Inconsistency of Minimal Coupling in the Presence of the Square-Root Klein-Gordon Operator

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Inconsistency of Minimal Coupling in the Presence of the Square-Root Klein-Gordon Operator l/ UCJ) 3ZU`—M"/Av (@3-*% S Lo ek A A UGDPHY/IIRPA 93-41 Wnm 1a1nii¤ifiiiE I PGGBELSB4 Inconsistency of Minimal Coupling in the Presence ofthe Square-Root Klein-Gordon Operator JoHN R,. SMITH Physics Department, University of California, Davis Davis, CA. 95616 [December 9, 1993] PACS (03.65.pm, 03.70.+k, 11.15.-1]} OCR Output WT! H. Weyl, Proceedings National Academy of Science 15, 323 (1929); H. Weyl, Physical Review 27, 699 (1950); H. Weyl, Space—Time—Matter, (Dover Publications, INC., New York, 1952), pp. 121-129 and pp. 282-295 (Note Weyl’s struggle to distinguish "geometrical” properties from "phase-fields.’ He obviously had some intuition that the non-Riemannian geometry he was proposing should not strictly be applied to vectors and tensors, but to phases. He was lacking the necessary insight from quantum mechanics to use imaginary phases at this time and apply the results to matter fields). R. Adler, M. Bazin, and M. Schiffer, Introduction to General Relativity, (McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1975), 2nd Ed., pp. 491-507; P.A.M. Dirac, Proc. Royal Society A133, 60; V. Fock Zeit. Physik 39, 226 (1927); F. London Zeit. Physik 42, 375 (1927); C. N. Yang, Annals of New York Acad. of Science, 294, 86-97 (1977). 10. Martin Lavelle amd David McMullan, Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 3758 (1993). 11. John R. Smith, Second Quantization of the Square-Root Klein-Gordon Op erator, Microscopic Cansality, Propagators, and Interactions. UCD/HRPA 93-13. 10 OCR Output ABSTRACT lt is shown in this paper that the assumption of minimal coupling is incorrect given the representation of x/mz — V2 using Fourier transforms. In the literature cited in Refs. [1] and [5] minimal coupling, or a non—local generalization of minimal coupling, was the essential assumption used to prove violation of Lorentz invariance of x/m2 — V2 in the presence of interactions of the following form m2 + [—iV + eA(x)]2 Hence these proofs are inconclusive. 1. Minimal Coupling and the Exponential Shift The assumption of minimal coupling is that interactions can be represented by modifying the derivative operator as follows Gul/’ _* (gu 1 i€Au)d’> where Au is a four—vector potential representing the interactions and 1b represents the matter—field interacting with the four-vector potential. Au is further required to satisfy the local gauge transformation property W = €><i>{i€9(¢)}¤/n (2) A], : Al, — 3,,9. 1 show explicitly below that the above prescription breaks down in the general case of arbitrary functions 9(m) for the square—root Klein—Gordon operator. The only OCR Output rtw case where local gauge invariance works is when exp{ie0(x)} is an eigenfunction of V. Let h(k) : f[h(x)] represent the Fourier-transform operator _ _ —ih,(k) - F[h(x)]1 Qw)/f - 32 ek·:r h(x)d 3 m. (3) Then the Fourier transform of the product of two functions is represented by the convolution theorem r lf(¤?)9(¤5)l1 5gf(Z ——5f(k W) ·€)9(€)d`$·f (4) Using Fourier transforms the action of the square-root operator on 1/2 can be represented as follows mz · Y721/»(;c,t):1 ~—-(m/ MM/m2 + k2 i/i(k,¢)d—*k, i2 c > 5 1 · . I- —e"“( yly/m2 + k2 »¢(y,t)d3kd3y. »§ (2r) Consider multiplying 1/1 by a phaselthat is a function of space—time position where f (sc, t) : exp{ie0(x, By the convolution theorem of Fourier transforms the action of \/m2 — v2 on 1/¤’(:r, rf) reduces to <2¤>3Mm2 — V2 ¢’<x,¢> I / 6***%/mz + k2 / fo —<>¢<<,¢>d·sdk,’3 <¥“f<k> I 46%/m2 + Us + or ¢><s,¢>d<dk,33 (zw)3/2 / €*'*·xf(k)\/m2 + (12- my rp(x,r)d3k. (7) OCR Output ITi`ll ` The square—root operator therefore picks up a convolution over the wave—number in the expansion of the function We operate with a shifted square—root operator on ¢(a:,t) and integrate the shifted operator weighted by (i.e., the operator is shifted by the Fourier wave-numbers of f This is essentially an eigenvalue expansion of f over the complete set of plane—waves. Notice that the gradient of does not enter directly into the square-root operation. This is very similar to the exponential shift property of differential operators in the Heaviside operational calculus. In the Heaviside calculus a differential operator P(D), (where P(D) is a polynomial in the derivative operator) enjoys the following property known as the exponential shift €`"P(D)€'””f(¢¤) = P(D + r)f(w), (8) whereas the square—root operator obeys the following exponential shift law €”"°““” \/mz — V2 €"°`””¢(¤) = x/m2 + (hl — N)? M1) Given the above facts I will prove that the exponential shift property of the square-root