221A HW 9

PHIL SAAD

1
1.1. We have a set of nine scalar fields, φia , with i and a running from one to three. We are given the
Lagrangian
1 λ
L = − ∂ µ φia ∂µ φia + ijk abc φia φjb φkc
2 6
1 2



L = − Tr (∂φ) + λ det φ
2
We see immediately that the kinetic term is that of 9 massless scalar fields. This gives us the propagator
Dia,jb = δij δab ∆F
This can also be seen by looking at the generating function
Z Y  Z 
4 1 µ λ
Z[J] = Dφia exp i d x − ∂ φia ∂µ φia + ijk abc φia φjb φkc + Jia φia
i,a
2 6

We rewrite this as
Z Y  Z 
4 1 µ λ
Z[J] = Dφia exp i d x − δij δab ∂ φia ∂µ φjb + ijk abc φia φjb φkc + Jia φia
i,a
2 6

Doing the usual integration by parts and pulling the interaction term out
 Z Z Y  Z 
λ 4 1 δ 1 δ 1 δ 4 1 2
Z[J] = exp i d xijk abc Dφia exp i d x δij δab φia ∂ φjb + Jia φia
6 i δJia i δJjb i δJkc i,a
2

Doing the usual completing the square and integrating over the gaussian function of φ gives us
 Z   Z 
λ 1 δ 1 δ 1 δ 1
Z[J] = exp i d4 xijk abc Z0 [0] exp i d4 xd4 yJia (x)Dia,jb (x − y)Jjb (y)
6 i δJia i δJjb i δJkc 2
From this it is also pretty clear that we have the momentum space vertex factor of
iλijk abc
But this looks like maybe its a bit of a funky theory so I’m gonna make sure. Using some shorthand whose
meaning is hopefully pretty clear, our first order in lambda term is,
Z
λ1
i 3 ijk abc δiax δjbx δkcx Z0 [J]
6i x
Z Z
λ1
= i 3 i ijk abc δiax δjbx Dkc,ld,xy Jldy Z0 [J]
6i x y
Z Z Z Z
λ1 λ1 2
= i 3 i ijk abc δiax Dkc,jb,xx Z0 [J] + i 3 i ijk abc δiax Dkc,ld,xy Jldy Djb,me,xz Jmez Z0 [J]
6i x 6i x y z
Really, I don’t think it’s necessary to continue from here. We’ll get a diagram that that gives another factor
of i and an integral over a source and a propagator to the second term, which is our three source, one vertex
diagram that has a symmetry factor of 1/6.

Date: November 29 2013.

1
2 PHIL SAAD

Z
i
ijk abc d4 wd4 xd4 yd4 zJld (y)Jme (z)Jnf (w)Dil,ad (x − y)Djm,be (x − z)Dkn,cf (x − w)
6
The problem here is that I have Z[J], not an amplitude. I’m summing over all the different sources that
could contribute. To get the vertex factor, I need to find the vev of a product of three fields, which involves
taking three derivatives. I expect this to give me the 3! factor needed to cancel the 1/6. And i’m running
out of letters. 
1 
hΩ| T φi0 ,a0 (x1 )φj 0 ,b0 (x2 )φk0 ,c0 (x3 ) |Ωi = 3 δi0 a0 x1 δj 0 b0 x2 δk0 c0 x3 Z[J]
i J=0
The first order in lambda term is
Z
iλijk abc d4 xDii0 ,aa0 (x − x1 )Djj 0 ,bb0 (x − x2 )Dkk0 ,cc0 (x − x3 )
Z
= iλi0 j 0 k0 a0 b0 c0 d4 x∆F (x − x1 )∆F (x − x2 )∆F (x − x3 )

Bam! so our vertex factor is exactly what we expected.

Now I want to find some scattering amplitudes. I assume this is to lowest order in lambda. The diagrams
I need to calculate for φia φjb → φkc φld scattering are

and the other two (t and u) diagrams. This one, the s channel, is given by
iλabe ijm Dem,f n iλnkl f cd
1
= −iλ2 abe ijm nkl f cd δef δmn
s
1
= −iλ2 abe ijm mkl ecd
s

1
= −iλ2 δac δbd − δad δbc δik δjl − δil δjk


s
By doing the same thing for the t and u channel diagrams, we get





δac δbd − δad δbc δik δjl − δil δjk δab δcd − δad δbc δij δkl − δil δjk

2
iTia jb→kc ld = −iλ +
s t



δac δbd − δab δdc δik δjl − δij δlk
+
u
This was not nearly as bad as it looked. NICE!
 221A HW 9 3

2
2.1. From your homework three solutions (thanks!) and some help from Srednicki, we know that for a
complex scalar field Z  
3 −ikx ∗
a(k) = −i d xe iωk φ(x) − π (x)
←→
Z
= i d3 xe−ikx ∂0 φ(x)
Since π ∗ = ∂0 φ. Also,
←→
Z
†
a (k) = −i d3 xeikx ∂0 φ† (x)
The b operators should be the same as the a operators but the role of phi and phi dagger switched
←→
Z
b(k) = i d3 xe−ikx ∂0 φ† (x)

