“Hidden” theta-term in Hamiltonian formulation of Yang-Mills theory
$begingroup$
I've read in David Tong's lecture notes on gauge theory that the Hamiltonian of Yang-Mills theory does not depend on the angular parameter $theta$, because it can be absorbed in the electric field:
$$
mathcal{H}=frac{1}{g^2}text{tr}(mathbf{E}^2+mathbf{B}^2)=g^2text{tr}(mathbf{pi}-frac{theta}{8pi^2}mathbf{B})^2+frac{1}{g^2}text{tr}(mathbf{B}^2).
$$
Here, $g$ is the gauge coupling, $E_i=dot{A}_i$ is the non-Abelian electric field, $B_i=-frac{1}{2}epsilon_{ijk}F^{jk}$ the non-Abelian magnetic field, ${F}_{munu}$ is the gluon field strength, and
$$
mathbf{pi}=frac{partial mathcal{L}}{partial mathbf{dot{A}}}= frac{1}{g^2}mathbf{E}+frac{theta}{8pi^2}mathbf{B}
$$
is the momentun conjugate to $mathbf{A}$ (see pp. 39 and 40 of the lecture notes).
In contrast, it's well known that the Yang-Mills Lagrangian contains a topological $theta$-term:
$$
mathcal{L}= -frac{1}{2g^2}text{tr}(F^{munu}F_{munu})+frac{theta}{16pi^2}text{tr}(F^{munu}tilde{F}_{munu})=frac{1}{g^2}text{tr}(mathbf{dot{A}}^2-mathbf{B}^2)-frac{theta}{4pi^2}text{tr}(mathbf{dot{A}} mathbf{B}),
$$
where $tilde{F}_{munu}$ is the Hodge dual of $F_{munu}$, and the last equality holds for $A_0=0$ and $D_iE_i=0$.
How is this possible? Tong mentions that the $theta$-dependence in the Hamiltonian formalism is somehow hidden in the structure of the Poisson bracket, but he gives no detailed explanation. Why doesn't it appear in the Hamiltonian itself? The $theta$-term gives rise to the infamous strong CP problem, so how can we explicitly compute this $theta$-dependence of Yang-Mills in this formalism?
quantum-field-theory hamiltonian-formalism topology yang-mills
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I've read in David Tong's lecture notes on gauge theory that the Hamiltonian of Yang-Mills theory does not depend on the angular parameter $theta$, because it can be absorbed in the electric field:
$$
mathcal{H}=frac{1}{g^2}text{tr}(mathbf{E}^2+mathbf{B}^2)=g^2text{tr}(mathbf{pi}-frac{theta}{8pi^2}mathbf{B})^2+frac{1}{g^2}text{tr}(mathbf{B}^2).
$$
Here, $g$ is the gauge coupling, $E_i=dot{A}_i$ is the non-Abelian electric field, $B_i=-frac{1}{2}epsilon_{ijk}F^{jk}$ the non-Abelian magnetic field, ${F}_{munu}$ is the gluon field strength, and
$$
mathbf{pi}=frac{partial mathcal{L}}{partial mathbf{dot{A}}}= frac{1}{g^2}mathbf{E}+frac{theta}{8pi^2}mathbf{B}
$$
is the momentun conjugate to $mathbf{A}$ (see pp. 39 and 40 of the lecture notes).
In contrast, it's well known that the Yang-Mills Lagrangian contains a topological $theta$-term:
$$
mathcal{L}= -frac{1}{2g^2}text{tr}(F^{munu}F_{munu})+frac{theta}{16pi^2}text{tr}(F^{munu}tilde{F}_{munu})=frac{1}{g^2}text{tr}(mathbf{dot{A}}^2-mathbf{B}^2)-frac{theta}{4pi^2}text{tr}(mathbf{dot{A}} mathbf{B}),
$$
where $tilde{F}_{munu}$ is the Hodge dual of $F_{munu}$, and the last equality holds for $A_0=0$ and $D_iE_i=0$.