operator is inconsistent with the transformation properties of the four potential as required by local gauge—invariance. In the case of local gauge transfor mations of the form where : exp{ie0(x)}, the gradient, V0(.2:), does not appear inside the square-root operator (except for the trivial case ee9(a:) = Since this is the essential assumption ofgauge—invariance for minimal coupling, minimal coupling will not hold true in the general case. The essential problem can be explicitly formulated by asking: Is minimal coupling consistent with gauge OCR Output WM invariance given the shift property in the convolution formula of Eq. (7)? In order for this to be the case insert the assumed form of minimal coupling in the square root operator and perform the convolution required to represent the operation of m2 — V2 on exp{éeH(x)}z,/J. l obtain the following condition for consistency —L— (2,,):s/2 e’k`zf(k)\/mz + (e1Zf'(:1:) + I; — iV)2 1/2(:c t) dgk * (10) exp{ie0(;v)}\/m2 + (eA(a:) — iV)2 1b(;z:,t). The transformed four—vector potential, AQ,(x,t), would therefore be required to transform as A(](x,t) = A0(:c,t) — 6"t9(:c,t), (U) ., . A (a:,t) = A(;z,t) — V9(a:,t) =s A(x,t) _— k/e, which requires that the function 9(;c,t) satisfy the relation 6V0 Z k. (12) This means that minimal coupling is not consistent with gauge invariance for the square—root Klein—G0rdon equation except for the case of specific transformation functions satisfying V exp{ie9(z)} = ikexp{ie9(a:)}. (13) The above inconsistency between the exponential shift property of the square—root operator, the Fourier convolution theorem, and the requirement of local gauge in variance is severe and renders applications of minimal coupling (e.g., violation of Lorentz invariance for the square—root operatorl in the presence of interactions) moot (except restricted by the above special case). Of course, the argument of this OCR Output IFN ‘ paper rests heavily on the assumption that the action of the square-root operator can be represented via Fourier transforms. Being that x/mz — V2 is a fractional op erator one must allow for the possibility that it is multi—valued (“half”—derivatives are also multi-valued and disagreements existed between different operator defini— tions for the value of the half—derivative of unity, i.e., lim(m_,0) and there— fore different representations of the operator acting on functions are possible. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that other representations of \/m2 — V2 would possibly allow minimal coupling. However, such definitions would fall outside of the realm of operators represented by Fourier transforms. The non—local representation of minimal coupling (see Ref. attempts to represent the gradient inside the square-root using the momentum—space represen— tation 1Y—>l2?—€A1(q»1¤)l. Where A,;(q,p) : / (d6;1c)]{(q,p,a:)Ac;(t,:r), Ag : V, (14) (ddr) K(q,p,:c) : 1. Exactly the same problem regarding gauge-invariance presents itself in the case of Eq. (14). The exponential shift property does not bring V9 inside the square-root and hence not inside the integral defining At(q,p). Therefore Eq. (14) does not admit gauge-invariance, since there is no way to transfer the addition of a gradient to AC;(t,;1:) from inside the square-root to a phase factor outside the square-root multiplying 1p(;r, t). The most interesting question is: ls there a generalization of the theory of interactions which will preserve gauge invariance in the presence of the squareOCR Output root operator? One could consider a change of variables in the arguments of the exponential of the Fourier transform that involve V0(;r), however in this case one leaves behind Fourier transforms and moves into the realm of Fourier Integral Operators] Many considerations of the square-root equation in the presence of interactions involving minimal coupling have been noted in the literature? Also a more gen eral form of minimal coupling has been considered`) and shown to be inconsistent with Lorentz invariance. Many articles are critical of the square—root equation because Lorentz invariance is lost in the presence of external fields assuming that minimal coupling is the correct way to introduce interactions. As I have shown above, minimal coupling in the context of the square—root Klein—Gordon operator is inconsistent with gauge—invariance. Hence the premise statedffl without proof in Ref. [1] is inconsistent. Therefore, the question of the Lorentz invariance of the square-root Klein Gor don operator in the presence of interactions remains an open problem. There may exist a representation that is both Lorentz-invariant and gauge—invariant. One such possible alternative representation of interactions was suggested to describe the Aharonov—Bohm effectu and developed extensively by S.