←
→
Z
†
b (k) = −i d3 xeikx ∂0 φ(x)
We make a creation operator for some particle localized around k1
Z
a†1 = d3 kf1 (k)a† (k)

Z +∞
a†1 (+∞) − a†1 (−∞) = dt ∂0 a†1 (t)
−∞
←→
Z Z
3
d4 x∂0 eikx ∂0 φ† (x)


= −i d kf1 (k)
Z Z
d3 kf1 (k) d4 xeikx ∂02 + ω 2 φ† (x)


= −i
Z Z
d3 kf1 (k) d4 xeikx ∂02 + k 2 + m2 φ† (x)


= −i
Z Z ←−
d3 kf1 (k) d4 xeikx ∂02 − ∇2 + m2 φ† (x)


= −i
Z Z −→
d3 kf1 (k) d4 xeikx ∂02 − ∇2 + m2 φ† (x)


= −i
Z Z
3
d4 xeikx − ∂ 2 + m2 φ† (x)


= −i d kf1 (k)

Thus we have Z Z
a†1 (−∞) a†1 (+∞) 3
d4 xeikx − ∂ 2 + m2 φ† (x)


= +i d kf1 (k)
Z Z
d3 kf1 (k) d4 xe−ikx − ∂ 2 + m2 φ(x)


a1 (+∞) = a1 (−∞) + i
Z Z
b†1 (−∞) = b†1 (+∞) + i d3 kf1 (k) d4 xeikx − ∂ 2 + m2 φ(x)

Z Z
b1 (+∞) = b1 (−∞) + i d3 kf1 (k) d4 xe−ikx − ∂ 2 + m2 φ† (x)

For a scattering process, we have our initial and final states as

Y
|ii = b†m (−∞)a†n (−∞) |Ωi
n,m
Y
hf | = hΩ| bj (+∞)ak (+∞)
j,k
So we have Y
hf |ii = hΩ| T bj (+∞)ak (+∞)b†m (−∞)a†n (−∞) |Ωi
jknm
4 PHIL SAAD

Z Y
0
hf |ii = in+n d4 xj d4 xk d4 xn d4 xm eikxn − ∂x2n + m2

jknm

ikxm
∂x2m + m2 e−ikxj − ∂x2j + m2 e−ikxk − ∂x2k + m2




e −

hΩ| T φ† (xj )φ(xk )φ(xm )φ† (xn ) |Ωi

3
3.1. This first part is essentially done in Peskin and Schroeder. Given the action
Z
1
2
S = − d4 x ∂φ + V (φ)
2
Under a translation, the fields transform as
φ → φ0 = φ − ν ∂ν φ
Due to the fact that it is a scalar, the Lagrangian changes as
L → L − ν ∂ν L = L − ν ∂µ δνµ L

By varying the fields we also get

∂L ν ∂L ν
L→L−  ∂ν φ −  ∂µ ∂ν φ
∂φ ∂∂µ φ
Integrating by parts
   
∂L
ν ∂L ν ∂L
δL = − ∂ν φ − ∂µ −  ∂µ ∂ν φ
∂φ ∂∂µ φ ∂∂µ φ
The first term vanishes if the fields satisfy the equations of motion. We are left with the two variations in
the action Z   Z
∂L
δS = − d4 x ν ∂µ ∂ν φ = − d4 x ν ∂µ δνµ L


∂∂µ φ
Since our theory is translation invariant, then the variation in the action is zero. Also, this is true for all ,
so we have  
∂L
∂ν φ = ∂µ δνµ L


∂µ
∂∂µ φ
 
∂L
∂µ ∂ν φ − δνµ L = 0
∂∂µ φ
∂L
Tνµ = ∂ν φ − δνµ L
∂∂µ φ
Thus for our theory,
1 ρ
T µν = −∂ µ φ∂ ν φ + g µν


∂ φ∂ρ φ + V (φ)
2
Well this is up to a sign. Im gonna check this in the case of a massive free particle. T 00 should be the energy
density. If you plug in µ = ν = 0 you get the negative of the Hamiltionian density (I’m using the -+++
metric if it hasn’t been clear yet), so actually
1
T µν = ∂ µ φ∂ ν φ − g µν ∂ ρ φ∂ρ φ + V (φ)


2
We get the conserved charges by integrating T 0µ over space
Z
1 1
P = d3 x (∂t φ)2 + ∇φ)2 + V (φ) = H
0
2 2
Z
P i = − d3 x ∂t φ∂i φ
 221A HW 9 5

3.2. Under an infinitesimal Lorentz transformation, we have

φ → φ − δωνµ xν ∂µ φ
We also have
L → L − δωνµ xν ∂µ L
δL = −δωνµ xν ∂µ L = −δωνµ ∂µ (xν L) + δωνµ L(∂µ xν )
= −δωνµ ∂µ (xν L) + δωνµ Lδnµ = −δωνµ ∂µ (xν L)
= −δωµν ∂ρ (xν g ρµ L)
By the antisymmetry of ω. We also have, due to the variation in the fields (already performing the integration
by parts),
   
∂L ∂L ∂L
δL = − ∂µ δφ + ∂µ δφ
∂φ ∂∂µ φ ∂∂µ φ
The first part drops out if the fields satisfy the equations of motion.
 
