Scalar Definition and 829 Threads

I'm learning time-dependent Maxwell's Equations and having difficulty understanding the following derivative: Given f(\textbf{r}, \textbf{r}', t) = \frac{[\rho(\textbf{r}, t)]}{|\textbf{r} - \textbf{r}'|} where \textbf{r} = x \cdot \textbf{i} + y \cdot \textbf{j} + z \cdot \textbf{k}, in...

Hi, f(X)=\frac{xy^2}{x^2+y^4} is the function in question, this is the value of the function at ##X=(x,y)## when ##x\neq0##, and ##f(X)=0## when ##X=(0,y)## for any ##y## even ##y=0##. Now, along any vector or line from the origin the directional derivative ##f'(Y,0)## (where ##Y=(a,b)## is...

I was trying to derive current for Complex Scalar Field and I ran into the following:So we know that the Lagrangian is: $$L = (\partial_\mu \phi)(\partial^\mu \phi^*) - m^2 \phi^* \phi$$ The Lagrangian is invariant under the transformation: $$\phi \rightarrow e^{-i\Lambda} \phi $$ and $$\phi^*...

I have managed to get to the end of Chapter 6 and have done almost all of the exercises (I didn't get anywhere with exercise 5.6 (d) and have seen the Cesarth/TSny exchange and still don't feel I have a satisfactory solution...) but I have hit a bit of a wall with Exercise 7.1 (a).First question...

Hello everybody. I have a free scalar in two dimensions. I know that its propagator will diverge for lightlike separations, that is t= ±x. I have to find the prefactor for this delta function, and I don't know how to do this. How do I see from, for example, \int \frac{dk}{\sqrt{k^2+m^2}} e^{i k...

Homework Statement Find angle between vectors if \cos\alpha=-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} [/B]Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Because cosine is negative I think that \alpha=\frac{5\pi}{6}. But also it could be angle \alpha=\frac{7\pi}{6}. Right? When I search angle between vectors I do not...

Dear all! I think the main difference between scalar and vector fields is that vectorial fields are composed of vector elements that varies among them. Scalar fields are fields that have large regions of equal magnitude, variations are just presented in different regions. Please bring me help...

Homework Statement Consider the Lagrangian, L, given by L = \partial_{\mu}\phi^{*}(x)\partial^{\mu}\phi(x) - m^2\phi^{*}(x)\phi(x) . The conjugate momenta to \phi(x) and \phi^{*}(x) are denoted, respectively, by \pi(x) and \pi^{*}(x) . Thus, \pi(x) = \frac{\partial...

Hi, Are ALL scalar products of four-vectors Lorentz-invariant (as opposed to just the scalar product of a four-vector with itself)? And, if yes, what is the proof?

Homework Statement Silly question, but I can't seem to figure out why, in e.g. Peskin and Schroeder or Ryder's QFT, the Fourier transform of the (quantized) real scalar field \phi(x) is written as \phi (x) = \int \frac{d^3k}{(2\pi)^3 2k_0} \left( a(k)e^{-ik \cdot x} + a^{\dagger}(k)e^{ik...

I am having some problem with this attached question. I also attached my answer... My problem is the appearence of the term: 2 e (A \cdot \partial C) |\phi|^2 which shouldn't appear...but comes from cross terms of the: A \cdot A \rightarrow ( A + \partial C) \cdot (A + \partial C) In my...

For scalar modes \mathcal{R}_k originating in the Bunch-Davies vacuum at the onset of inflation, I have the following equation for their primordial power spectrum: P_{\mathcal{R}}(k)=\frac{4\pi}{\epsilon(\eta_k)}\bigg( \frac{H(\eta_k)}{2\pi} \bigg)^2, where: c = G = ħ = 1, k is the...

Is Average Speed a Scalar quantity?

Apparently, f \nabla^2 f = \nabla \cdot f \nabla f - \nabla f \cdot \nabla f where f is a scalar function. Can someone please show me why this is step by step. Feel free to use suffix notation. Thanks in advance.

Why is a charge from say an electron a scalar. It has a constant magnitude, and it has a direction.

Hello, On p.573 of Jackson 2nd Ed. (section 12.1), he says, "From the first postulate of special relativity the action integral must be a Lorentz scalar because the equations of motion are determined by the extremum condition, \delta A=0." I agree that if the action is a Lorentz scalar, then...

Hi all, I'm trying (and failing miserably) to understand tensors, and I have a quick question: is the inner product of a rank n tensor with another rank n tensor always a scalar? And also is the inner product of a rank n tensor with a rank n-1 tensor always a rank n-1 tensor that has been...

I would like to ask when can someone add the width in a scalar particle's propagator. In general the scalar propagator can be: \frac{1}{k^{2}-m^{2}+i \epsilon} (\epsilon \rightarrow 0) However I read somewhere that if necessary one can include a width for the propagator...

Let's add a simple uncharged massive particle to, say, the standard model of particle physics. The question is about the physical, observable consequences of this modification. The first question is if the following considerations are correct, and if not what is wrong. From a classical...

Definition/Summary Flux sometimes means total flow through a surface (a scalar), and sometimes means flow per unit area (a vector). In electromagnetism, flux always means total flow through a surface (a scalar), and is measured in webers (magnetic flux) or volt-metres (electric flux)...

The power density of an electromagnetic wave is proportional to the absolute square of the electric field |E|^2 (assuming a plane wave). Here, E is a vector so the absolute square involves all three of Ex, Ey, and Ez. In homogeneous, linear media, it's easy to show that each component of E...

Homework Statement If u(t) = σ(t) . [σ'(t) x σ''(t)], show that u'(t) = σ(t) . [σ'(t) x σ'''(t)]. Homework Equations The rules for differentiating dot products and cross products, respectively, are: d/dt f(t) . g(t) = f'(t) . g(t) + f(t) . g'(t) d/dt f(t) x g(t) = f'(t) x g(t) +...