Recommended publications
  • Quantum Field Theory*
    Quantum Field Theory y Frank Wilczek Institute for Advanced Study, School of Natural Science, Olden Lane, Princeton, NJ 08540 I discuss the general principles underlying quantum eld theory, and attempt to identify its most profound consequences. The deep est of these consequences result from the in nite number of degrees of freedom invoked to implement lo cality.Imention a few of its most striking successes, b oth achieved and prosp ective. Possible limitation s of quantum eld theory are viewed in the light of its history. I. SURVEY Quantum eld theory is the framework in which the regnant theories of the electroweak and strong interactions, which together form the Standard Mo del, are formulated. Quantum electro dynamics (QED), b esides providing a com- plete foundation for atomic physics and chemistry, has supp orted calculations of physical quantities with unparalleled precision. The exp erimentally measured value of the magnetic dip ole moment of the muon, 11 (g 2) = 233 184 600 (1680) 10 ; (1) exp: for example, should b e compared with the theoretical prediction 11 (g 2) = 233 183 478 (308) 10 : (2) theor: In quantum chromo dynamics (QCD) we cannot, for the forseeable future, aspire to to comparable accuracy.Yet QCD provides di erent, and at least equally impressive, evidence for the validity of the basic principles of quantum eld theory. Indeed, b ecause in QCD the interactions are stronger, QCD manifests a wider variety of phenomena characteristic of quantum eld theory. These include esp ecially running of the e ective coupling with distance or energy scale and the phenomenon of con nement.
    [Show full text]
  • Cosmological Dynamics with Non-Minimally Coupled Scalar Field and a Constant Potential Function
    Prepared for submission to JCAP Cosmological dynamics with non-minimally coupled scalar field and a constant potential function Orest Hrycynaa and Marek Szyd lowskib,c aTheoretical Physics Division, National Centre for Nuclear Research, Ho˙za 69, 00-681 Warszawa, Poland bAstronomical Observatory, Jagiellonian University, Orla 171, 30-244 Krak´ow, Poland cMark Kac Complex Systems Research Centre, Jagiellonian University, Lojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Krak´ow, Poland E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Abstract. Dynamical systems methods are used to investigate global behaviour of the spatially flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmological model in gravitational the- ory with a non-minimally coupled scalar field and a constant potential function. We show that the system can be reduced to an autonomous three-dimensional dynamical system and additionally is equipped with an invariant manifold corresponding to an accelerated expansion of the universe. Using this invariant manifold we find an ex- act solution of the reduced dynamics. We investigate all solutions for all admissible initial conditions using theory of dynamical systems to obtain a classification of all evolutional paths. The right-hand sides of the dynamical system depend crucially on the value of the non-minimal coupling constant therefore we study bifurcation values of this parameter under which the structure of the phase space changes qualitatively. arXiv:1506.03429v2 [gr-qc] 10 Nov 2015 We found a special bifurcation value of the non-minimal coupling constant
    [Show full text]
  • Avoiding Gauge Ambiguities in Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics Dominic M
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Avoiding gauge ambiguities in cavity quantum electrodynamics Dominic M. Rouse1*, Brendon W. Lovett1, Erik M. Gauger2 & Niclas Westerberg2,3* Systems of interacting charges and felds are ubiquitous in physics. Recently, it has been shown that Hamiltonians derived using diferent gauges can yield diferent physical results when matter degrees of freedom are truncated to a few low-lying energy eigenstates. This efect is particularly prominent in the ultra-strong coupling regime. Such ambiguities arise because transformations reshufe the partition between light and matter degrees