How is this possible? Tong mentions that the $theta$-dependence in the Hamiltonian formalism is somehow hidden in the structure of the Poisson bracket, but he gives no detailed explanation. Why doesn't it appear in the Hamiltonian itself? The $theta$-term gives rise to the infamous strong CP problem, so how can we explicitly compute this $theta$-dependence of Yang-Mills in this formalism?
quantum-field-theory hamiltonian-formalism topology yang-mills
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I've read in David Tong's lecture notes on gauge theory that the Hamiltonian of Yang-Mills theory does not depend on the angular parameter $theta$, because it can be absorbed in the electric field:
$$
mathcal{H}=frac{1}{g^2}text{tr}(mathbf{E}^2+mathbf{B}^2)=g^2text{tr}(mathbf{pi}-frac{theta}{8pi^2}mathbf{B})^2+frac{1}{g^2}text{tr}(mathbf{B}^2).
$$
Here, $g$ is the gauge coupling, $E_i=dot{A}_i$ is the non-Abelian electric field, $B_i=-frac{1}{2}epsilon_{ijk}F^{jk}$ the non-Abelian magnetic field, ${F}_{munu}$ is the gluon field strength, and
$$
mathbf{pi}=frac{partial mathcal{L}}{partial mathbf{dot{A}}}= frac{1}{g^2}mathbf{E}+frac{theta}{8pi^2}mathbf{B}
$$
is the momentun conjugate to $mathbf{A}$ (see pp. 39 and 40 of the lecture notes).
In contrast, it's well known that the Yang-Mills Lagrangian contains a topological $theta$-term:
$$
mathcal{L}= -frac{1}{2g^2}text{tr}(F^{munu}F_{munu})+frac{theta}{16pi^2}text{tr}(F^{munu}tilde{F}_{munu})=frac{1}{g^2}text{tr}(mathbf{dot{A}}^2-mathbf{B}^2)-frac{theta}{4pi^2}text{tr}(mathbf{dot{A}} mathbf{B}),
$$
where $tilde{F}_{munu}$ is the Hodge dual of $F_{munu}$, and the last equality holds for $A_0=0$ and $D_iE_i=0$.
How is this possible? Tong mentions that the $theta$-dependence in the Hamiltonian formalism is somehow hidden in the structure of the Poisson bracket, but he gives no detailed explanation. Why doesn't it appear in the Hamiltonian itself? The $theta$-term gives rise to the infamous strong CP problem, so how can we explicitly compute this $theta$-dependence of Yang-Mills in this formalism?
quantum-field-theory hamiltonian-formalism topology yang-mills
$endgroup$
I've read in David Tong's lecture notes on gauge theory that the Hamiltonian of Yang-Mills theory does not depend on the angular parameter $theta$, because it can be absorbed in the electric field:
$$
mathcal{H}=frac{1}{g^2}text{tr}(mathbf{E}^2+mathbf{B}^2)=g^2text{tr}(mathbf{pi}-frac{theta}{8pi^2}mathbf{B})^2+frac{1}{g^2}text{tr}(mathbf{B}^2).
$$
Here, $g$ is the gauge coupling, $E_i=dot{A}_i$ is the non-Abelian electric field, $B_i=-frac{1}{2}epsilon_{ijk}F^{jk}$ the non-Abelian magnetic field, ${F}_{munu}$ is the gluon field strength, and
$$
mathbf{pi}=frac{partial mathcal{L}}{partial mathbf{dot{A}}}= frac{1}{g^2}mathbf{E}+frac{theta}{8pi^2}mathbf{B}
$$
is the momentun conjugate to $mathbf{A}$ (see pp. 39 and 40 of the lecture notes).
In contrast, it's well known that the Yang-Mills Lagrangian contains a topological $theta$-term:
$$
mathcal{L}= -frac{1}{2g^2}text{tr}(F^{munu}F_{munu})+frac{theta}{16pi^2}text{tr}(F^{munu}tilde{F}_{munu})=frac{1}{g^2}text{tr}(mathbf{dot{A}}^2-mathbf{B}^2)-frac{theta}{4pi^2}text{tr}(mathbf{dot{A}} mathbf{B}),
$$
where $tilde{F}_{munu}$ is the Hodge dual of $F_{munu}$, and the last equality holds for $A_0=0$ and $D_iE_i=0$.
