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ITPO 2020 Solutions: Problem 2

The document considers a massless scalar field in two-dimensional Minkowski spacetime and shows that its action is invariant under Weyl transformations, which transform the field φ as φ → φ + δφ, where δφ is a small function of the lightcone coordinates z and z̄. It then asks whether this invariance holds if a term proportional to (∂φ)(∂φ) is added to the Lagrangian. The solution shows that no first-order terms can be added to the transformation rule δφ that would preserve the invariance at order α, where α is the coefficient of the added term. This establishes that the so-called "T T̄ deformation" of the free scalar field breaks

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Ariakta A Armando
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42 views

ITPO 2020 Solutions: Problem 2

The document considers a massless scalar field in two-dimensional Minkowski spacetime and shows that its action is invariant under Weyl transformations, which transform the field φ as φ → φ + δφ, where δφ is a small function of the lightcone coordinates z and z̄. It then asks whether this invariance holds if a term proportional to (∂φ)(∂φ) is added to the Lagrangian. The solution shows that no first-order terms can be added to the transformation rule δφ that would preserve the invariance at order α, where α is the coefficient of the added term. This establishes that the so-called "T T̄ deformation" of the free scalar field breaks

Uploaded by

Ariakta A Armando
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ITPO 2020 Solutions

Problem 2

Exercise (2 ): Wiley Invariance.

Consider a free, massless scalar field φ in two-dimensional Minkowski spacetime. Show that
the action is invariant under the transformation rule
¯
φ 7→ φ + δφ ≡ φ − ε(z)∂φ − ε̄(z̄)∂φ (1)
Where z and z̄ are the so-called “lightcone coordinates” in two dimensions, ∂ and ∂¯ are
their corresponding derivatives, and ε(z) and ε̄(z̄) are small but arbitrary functions of the
indicated coordinates. Next, for a small parameter α consider the following Lagrangian
density, as an extension of the free scalar:
¯ + α(∂φ∂φ)
L = ∂φ∂φ ¯ 2 (2)
Is it possible to add O(α) contributions to δφ which are first-order in φ-derivatives and which
preserve this invariance?

Rubric:

Solution:

The first part of the problem is a textbook exercise. Let us replace φ 7→ φ + δφ in L and
consider only the terms which are first order in ε. Without loss of generality we will discard
ε̄ terms, because the analysis will be identical (due to the Z2 symmetry of the action under
∂ ↔ ∂,¯ ε ↔ ε̄). We find:
¯ − ∂φ∂(ε∂φ)
δL = −∂(ε∂φ)∂φ ¯ (3)
¯ − ε∂∂φ∂φ
= −∂ε∂φ∂φ ¯ − ε∂φ∂∂φ
¯

Now, since we are in flat space, we can discard boundary terms – integrating the first term
by parts gives:
¯ + ε∂φ∂ ∂φ
δL = ε∂∂φ∂φ ¯ − ε∂∂φ∂φ
¯ − ε∂φ∂ ∂φ
¯ =0 (4)

1
Which establishes invariance of the original action under these transformations, which are
called “Weyl transformations.”

For the second part of the problem, decompose L and δφ order-by-order in α:

L = L(0) + αL(1) + O(α2 ) (5)


δφ = δ (0) φ + αδ (1) φ + O(α2 ) (6)

Applying δ (0) and integrating by parts, we find:


Z Z
1 ¯ 2 ∂ε + ∂¯ε̄ .
d z δ L = d2 z (∂φ∂φ)
2 (0) (1)
 
(7)
2
At the next step in perturbation theory, we consider that
Z Z
d z δ L = d2 z 2∂ ∂φ
2 (1) (0) ¯ · δ (1) φ (8)

In order for δ (1) φ to be well-defined for all ε and ε̄, we need to equate (7) with (8), which in
particular requires us to integrate (7) by parts to find a term proportional to ∂ ∂φ. ¯

There are a number of ways to show that you cannot find such a term, and therefore one
cannot define δ (1) φ. Intuitively, it this happens because integrating by parts any given
derivative in (7) will yield terms involving both ∂ ∂¯ and either of ∂∂ or ∂¯∂.
¯ Exhausting all
the possibilities, one formally proves that such additions to the transformation rules cannot
be formulated.

This order-α addition to the Lagrangian density is for various reasons called the T T̄ defor-
mation of the massless, free scalar field. Such deformations are known not to preserve Weyl
invariance, which is what we have basically shown here.

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