of freedom and so level truncation is a gauge dependent approximation. To avoid this gauge ambiguity, we redefne the electromagnetic felds in terms of potentials for which the resulting canonical momenta and Hamiltonian are explicitly unchanged by the gauge choice of this theory. Instead the light/matter partition is assigned by the intuitive choice of separating an electric feld between displacement and polarisation contributions. This approach is an attractive choice in typical cavity quantum electrodynamics situations. Te gauge invariance of quantum electrodynamics (QED) is fundamental to the theory and can be used to greatly simplify calculations1–8. Of course, gauge invariance implies that physical observables are the same in all gauges despite superfcial diferences in the mathematics. However, it has recently been shown that the invariance is lost in the strong light/matter coupling regime if the matter degrees of freedom are treated as quantum systems with a fxed number of energy levels8–14, including the commonly used two-level truncation (2LT). At the origin of this is the role of gauge transformations (GTs) in deciding the partition between the light and matter degrees of freedom, even if the primary role of gauge freedom is to enforce Gauss’s law.
    [Show full text]
  • Quartic Inflation and Radiative Corrections with Non-Minimal Coupling
    Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics Quartic inflation and radiative corrections with non-minimal coupling To cite this article: Nilay Bostan and Vedat Nefer enouz JCAP10(2019)028 View the article online for updates and enhancements. This content was downloaded from IP address 129.255.225.189 on 24/12/2019 at 00:03 ournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics JAn IOP and SISSA journal Quartic inflation and radiative corrections with non-minimal coupling JCAP10(2019)028 Nilay Bostana;b and Vedat Nefer S¸eno˘guza;1 aDepartment of Physics, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Silah¸s¨orCad. No. 89, Istanbul_ 34380, Turkey bDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, U.S.A. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Received July 22, 2019 Accepted September 19, 2019 Published October 8, 2019 Abstract. It is well known that the non-minimal coupling ξφ2R between the inflaton and the Ricci scalar affects predictions of single field inflation models. In particular, the λφ4 quartic inflation potential with ξ & 0:005 is one of the simplest models that agree with the current data. After reviewing the inflationary predictions of this potential, we analyze the effects of the radiative corrections due to couplings of the inflaton to other scalar fields or fermions. Using two different prescriptions discussed in the literature, we calculate the range of these coupling parameter values for which the spectral index ns and the tensor-to-scalar ratio r are in agreement with the data taken by the Keck Array/BICEP2 and Planck collaborations.
    [Show full text]
  • Lecture 22 Relativistic Quantum Mechanics Background
    Lecture 22 Relativistic Quantum Mechanics Background Why study relativistic quantum mechanics? 1 Many experimental phenomena cannot be understood within purely non-relativistic domain. e.g. quantum mechanical spin, emergence of new sub-atomic particles, etc. 2 New phenomena appear at relativistic velocities. e.g. particle production, antiparticles, etc. 3 Aesthetically and intellectually it would be profoundly unsatisfactory if relativity and quantum mechanics could not be united. Background When is a particle relativistic? 1 When velocity approaches speed of light c or, more intrinsically, when energy is large compared to rest mass energy, mc2. e.g. protons at CERN are accelerated to energies of ca. 300GeV (1GeV= 109eV) much larger than rest mass energy, 0.94 GeV. 2 Photons have zero rest mass and always travel at the speed of light – they are never non-relativistic! Background What new phenomena occur? 1 Particle production e.g. electron-positron pairs by energetic γ-rays in matter. 2 Vacuum instability: If binding energy of electron 2 4 Z e m 2 Ebind = > 2mc 2!2 a nucleus with initially no electrons is instantly screened by creation of electron/positron pairs from vacuum 3 Spin: emerges naturally from relativistic formulation Background When does relativity intrude on QM? 1 When E mc2, i.e. p mc kin ∼ ∼ 2 From uncertainty relation, ∆x∆p > h, this translates to a length h ∆x > = λ mc c the Compton wavelength. 3 for massless particles, λc = , i.e. relativity always important for, e.g., photons. ∞ Relativistic quantum mechanics: outline
