Quantum Field Theory: Example Sheet 1

Dr David Tong, October 2007

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

where x identifies position along the string from one end point. By expressing the
displacement as a sine series Fourier expansion in the form
r ∞
2 X  nπx 
y(x, t) = sin qn (t) (2)
a n=1 a

show that the Lagrangian becomes

∞  
X σ 2 T  nπ 2 2
L= q̇ − qn . (3)
n=1
2 n 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 nπ
ωn = . (4)
σ a

2. Show directly that if φ(x) satisfies the Klein-Gordon equation, then φ(Λ−1 x) also
satisfies this equation for any Lorentz transformation Λ.

3. The motion of a complex field ψ(x) is governed by the Lagrangian

λ
L = ∂µ ψ ∗ ∂ µ ψ − m2 ψ ∗ ψ − (ψ ∗ ψ)2 . (5)
2
Write down the Euler-Lagrange field equations for this system. Verify that the La-
grangian is invariant under the infinitesimal transformation

δψ = iαψ , δψ ∗ = −iαψ ∗ (6)

Derive the Noether current associated with this transformation and verify explicitly
that it is conserved using the field equations satisfied by ψ.

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4. Verify that the Lagrangian density
1 1
L = ∂µ φa ∂ µ φa − m2 φa φa (7)
2 2
for a triplet of real fields φa (a = 1, 2, 3) is invariant under the infinitesimal SO(3)
rotation by θ

φa → φa + θǫabc nb φc (8)

where na is a unit vector. Compute the Noether current j µ . Deduce that the three
quantities
Z
Qa = d3 x ǫabc φ̇b φc (9)

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

5. A Lorentz transformation xµ → x′µ = Λµν xν is such that it preserves the Minkowski

metric ηµν , meaning that ηµν xµ xν = ηµν x′µ x′ν for all x. Show that this implies that

ηµν = ηστ Λσµ Λτν . (10)

Use this result to show that an infinitesimal transformation of the form

Λµν = δ µν + ω µν (11)

is a Lorentz tranformation when ω µν is antisymmetric: i.e. ω µν = −ω νµ .

Write down the matrix form for ω µν that corresponds to a rotation through an in-
finitesimal angle θ 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: xµ → xµ + ω µν xν . Show that a scalar field transforms as

φ(x) → φ′ (x) = φ(x) − ω µν xν ∂µ φ(x) (12)

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

δL = −∂µ (ω µν xν L) (13)

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Using Noether’s theorem deduce the existence of the conserved current

j µ = −ω ρν [Tρµ xν ] (14)

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 = ǫijk d3 x xj T 0k − xk T 0j


(15)

Derive the conserved charges arising from invariance under Lorentz boosts. Show that
they imply
Z
d
d3 x (xi T 00 ) = constant (16)
dt
and interpret this equation.

7. Maxwell’s Lagrangian for the electromagnetic field is

1
L = − Fµν F µν (17)
4
where Fµν = ∂µ Aν − ∂ν Aµ and Aµ is the 4-vector potential. Show that L is invariant
under gauge transformations

Aµ → Aµ + ∂µ ξ (18)

where ξ = ξ(x) is a scalar field with arbitrary (differentiable) dependence on x.

Use Noether’s theorem, and the spacetime translational invariance of the action, to
construct the energy-momentum tensor T µν for the electromagnetic field. Show that
the resulting object is neither symmetric nor gauge invariant. Consider a new tensor
given by

Θµν = T µν − F ρµ ∂ρ Aν (19)

Show that this object also defines four conserved currents. Moreover, show that it is
symmetric, gauge invariant and traceless.

Comment: T µν and Θµν are both equally good definitions of the energy-momentum
tensor. However Θµν clearly has the nicer properties. Moreover, if you couple Maxwell’s
Lagrangian to general relativity then it is Θµν which appears in Einstein’s equations.

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8. The Lagrangian density for a massive vector field Cµ is given by

1 1
L = − Fµν F µν + m2 Cµ C µ (20)
4 2
where Fµν = ∂µ Cν − ∂ν Cµ . Derive the equations of motion and show that when m 6= 0
they imply

∂µ C µ = 0 (21)

Further show that C0 can be eliminated completely in terms of the other fields by

∂i ∂ i C0 + m2 C0 = ∂ i Ċi (22)

Construct the canonical momenta Πi conjugate to Ci , 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 Πi . (Note: Do not be concerned that the canonical momen-
tum for C0 is vanishing. C0 is non-dynamical — it is determined entirely in terms of
the other fields using equation (22)).

9. A class of interesting theories are invariant under the scaling of all lengths by

xµ → (x′ )µ = λ xµ and φ(x) → φ′ (x) = λ−D φ(λ−1 x) (23)

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 ∂µ φ∂ µ φ − m2 φ2 − gφ p (24)
2 2
Find the scaling dimension D such that the derivative terms remain invariant. For
what values of m and p is the scaling (23) 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 Noether’s theorem to construct the conserved current D µ

associated to scaling invariance.