Problem Set 04

Note: The problem set is due October 3 in the class. In case you’re unable to attend the
class, please return directly to me in my office Rutherford 321. If I’m not there slip your
assignment below my door. Please do not email me your assignment as it is difficult for
the TA to print it.

1. Simple QFT on a toroidal universe. In the class we discussed how one should
go about studying simple quantum field theory in 1 + 1 dimensional space-time. We also
elaborated on how the quantization procedure should be performed. Let us now assume
that we have defined a real scalar field ϕ(x, t) ≡ ϕ(x1 , x2 , t) on a two-dimensional torus,
which we will refer to as our toroidal universe. The action for such a scalar field is defined
in the standard way:

1
Z Z
3
d3 x ∂µ ϕ∂ µ ϕ − m2 ϕ2


S= d xL=
2

where m is the mass of the scalar field, L is the Lagrangian and the repeated indices
are summed over. One could also determine the equations of motion (EOMs) from the
Lagrangian. Since you may not know how to do this, let me just say that, given any field
theory Lagrangian L, the EOM may be derived from:
 
∂L ∂L
∂µ − =0
∂ (∂µ ϕ) ∂ϕ

where as before, the repeated indices are summed over. Using the above formula, determine
the EOMs for the scalar field on our toroidal universe. How is your result different from a
flat 2 + 1 dimensional universe?
Once you have the EOMs, the quantization procedure should follow the technique laid out
in the class. In other words, you should be able to write the field ϕ now as an operator using
the creation and the annihilation operators. Is it true that the quantization procedure will
yield an infinite number of harmonic oscillators for this case? Again, how is the expression
of the operator different from what we have for a flat 2 + 1 dimensional universe? Provide
quantitative details.
We can simplify the above story by reducing one of the spatial dimension. For example,
let us study QFT on a circle, i.e 1 + 1 dimensional universe with circular topology and
non-compact temporal direction. We will call this the circular universe. How does the
EOM and the quantization procedure works now? Do you still get an infinite set of simple

1
harmonic oscillators? If yes, can you express the field operator in terms of creation and
annihilation operators? Again, provide quantitative details. Note that you will not require
any resources beyond what we discussed in the class to solve both the problems. We could
even modify the story by introducing complex scalar fields, but that’s for another day.

2. Simple QFT in 0 + 1 dimensions. Let us now study a slight variation of the above
set of problems by reducing the spatial dimensions to nothing! In other words, let us define
our QFT in zero space and one time dimensions. Consider again a real scalar field ϕ(t)
with a mass m. Using similar approach to above, determine the EOMs for the scalar field.
Let us now go to the quantum aspects of the theory. Using the procedure laid out in
the class, do you think we can again express the QFT in terms of an infinite number of
harmonic oscillators? If not, then how do you express the field operator ϕ in this case?
Provide quantitative details to justify your answer.
One could also compute the Hamiltonian of the system for both the classical and the quan-
tum fields. Again, you may not know how to derive the Hamiltonian from the action, so
let me write the expression. Just like in classical mechanics of point particles, Hamilto-
nian requires us to define the so-called conjugate momentum Π(x). This we can define
∂L
as Π ≡ ∂ ϕ̇(x) which in turn is defined at a fixed time1 . Using this the Hamiltonian is
expressed in d + 1 dimensions by the following expression2 :
 
1 2 1 1 2 2
Z
d 2
H = d x Π + (∇ϕ) + m ϕ
2 2 2

where ∇ ≡ ∂i ∂ i is the laplacian, with i being the spatial directions. Using this Hamiltonian,
compute the lowest energy of the system and compare your answer with the two cases
discussed before, i.e the toroidal and the circular universes. What differences do you see?
Discuss quantitatively.

3. QFT with massless particles. All the three different types of QFT that we discussed
above have massive particles. Let us now consider these cases with massless particles,
i.e massless particles on toroidal, circular and 0 + 1 dimensional universes. Using the
quantization techniques developed above, do you notice any differences? For example do
you still expect the fields ϕ in the three cases to be expressible in terms of infinite number
of harmonic oscillators? Provide quantitative arguments.
1 ∂L ∂q
Recall in classical mechanics (CM) p = ∂ q̇
where q̇ = ∂t
and q is the dynamical variable
that parametrizes the position.
2
Once you know the Lagrangian and the conjugate momentum, you should be able to derive
this using standard formula for the Hamiltonian in classical mechanics!