    [Show full text]
  • Quantum Corrections to Quartic Inflation with a Non-Minimal Coupling
    IMPERIAL/TP/2017/TM/03 CERN-TH-2017-267 Prepared for submission to JCAP Quantum corrections to quartic inflation with a non-minimal coupling: metric vs. Palatini Tommi Markkanen,a Tommi Tenkanen,b Ville Vaskonen,c and Hardi Veerm¨aec;d aDepartment of Physics, Imperial College London, Blackett Laboratory, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom bAstronomy Unit, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom cNational Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, R¨avala 10, 10143 Tallinn, Estonia dTheoretical Physics Department, CERN, CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], ville.vaskonen@kbfi.ee, [email protected] Abstract. We study models of quartic inflation where the inflaton field φ is coupled non- minimally to gravity, ξφ2R, and perform a study of quantum corrections in curved space-time at one-loop level. We specifically focus on comparing results between the metric and Palatini theories of gravity. Transformation from the Jordan to the Einstein frame gives different results for the two formulations and by using an effective field theory expansion we derive the appropriate β-functions and the renormalisation group improved effective potentials in arXiv:1712.04874v2 [gr-qc] 13 Mar 2018 curved space for both cases in the Einstein frame. In particular, we show that in both formalisms the Einstein frame depends on the order of perturbation theory but that the flatness of the potential is unaltered by quantum corrections. Contents 1 Introduction1 2 Inflation with a non-minimal coupling to gravity2 3 Quantum corrections in curved space5 3.1 Effective energy density in curved space6 3.2 Effective field equation in curved space7 3.3 Form of the one-loop corrections8 3.4 Renormalisation group improvement and β-functions8 4 Results 10 5 Conclusions 11 1 Introduction Many successful models of cosmic inflation exhibit a non-minimal coupling between matter fields and gravity [1].
    [Show full text]
  • Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
    Chapter 10 Relativistic Quantum Mechanics In this Chapter we will address the issue that the laws of physics must be formulated in a form which is Lorentz{invariant, i.e., the description should not allow one to differentiate between frames of reference which are moving relative to each other with a constant uniform velocity ~v. The transformations beween such frames according to the Theory of Special Relativity are described by Lorentz transformations. In case that ~v is oriented along the x1{axis, i.e., ~v = v1x^1, these transformations are v1 x1 v1t t c2 x1 x1 = − ; t0 = − ; x20 = x2 ; x30 = x3 (10.1) 2 2 0 1 v1 1 v1 q − c q − c which connect space time coordinates (x1; x2; x3; t) in one frame with space time coordinates (x10 ; x20 ; x30 ; t0) in another frame. Here c denotes the velocity of light. We will introduce below Lorentz-invariant differential equations which take the place of the Schr¨odingerequation of a par- ticle of mass m and charge q in an electromagnetic field [c.f. (refeq:ham2, 8.45)] described by an electrical potential V (~r; t) and a vector potential A~(~r; t) @ 1 ~ q 2 i~ (~r; t) = A~(~r; t) + qV (~r; t) (~r; t) (10.2) @t 2m i r − c The replacement of (10.2) by Lorentz{invariant equations will have two surprising and extremely important consequences: some of the equations need to be formulated in a representation for which the wave functions (~r; t) are vectors of dimension larger one, the components representing the spin attribute of particles and also representing together with a particle its anti-particle.
