Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision | ||
equations:klein-gordon_equation [2019/07/30 08:32] 60.52.77.62 [Klein-Gordon Equation] |
equations:klein-gordon_equation [2025/03/04 00:45] (current) edi [Concrete] |
||
---|---|---|---|
Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
* A nice discussion can be found in [[http://www.quantumfieldtheory.info/website_Chap03.pdf |chapter 3 of Klauber's Student Friendly QFT book]] | * A nice discussion can be found in [[http://www.quantumfieldtheory.info/website_Chap03.pdf |chapter 3 of Klauber's Student Friendly QFT book]] | ||
* For an elementary derivation of the Klein-Gordon equation see Physics from Symmetry by Schwichtenberg | * For an elementary derivation of the Klein-Gordon equation see Physics from Symmetry by Schwichtenberg | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | **Graphical Summary** | ||
+ | |||
+ | The diagram below shows the Klein-Gordon equation and its Lagrangian in various forms. For a more detailed explanation see [[https://esackinger.wordpress.com/appendices/#field_equations|Fun with Symmetry]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{:equations:klein_gordon.jpg?nolink}} | ||
<tabbox Abstract> | <tabbox Abstract> | ||
Line 38: | Line 46: | ||
<tabbox Why is it interesting?> | <tabbox Why is it interesting?> | ||
- | The Klein-Gordon equation is the correct equation of motion that describes free [[basic_notions:spin|spin]] $0$ particles. | + | The Klein-Gordon equation is the correct equation of motion that describes free [[basic_notions:spin|spin]] $0$ particles. For a spin-1 generalization see the Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau equation. |
| | ||
Line 46: | Line 54: | ||
* $\partial _{\mu} $ denotes the partial derivative and $\partial _{\mu} \partial ^{\mu}$ stands for a sum using the Einstein sum convention, i.e. $\partial _{\mu} \partial ^{\mu} = \partial _0 \partial^0 - \partial _1 \partial^1 -\partial _2 \partial^2 -\partial _3 \partial^3$, | * $\partial _{\mu} $ denotes the partial derivative and $\partial _{\mu} \partial ^{\mu}$ stands for a sum using the Einstein sum convention, i.e. $\partial _{\mu} \partial ^{\mu} = \partial _0 \partial^0 - \partial _1 \partial^1 -\partial _2 \partial^2 -\partial _3 \partial^3$, | ||
* $m$ denotes the mass of the particle, | * $m$ denotes the mass of the particle, | ||
- | * $\Phi$ is either the wave function of the spin $0$ particle if we use the Klein-Gordon equation in a particle theory, or describes the spin $0$ field if we work in a field theory. | + | * $\Phi$ describes the spin $0$ field if we work in a field theory. |
+ | * Note: $\Phi$ cannot be interpreted as a wavefunction because it is a real valued field; it is its own anti-particle like the Majorana fermion. Only in the case that it is the U(1)-charged (requires 2 independent real Klein Gordon fields that are symmetry transform into each other) is a naive wavefunction interpretation possible. Basically, you get a relativistic scalar superfluid field. Nevertheless, there are single particle wavefunctions lurking in the single real Klein-Gordon theory. But you need to use the coherent state representation to see the 1st quantized operators from the complex annihilation and creation operators. Essentially undoing the second quantization. | ||