QUANTUM FIELD THEORY

PROBLEM SET 3

Problem 1: A note on field quantization

We showed in lecture that by Fourier transforming the field in the spatial direction

d3 k
Z
ϕ(x, t) = 3
ϕ(k, t)eik·x (1)
(2π)

we could think of a field theory with (quadratic) Lagrangian

m2
Z
1
L = d3 x − ∂µ ϕ(x, t)∂ µ ϕ(x, t) − ϕ(x)2 (2)
2 2
as an system of an infinite set of complex harmonic oscillators

d3 k 1
Z  
2 2
L= ϕ̇(k, t)ϕ̇(k, t) − (k + m )ϕ(k, t)ϕ(k, t) (3)
(2π)3 2

Here we used that the fact ϕ(x) is real, i.e. ϕ(x) = ϕ(x) means that ϕ(−k) = ϕ(k). This fact shows
that the complex oscillator φ(k) is not independent of all other φ(k 0 ). This will cause some
subtleties in the rest of the analysis.

Let’s proceed but with this awareness. In the language of an infinite set of Harmonic oscillators, we
can immediately write down the Hamiltonian

d3 k 1
Z  
1 2 2
H= π(k, t)π(k, t) + (k + m )ϕ(k, t)ϕ(k, t) (4)
(2π)3 2 2

• Exercise 1a: In the Lagrangian (3) write the complex harmonic oscillator dynamical variable in
terms of its real parts ϕ(k, t) = Q1 (k, t)+iQ2 (k, t). For each real harmonic oscillator the Hamiltonian
2 2
is H = p(t)2
+ ω2 x(t)2 .. You can now straightforwardly write down the Hamiltonian for the whole
system of independent harmonic oscillators. Define a complex momentum π(k, t) = πQ1 (k, t) +
iπQ2 (k, t). Show that in terms of the complex momentum the Hamiltonian equals (4).

For this Hamiltonian the equations of motion are generated by the (equal-time) Poisson brackets

d3 k ∂A ∂B
Z
∂A ∂B ∂B ∂A ∂B ∂A
{A, B} = 2 3
+ − − (5)
(2π) ∂ϕ(k) ∂π(k) ∂ϕ(k) ∂π(k) ∂ϕ(k) ∂π(k) ∂ϕ(k) ∂π(k)

Note the factor of 2 out front. Note also that because of the extra factor of (2π)3 in the measure of the
integral, all functional derivatives are defined as

∂ϕ(k)
= (2π)3 δ 3 (k − `) (6)
∂ϕ(`)

1
 • Exercise 1b: Show that this factor of 2 follows simply from using the chainrule to express the
Poisson bracket for a set of independent oscillators
∂A ∂B ∂A ∂B ∂B ∂A ∂B ∂A
{A, B} = + − − (7)
∂q1 ∂p1 ∂q2 ∂p2 ∂q1 ∂p1 ∂q2 ∂p2
in terms of the complex dynamical variables q = q1 + iq2 and momenta p = p1 + ip2 .

However, in our system the oscillators are not independent. This means that taking the
functional derivatives we will overcount. To compensate let us generalize the Poisson bracket by replacing
the factor 2 by an arbitrary constant α
d3 k ∂A ∂B
Z
∂A ∂B ∂B ∂A ∂B ∂A
{A, B}α = α 3
+ − − (8)
(2π) ∂ϕ(k) ∂π(k) ∂ϕ(k) ∂π(k) ∂ϕ(k) ∂π(k) ∂ϕ(k) ∂π(k)
• Exercise 1c: Note that now
∂ϕ(k)
= (2π)3 δ 3 (k − `) (9)
∂ϕ(`)
∂ϕ(k)
= (2π)3 δ 3 (k + `) (10)
∂ϕ(`)
Show that for α = 1/2 this Poisson Bracket generates the standard relation

ϕ̇(k) ≡ {ϕ(k), H} = π(k) (11)

Verify next that this gives the Poisson Bracket

{ϕ(x), π(y)} = δ 3 (x − y) (12)

Quantization:
To quantize a single harmonic oscillator, we write the position and momentum operator as creation and
annihilation operators
r
1 † ω
x = √ (a + a ) , p = −i (a − a† ) (13)
2ω 2
To do the same for our infinite set of harmonic oscillators there is one subtlety. How to deal with the
relation ϕ(k) = ϕ(−k). To be precise the operator x in quantum mechanics is a real hermination operator,
but in the field theory case ϕ(k) is a complex operator, which moreover is not independent of the
other ϕ(k 0 ).
Recall that one way to think about the decomposition in creation and annihilation operators is that
they are the variables that diagonalize the Hamiltonian
p2 ω 2 2
H= + x (14)
2 2
ω
aa† + a† a


= (15)
2

2
Note now that in position space the Hamiltonian can be written as

m2
Z
1 1
H = d3 x π(x, t)π(x, t) + ∂i ϕ(x, t)∂i ϕ(x, t) + ϕ(x, t)ϕ(x, t) (16)
2 2 2
Here there is no “subtlety” with complex vs real. So let’s take this as the analogy with the harmonic
oscillator, but we do know that we need to Fourier transform to deal with the spatial derivatives. The
solution is then to use a slightly different Fourier transform

d3 k
Z
1 ikx † −ikx


φ(x) = √ a(k)e + a (k)e (17)
(2π)3 2ωk
r
d3
Z
ωk ikx † −ikx


π(x) = − i a(k)e − a e (18)
(2π)3 2

• Exercise 1d: Show that eq. (12) implies the Poisson Bracket for the Fourier coefficients.

a(k), a† (p) = −i(2π)3 δ 3 (k − p)


(19)

and show that substituting eqs (17) into the Hamiltonian gives

d3 k
Z
ω(k) a(k)a† (k) + a† (k)a(k)


H= 3
(20)
(2π)

Now quantization is straightforward by identifying Poisson Brackets with −i times the commutator.

Problem 2: Green’s functions (Srednicki Problem 8.5)

The retarded and advanced Green’s function for the Klein-Gordon wave operator satisfy GR (x − y) = 0
for x0 ≥ y 0 and GA = 0 for x0 ≤ y 0 . Find the pole prescriptions for the transformation back to position
space of four-momentum-space Green’s function
−i
G(p, q) = (2π)4 δ 4 (p + q) (21)
p2 + m2
that yield these Green’s functions. Express the pole prescriptions as an i type prescription in the
momentum-space Green’s function. [The retarded Green’s function is the one you know from classical
E&M.]