How is this possible? Tong mentions that the $theta$-dependence in the Hamiltonian formalism is somehow hidden in the structure of the Poisson bracket, but he gives no detailed explanation. Why doesn't it appear in the Hamiltonian itself? The $theta$-term gives rise to the infamous strong CP problem, so how can we explicitly compute this $theta$-dependence of Yang-Mills in this formalism?
quantum-field-theory hamiltonian-formalism topology yang-mills
quantum-field-theory hamiltonian-formalism topology yang-mills
edited 2 hours ago
Qmechanic♦
108k122011255
108k122011255
asked 3 hours ago
LCFLCF
68749
68749
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
It's not particularly strange or unusual for a term to seemingly not appear in the Hamiltonian, but still have a physical effect. For example, the Hamiltonian for a free particle is
$$H = frac{p^2}{2m} = frac12 m v^2, quad p = mv.$$
On the other hand, the Hamiltonian for a particle in a magnetic field is
$$H = frac{(p-eA)^2}{2m} = frac12 m v^2, quad p = m v + e A.$$
They are of course different functions of $(x, p)$, reflecting the fact that the dynamics are different, but if you naively write the Hamiltonian in terms of the "physical" variables $(x, v)$ then you get the same result in both cases, since magnetic fields do no work. There is of course still an effect, because $v$ is related to $p$ in a different way. Your example with the $theta$-term is just a more complicated version of this, so there's nothing really weird to resolve.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "151"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fphysics.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f476230%2fhidden-theta-term-in-hamiltonian-formulation-of-yang-mills-theory%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
It's not particularly strange or unusual for a term to seemingly not appear in the Hamiltonian, but still have a physical effect. For example, the Hamiltonian for a free particle is
$$H = frac{p^2}{2m} = frac12 m v^2, quad p = mv.$$
On the other hand, the Hamiltonian for a particle in a magnetic field is
$$H = frac{(p-eA)^2}{2m} = frac12 m v^2, quad p = m v + e A.$$
They are of course different functions of $(x, p)$, reflecting the fact that the dynamics are different, but if you naively write the Hamiltonian in terms of the "physical" variables $(x, v)$ then you get the same result in both cases, since magnetic fields do no work. There is of course still an effect, because $v$ is related to $p$ in a different way. Your example with the $theta$-term is just a more complicated version of this, so there's nothing really weird to resolve.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It's not particularly strange or unusual for a term to seemingly not appear in the Hamiltonian, but still have a physical effect. For example, the Hamiltonian for a free particle is
$$H = frac{p^2}{2m} = frac12 m v^2, quad p = mv.$$
On the other hand, the Hamiltonian for a particle in a magnetic field is
$$H = frac{(p-eA)^2}{2m} = frac12 m v^2, quad p = m v + e A.$$
They are of course different functions of $(x, p)$, reflecting the fact that the dynamics are different, but if you naively write the Hamiltonian in terms of the "physical" variables $(x, v)$ then you get the same result in both cases, since magnetic fields do no work. There is of course still an effect, because $v$ is related to $p$ in a different way. Your example with the $theta$-term is just a more complicated version of this, so there's nothing really weird to resolve.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It's not particularly strange or unusual for a term to seemingly not appear in the Hamiltonian, but still have a physical effect. For example, the Hamiltonian for a free particle is
$$H = frac{p^2}{2m} = frac12 m v^2, quad p = mv.$$
On the other hand, the Hamiltonian for a particle in a magnetic field is
$$H = frac{(p-eA)^2}{2m} = frac12 m v^2, quad p = m v + e A.$$
They are of course different functions of $(x, p)$, reflecting the fact that the dynamics are different, but if you naively write the Hamiltonian in terms of the "physical" variables $(x, v)$ then you get the same result in both cases, since magnetic fields do no work. There is of course still an effect, because $v$ is related to $p$ in a different way. Your example with the $theta$-term is just a more complicated version of this, so there's nothing really weird to resolve.
$endgroup$
It's not particularly strange or unusual for a term to seemingly not appear in the Hamiltonian, but still have a physical effect. For example, the Hamiltonian for a free particle is
$$H = frac{p^2}{2m} = frac12 m v^2, quad p = mv.$$
On the other hand, the Hamiltonian for a particle in a magnetic field is
$$H = frac{(p-eA)^2}{2m} = frac12 m v^2, quad p = m v + e A.$$
They are of course different functions of $(x, p)$, reflecting the fact that the dynamics are different, but if you naively write the Hamiltonian in terms of the "physical" variables $(x, v)$ then you get the same result in both cases, since magnetic fields do no work. There is of course still an effect, because $v$ is related to $p$ in a different way. Your example with the $theta$-term is just a more complicated version of this, so there's nothing really weird to resolve.
answered 2 hours ago
knzhouknzhou
47.4k11131230
47.4k11131230
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Physics Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fphysics.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f476230%2fhidden-theta-term-in-hamiltonian-formulation-of-yang-mills-theory%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown