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Homework 1
Homework 1 Solutions
Problem 1: Electromagnetic Field
The idea behind these problems is to re-derive some of the known results in electromagnetism using the classical field theory approach, i.e., with the Lagrangian
1
L = F F
4
(1)
F = A A
(2)
where
(3)
(4)
For example, we already showed in lecture that Maxwells equations are simply the EulerLagrange equations.
a) Energy-momentum
Based on Noethers theorem, construct the energy-momentum tensor for classical electromagnetism from the above Lagrangian.
Note that the usual procedure does not result in a symmetric tensor. To remedy that, we
can add to T a term of the form K , where K is antisymmetric in its first two
indices. Such an object is automatically divergenceless, so
T = T + K
(5)
is an equally good energy-momentum tensor with the same globally conserved energy and
momentum. Show that this construction, with
K = F A
(6)
leads to an energy-momentum tensor T that is symmetric and yields the standard (i.e.,
known without using field theory) formulae for the electromagnetic energy and momentum
densities:
1
E2 + B2 ,
2
S = EB
E =
(7)
(8)
Phys624
Homework 1
Solution:
First, we calculate the energy-momentum tensor using
T =
L
A L
( A )
(9)
(10)
L
= F
( A )
(11)
1
T = F A + F F
4
(12)
we can calculate
Thus we get
where we have raised the index using metric . This is obviously not symmetric under
exchange of indices. To make it a symmetric tensor, we add total derivative term:
K = ( F )A + F ( A )
(13)
(14)
(15)
where in the last equality we used ijk ijl = 2 kl . Similarly, the momentum density is given
by
~ i = T0i = F 0k F i = E k kil B l = (E
~ B)
~ i
S
k
(16)
Phys624
Homework 1
(17)
(18)
L
= A i i A0
A i
(19)
0
i
We can see that from the above equations we cannot solve for A 0 . The reason is that there is
no term in the Lagrangian with time derivative of A0 . In other words, A0 is not a dynamical
field.
Solution to Exercise 2.5
Now, if we fix the gauge by choosing A0 = 0, and treat Ai as dynamical fields, we get
i
L
= A i
i
(20)
1
1
( ) ( ) m2 2 ,
2
2
(21)
Phys624
Homework 1
(vi) Finally, show that P 0 that you calculated above in part (iv) is the same as the total
Hamiltonian, i.e., spatial integral of H which you calculated above in part (iii).
We will determine eigenstates/values of this (total) Hamiltonian when we quantize the field.
And, P i can be interpreted as the (physical) momentum carried by the field (not to be
confused with canonical momentum!). This Pi will be used in interpreting the eigenstates of
the Hamiltonian of the quantized scalar field.
Solutions:
(i) Euler-Lagrange equation for ,
L
L
=
( )
(22)
m2 = ( )
( 2 + m2 ) = 0
(23)
(24)
L
=
(25)
(iii)
1
~ 2 + m2 2 ]
H = L = [ 2 + (5)
2
(26)
(iv)
L
L
( )
1
= m2 2
2
T =
(27)
P =
d3 x T 0
(28)
= + + m2 )
= ( 2 + m2 ) = 0
4
(29)
(30)
(31)
(32)
Phys624
Homework 1
Therefore, if the field satisfies its equation of motion (the Klein-Gordon equation in this
case), the stress-energy tensor is conserved. Therefore, Noether current conservation relies
on the equations of motion which are satisfied for a classical field.
(vi) Using the expression above for P , we get
Z
Z
1 2
2
2 2
0
3
~
(33)
P = d x [ + (5) + m ] = d3 x H
2
i
P =
i
d3 x
(34)
(35)
(36)
It is important to note that in this convention, the argument of the field (in the right-most
expression) does not change with the transformation. As a reference for this convention, one
can remember that the scalar transforms like (x) (x) under a Lorentz transformation.
The infinitesimal version of the transformation is given by
x (1 + )x
(x) 1/(1 + )(x)
x = x
=
(37)
(38)
Again, remember that for Lorentz transformations on a scalar field, would be zero in this
convention.
The Lagrangian is given by,
1
L = 4
2
(39)
4 4
4
b 2
b
1
= 4L
b
Lb =
(40)
Phys624
Homework 1
We can now look at the transformation of the action under this symmetry,
Z
Z
Z
4
4 4
d x L b d x L b = d4 x L
(41)
Therefore, the action is invariant under this symmetry. The Noether current is,
L
T x
( )
L
L
=
g L x
( )
( )
1
= g ( ) x
2
J =
(42)
(43)
(44)
= iq
= iq
(45)
(46)
(47)
( )
( )
= ( iqA ) (iq ) + [( + iqA )] (iq )
= iq 2iqA
J =
(48)
(49)
(50)
Phys624
Homework 1
(A )
( A )
(51)
Note that
(F F )
= (g g g g )F + ( )F
( A )
= 4F
(52)
F = iq [( + iqA )] + iqA ( iqA )
(53)
Therefore,
The term on the right hand side is simply the Noether current derived above.
F = j
(54)