they are
inv~ria.nt for x, !! spa.ce-Iike. Therefore. if the trtmsformation (5.1) i.~ com-
pleted b y t~ g~uge tr~msformation, the (,ommutators are invarianl for all .r
a n d ?l.
For the sc~de transform~ttions the field e o m n m t a t o r s are invariant. The
operator fda "&
is the generator of the tl'ansformation (5.1,), and is ind(.-

(') Te~ = --½go~a~,~a,la + a z oa,~ v

Oq~ = - - ~go~a~.,,(a,~., - - a,(r.~.) -}- (aeo. - - a,~.,.)(o,';. - - aa~) .
ll0tl j. w].:ss

pendent of the surface a. The operator .(da"A, is the generator of the t rans-
c~

f o r m a t i o n (1.1) on the surface a. However, this operator is not independent

of the surface. As the c o m m u t a t o r s of the fields are invariant only for space-
like points, we cannot expect to find a constant operator, which generates the
transformation (5.1).
I t is easy to verify explicitly t h a t

(7

for any sm.fiwe and t h a t

x~a

for a n y space-like surface t h r o u g h x.

F r o m (4.23) and (5.1) follows t h a t fd.r%J o is invariant.

6. - I n the case of a non-vanishing mass the a(.tion integral is not invariant.

E.g. for a scalar field we have a term of the form fro272 dx whi(.h transforms
like

S: n ~ ~dx - - j 2~ ~'~ da",

(6.1)

If we d e m a n d theft the m~tss has to be transformed like

[ S: m'= m
(6.2)
[A: m ' = (1 + 2ax + a"x~)m,,
we find t h a t the L~grangian remains invariant in the sense t h a t

(6.3) f,~¢~ ax = fm%'~ dx ' .

This is not sufficient to derive a conservation law. Nevertheless the uni-

t a r y transformations m a y exist (8):

(6.t) UT(xm) U -1 = 7'(.rm) .

(s) j. E. WEss: Nuovo Cime,nto, 14, 527 (1959).

 TIIE CONFORMAL INVARIANCE IN 4~UANTU_~[ F I E L D THEOI~Y 1107

T h e g~'nerators of t h i s t r ~ m s f o r m a t i o n c o r r e s p o n d t o t h e ones u s e d b y
~ . }{EISENBERG. T h e y h a v e to o b e y t h e s a m e c o m m u t a t i o n r e l a t i o n s (16).
T h e r e f o r e ,~ll t h e p r o p e l t i e s of t h e gener~ttors w h i c h we d e r i v e d in S e c t i o n 1
a n d 2 u s i n g o n l y t h e c o m m u t u t i o n r e l a t i o n s a r e s t i l l v~tid. T h i s m a k e s i t hard
to b e l i e v e theft t h e e i g e n v a l u e s of t h e o p e r a t o r s S a r e s u i t a b l e to c h a r a c t e r i z e
elemeut~ry p~rticles.

T h e a u t h o r w o u l d l i k e to e x p r e s s his t h a n k s to P r o f e s s o r ~V. THIPRIS"G

for s u g g e s t i o n s a n d h e l p f u l c o m m e n t s a n d for useful d i s c u s s i o n s with P r o f . B.
Z r ) ~ - o a n d D r . K . BAt'5[AN.~'.

RIASSUNT0 (*)

Si eonsiderano le propriet'~ di una teoria conforme invariante del campo quan-

~izzato. Si f a u n a breve discussione sul gruppo conforme nelle quattro dimensioni e
sulla topologia, introdotta da questo gruppo nelh) spazio pseudo-euclideo. Con l'aiuto
delle relazioni di commutazione si esamina lo spettro dei generatori nello spazio Hil-
bertiano. Si trova che il solo possibile autovalore discreto di t ~2 e dei pv ~ zero e che
il generatore per trasformazioni di scala ha uno spettro continuo. Si calcolano le auto-
funzioni di S nella rappresentazione x, che formano un gruppo completo. Le leggi di
eonservazione valide in una teoria invariante e le relazioni di commutazione predi-
cono una certa forma delle quantit~ conservate espresse in termini del tensore energia-
momento e delle coordinate. Per i campi scalari, spinoriali e vettoriali si derivano i
generatori col principio di azione di Schwinger.

(*) T r a d a z l o n e a cura della R e d a z i o n c .