    [Show full text]
  • The Gauge-Invariant Lagrangian, the Power–Zienau–Woolley Picture, and the Choices of Field Momenta in Nonrelativistic Quantu
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN The gauge‑invariant Lagrangian, MATTERS ARISING the Power–Zienau–Woolley picture, and the choices of feld momenta in nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics A. Vukics *, G. Kónya & P. Domokos arising from: E. Rousseau and D. Felbacq; Scientifc Reports https://​doi.​org/​10.​1038/​s41598-​017-​11076-5​(2017). We show that the Power–Zienau–Woolley picture of the electrodynamics of nonrelativistic neutral particles (atoms) can be derived from a gauge-invariant Lagrangian without making reference to any gauge whatsoever in the process. Tis equivalence is independent of choices of canonical feld momentum or quantization strategies. In the process, we emphasize that in nonrelativistic (quantum) electrodynamics, the always appropriate general- ized coordinate for the feld is the transverse part of the vector potential, which is itself gauge invariant, and the use of which we recommend regardless of the choice of gauge, since in this way it is possible to sidestep most issues of constraints. Furthermore, we point out a freedom of choice for the conjugate momenta in the respective pictures, the conventional choices being appropriate in the sense that they reduce the set of system constraints. Let us consider a neutral atom consisting of nonrelativistic point particles coupled to the electromagnetic feld. To describe this system either classically or quantum mechanically, one can use diferent formulations of the same dynamics. One approach uses the minimal-coupling Hamiltonian, while another approach uses the multipolar Hamiltonian. Tis latter Hamiltonian is conventionally derived through a unitary transformation, which is referred to as the Power–Zienau–Woolley (PZW) transformation. In a recent article, Rousseau and Felbacq1 argue that the derivation of the multipolar Hamiltonian based on the PZW transformation is inconsistent, based on consideration of gauges, constraints, and choices of canonical momenta.
    [Show full text]
  • Minimal Coupling and Berry's Phase
    Phys460.nb 63 5 Minimal coupling and Berry’s phase Q: For charged quantum particles (e.g. electrons), if we apply an E&M field (E or B), the particle will feel the field. How do we consider the effect E and B fields in quantum mechanics? A: Minimal coupling 5.1. Minimal coupling 5.1.1. review on E&M (vector potential and gauge transformations) → In E&M, we learned that we can describe E and B fields using “potentials”: scalar potential φ and vector potential A. → → ∂ A E = -∇ φ - (5.1) ∂ t and → → B = ∇ ×A (5.2) In addition, we learned that the potentials are NOT uniquely defined. In fact, we can change the scalar and vector potential in the following way, which would NOT change E and B fields and thus all physics would remain the same. ∂ Λ→r, t φ→r → φ' →r = φ→r - (5.3) ∂ t → → → A→r → A' →r = A→r + ∇ Λ→r, t (5.4) where Λ→r, t is any arbitrary function of →r and t. → → To prove that these new potentials φ' and A ' gives exactly the same E and B fields as φ and A, we compute the corresponding field strength → → ∂ A + ∇ Λ → → → ∂ A' ∂ Λ ∂ Λ ∂ A ∂ ∇ Λ ∂ A ∂ Λ ∂ ∇ Λ E' = -∇ φ' - = -∇ φ - - = -∇ φ + ∇ - - = -∇ φ - + ∇ - (5.5) ∂ t ∂ t ∂ t ∂ t ∂ t ∂ t ∂ t ∂ t ∂ t The last two terms are identical (with opposite sign), so they cancel. → → → ∂ A ∂ Λ ∂ ∇ Λ ∂ A → E' = -∇ φ - + ∇ - = -∇ φ - = E (5.6) ∂ t ∂ t ∂ t ∂ t So, the E field remains the same when we change φ and A to φ' and A'.
    [Show full text]
  • Lectures in Quantum Field Theory Lecture 1
    Instituto Superior T´ecnico Lectures in Quantum Field Theory Lecture 1 Jorge C. Rom˜ao Instituto Superior T´ecnico, Departamento de F´ısica & CFTP A. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal January 2014 Jorge C. Rom˜ao IDPASC School Braga – 1 IST Summary of Lectures Summary ❐ Part 1 – Relativistic Quantum Mechanics (Lecture 1) Introduction Klein-Gordon Eq. ◆ The basic principles of Quantum Mechanics and Special Relativity Dirac Equation Covariance Dirac Eq. ◆ Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations Free Particle Solutions ◆ Gamma matrices and spinors Minimal Coupling NR Limit Dirac Eq. ◆ Covariance E < 0 Solutions ◆ Solutions for the free particle Charge Conjugation Massless Spin 1/2 ◆ Minimal coupling ◆ Non relativistic limit and the Pauli equation ◆ Charge conjugation and antiparticles ◆ Massless spin 1/2 particles Jorge C. Rom˜ao IDPASC School Braga – 2 IST Summary ... Summary ❐ Part 2 – Quantum Field Theory (Two Lectures) Introduction Klein-Gordon Eq. ◆ QED as an example (Lecture 2) Dirac Equation Covariance Dirac Eq. ■ QED as a gauge theory Free Particle Solutions ■ Propagators and Green functions Minimal Coupling ■ NR Limit Dirac Eq. Feynman rules for QED E < 0 Solutions ■ Example 1: Compton scattering Charge Conjugation − + − + ■ Example 2: e + e µ + µ in QED Massless Spin 1/2 → ◆ Non Abelian Gauge Theories (NAGT) (Lecture 3) ■ Radiative corrections and renormalization ■ Non Abelian gauge theories: Classical theory ■ Non Abelian gauge theories: Quantization ■ Feynman rules for a NAGT ■ Example: Vacuum polarization in QCD Jorge C. Rom˜ao IDPASC School Braga – 3 IST Summary ... Summary ❐ Part 3 – The Standard Model (Lecture 4) Introduction Klein-Gordon Eq. ◆ Gauge group and particle content of the massless SM Dirac Equation Covariance Dirac Eq.