∂L ν µ
δL = −δωµν ∂ρ x ∂ φ
∂∂ρ φ
Identifying
∂L µ
∂ φ = −T ρµ + g ρµ L
∂∂ρ φ
We get
 
n µρ ν ρµ
δL = δωµν ∂ρ x T −x g L

Setting our two variations in the Lagrangians equal to each other

 
δωµν ∂ρ xn T µρ − xν g ρµ L = −δωµν ∂ρ (xν g ρµ L)

δωµν ∂ρ xν T µρ = 0

Due to the antisymmetry of ω, we can only say that, for all ω

∂ρ x[ν T µ]ρ = 0

∂ρ xν T µρ − xµ T νρ = 0

Thus we get the set of 6 conserved currents for Lorentz transformations

ρ
J νµ = xν T µρ − xµ T νρ
The charges are given by
Z
νµ

0
Q = d3 x J νµ

We have Z Z
Q12 = d3 x x1 T 20 − x2 T 10 = d3 x xπ y − yπ x = Lz

As would be expected. Now what are our boost charges?

Z
Q01 = d3 x x0 T 10 − x1 T 00

Z
d3 x − tπ x − xH


=

Okay sure I guess. I didn’t really expect it to have a clear interpretation in terms of things I already know
anyways.
6 PHIL SAAD

4
4.1. We have the action Z
1
2 1 λ
S=− d4 x ∂φ + m2 φ2 + φ4
2 2 4!
And we have the infinitesimal variations
δxµ = αxµ , δφ = −αφ
We recognize these as the infinitesimal versions of the variations
φ → e−α φ, xµ → eα xµ
We can see rather quickly (using the fact that the jacobian is e4α and the partial derivatives give e−α ) that
what makes this not a symmetry is the mass term. That makes sense because the fixed parameter that has
dimension is the mass term. (lambda is dimensionless). I guess thats expected.
Now to find that current. Instead of messing around with varying coordinates and stuff, I’m gonna rewrite
the problem in a way that makes it a bit more familiar. I rewrite the action as
√
Z  
1 1 λ
S = − d4 x −g gµν ∂ µ φ∂ ν φ + m2 φ2 + φ4
2 2 4!
And our variations are rewritten as
φ → e−α φ = (1 − α + O(α2 ))φ
g µν → e2α g µν = (1 + 2α + O(α2 ))g µν
gµν → e−2α gµν = (1 − 2α + O(α2 ))gµν
With gµν always proportional to ηµν .
Just to make it clear why this all works, I’ll go through this a bit. The root of the determinant takes care
of the variations of the coordinates, which would pick up a jacobian. The metric in the derivative part takes
care of the changes of the derivatives that I’d get if I did the change in coordinates stuff. Remember that
my covariant derivative in this case is just the partial derivative, so it is metric compatible. I used the fact
that ∂µ xν = δµν , which using the metric compatability of the derivative, gives us ∂ µ xν = g µν .
Under this transformation, the action changes as
√
√ ∂ −gL δgµν
Z
∂L ∂L
δS = d4 x −g √ + δφ + δ∂µ φ
∂gµν −g ∂φ ∂∂µ φ
We take a hint from GR and fix up that first term, recongnizing it as involving the energy momentum tensor.
We also integrate by parts on the second term and say that the field equations are satisfied.
√
Z  
1 ∂L
δS = d4 x −g − T µν δgµν + ∂µ


δφ
2 ∂∂µ φ
Substituting in the expressions for the variations, but in their infinitesimal forms,
4 √
Z  
µν ∂L

δS = d x −g αT gµν − α∂µ φ
∂∂µ φ
Rewriting gµν as ∂µ xν , we get
√
Z  
∂L

δS = d x −g αT µν ∂µ xν − α∂µ
4
φ
∂∂µ φ
Integrating by parts and using the fact that the energy momentum tensor is divergenceless, and doing the
derivative in the second term,
4 √
Z  
µν µ
δS = α d x −g∂µ T xν + φ∂ φ

Thus
J µ = T µν xν + φ∂ µ φ
Now to check that it is conserved in the massless case
∂µ J µ = xν ∂µ T µν + T µν ∂µ xν + ∂µ φ∂ µ φ + φ∂ 2 φ
 221A HW 9 7

The first term vanishes. Let’s write out the energy momentum tensor and equation of motion explicitely
1 m2 2 λ 4

T µν = ∂ µ φ∂ ν φ − g µν ∂ρ φ∂ ρ φ + φ + φ
2 2 4!
λ
∂ 2 φ = m2 φ + φ3
3!
So the second term, which is the trace of the energy momentum tensor, is
λ
−∂µ φ∂ µ φ − 2m2 φ2 − φ4
3!
We have
λ
∂µ J µ = −2m2 φ2 − φ4 + φ∂ 2 φ
3!
Using the equation of motion
∂µ J µ = −m2 φ2
Which, as expected, is zero in the massless case.