    [Show full text]
  • Two Miracles of General Relativity
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by PhilSci Archive Two Miracles of General Relativity James Reada*, Harvey R. Browna†, and Dennis Lehmkuhlb‡ aFaculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Humanities, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK; bEinstein Papers Project, Caltech M/C 20-7, 1200 East California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA. Word count: 11474 Keywords: General relativity; equivalence principle; minimal coupling; dynamical perspective. Abstract We approach the physics of minimal coupling in general relativity, demonstrating that in certain circumstances this leads to (apparent) violations of the strong equivalence principle, which states (roughly) that, in general relativity, the dynamical laws of special relativity can be recovered at a point. We then assess the consequences of this result for the dynamical perspective on relativity, finding that potential difficulties presented by such apparent violations of the strong equivalence principle can be overcome. Next, we draw upon our discussion of the dynamical perspective in order to make explicit two ‘miracles’ in the foundations of relativity theory. We close by arguing that the above results afford us insights into the nature of special relativity, and its relation to general relativity. *[email protected][email protected][email protected] 1 Contents 1 Introduction3 2 Electromagnetism5 3 Minimal Coupling and the Equivalence Principle9 4 The Dynamical Perspective 13 5 Two Miracles of General Relativity 18 6 The Geometrical Perspective 21 7 Special Relativity 24 8 Conclusions and Outlook 26 A Minimal Coupling and Poincare´ Invariance 27 B Lorentz Symmetry Breaking 32 2 1 Introduction Recently, there has arisen a heightening of interest in the physics community in the cou- pling of Maxwell electrodynamics to Einstein gravity.
    [Show full text]
  • Classical Gauge Fields
    3 CLASSICAL GAUGE FIELDS Introduction. The theory of “gauge fields” (sometimes called “compensating fields”1) is today universally recognized to constitute one of the supporting pillars of fundamental physics, but it came into the world not with a revolutionary bang but with a sickly whimper, and took a long time to find suitable employment. It sprang from the brow of the youthful Hermann Weyl (–), who is generally thought of as a mathematician, but for the seminal importance of his contributions to general relativity and quantum mechanics—and, more generally, to the “geometrization of physics”—must be counted among the greatest physicists of the 20th Century. Weyl’s initial motivation () was to loosen up the mathematical apparatus of general relativity2 just enough to find a natural dwelling place for electromagnetism. In Fritz London suggested that Weyl’s idea rested more naturally upon quantum mechanics (then fresh out of the egg!) than upon general relativity, and in Weyl published a revised elaboration of his original paper—the classic “Elektron und Gravitation” to which I have already referred.3 The influential Wolfgang Pauli became an ardent champion of the ideas put forward by Weyl, and it was via Pauli (whose “Wellenmechanik” article in the Handbuch der Physik () had made a profound impression upon him) that those ideas 1 See Section 21 in F. A. Kaempffer’s charmingly eccentric Concepts in Quantum Mechanics (). 2 Recall that Einstein’s theory of gravitation had been completed only in , and that its first observationial support was not forthcoming until . 3 The text, in English translation, can be found (together with historical commentary) in Lochlainn O’Raufeartaugh’s splendid The Dawning of Gauge Theory (), which should be consulted for a much more balanced account of events than I can present here.
    [Show full text]