I would like to ask something. How is the solution of EOM for the action (for FRW metric): S= \int d^{4}x \sqrt{-g} [ (\partial _{\mu} \phi)^{2} - V(\phi) ] give solution of: \ddot{\phi} + 3H \dot{\phi} + V'(\phi) =0 I don't in fact understand how the 2nd term appears... it...

E = - grad*phi - 1/c (dA/dt). phi is the scalar potential, and is given. How do I calculate the vector potential = A ? Is it A = (v/c) * phi ? If it is, then where is this equation coming from? Thank you.

After watch this video , I understood that for study the behavior of the vector field, just use 2 tools, the line integral and the surface integral, and actually too, the divergence and the curl. In accordance with this, the maxwell's equations are justly the line integral, the surface integral...

To every scalar field s(x,y) there corresponds a 'constant' vector field x = A s(x,y) and y = B s(x,y), where A,B are direction cosines. The vector field is only partially constant since only the directions, and not the magnitudes, which are equal to |f(x,y)|, of the field vectors are constant...

Hi, considering the scalar wave equation $$ { \partial^2 u \over \partial t^2 } = c^2 \nabla^2 u $$ (where ∇^2 is the (spatial) Laplacian and where c is a fixed constant) how can I derive the potential and kinetic energy for a given state u and u' ? Thanks and cheers

Question: For the scalar field \Phi = x^{2} + y^{2} - z^{2} -1, sketch the level surface \Phi = 0 . (It's advised that in order to sketch the surface, \Phi should be written in cylindrical polar coordinates, and then to use \Phi = 0 to find z as a function of the radial coordinate \rho)...

A scalar field \psi is dependent only on the distance r = \sqrt{x^{2} + y^{2} + z^{2}} from the origin. Show: \partial_{x}^{2}\psi = \left(\frac{1}{r} - \frac{x^{2}}{r^{3}}\right)\frac{d\psi}{dr} + \frac{x^{2}}{r^{2}}\frac{d^{2}\psi}{dr^{2}} I've used the chain and product rules so...

Vectors a and b correspond to the vectors from the origin to the points A with co-ordinates (3,4,0) and B with co-ordinates (α,4, 2) respectively. Find a value of α that makes the scalar product a\cdotb equal to zero, and explain the physical significance. My attempt: The scalar product...

Hi all, I am currently trying to calculate the beta function for scalar QCD theory (one loop for general su(n)). I therefore need to calculate the Feynman rules in order to apply them to the one loop diagrams. Unfortunately I am getting very confused with what the Lagrangian for scalar QCD...

If a vector field can be decomposed how a sum of a conservative + solenoidal + harmonic field... so, BTW, a scalar field can be decomposed in anothers scalar fields too?

I realized that a PDE of 2nd order can written like: A:Hf+\vec{b}\cdot\vec{\nabla}f+cf=0 \begin{bmatrix} a_{11} & a_{12}\\ a_{21} & a_{22}\\ \end{bmatrix}:\begin{bmatrix} \partial_{xx} & \partial_{xy}\\ \partial_{yx} & \partial_{yy}\\ \end{bmatrix}f+\begin{bmatrix} b_1\\ b_2\\...

Vector, by definition, have 2 or 3 scalar components (generally), but the curl of a vector field f(x,y) in 2D have only one scalar component: \left ( \frac{\partial f_y}{\partial x} -\frac{\partial f_x}{\partial y} \right )dxdy So, the Curl of a vector field in 2D is a vector or a scalar?

Hello All, In Carroll's there is a brief introduction to a dynamical dark energy in which the equation of motion for slowly rolling scalar field is discussed. Then to give an idea about the mass scale of this field it is compared to the Hubble constant, saying that it has an energy of...

First of all this is my first thread, so I apologize for any mistake. Perhaps this is a stupid question, but i need some help in exercise 21.10 of D'Inverno, to write down geodesic equation for l^a, which is a vector tangent to a congruence of null geodesics and then by a rescaling of l^a...

Homework Statement Find the instantaneous velocity of f(x, y, z) = xyz, at (1, 2, 1) Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I think this problem our proffesor gave us wasn't formulated correctly. The only time when we calculated instantaneous velocity was when we had a...

If an electrically charged particle is a scalar, and a magnetically charged particle is a pseudoscalar, then what is a dyon (having both types of charge), a "mixed-type" scalar? Are there "scalar-like" quantities that can be decomposed into a scalar part and a pseudoscalar part?

Could someone explain to me about what closed under addition and closed under scalar multiplication means? I have a patchy idea of what it is but how does it relates to A = {(x,y) | x^2 + y^2 <= 1}? What does A stands for? What does the language implies? Edit: My interpretation: Let's...

Homework Statement Find an expression equivalent for the derivative of the scalar triple product a(t) . (b(t) x c(t))The Attempt at a Solution Initially I figured since whatever comes out of B X C is being dotted with A, I can use the derivative rules of a dot product: (a(t)' . (b(t) x...

Homework Statement True or.false Force can be represented by a scalar? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I say false is this correct?

Homework Statement T/F: The addition of two scalars is equivalent to the addition of parallel vectors. Select one: a. False b. True Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution i said true reason being the magnitude of vectors can be added if they are in the same direction by...

FORTRAN error "array bound is not scalar integer" I'd like to know if a loop can be created, inside which I can call a subroutine in which there are arrays to be defined whose size varies as a function of loop variable. I tried as following, but got error "array bound is not scalar integer"...

Hello! Well, I guess it's all in the title, really. I was reading about k-essence, and it was described as a scalar field having a non-canonical kinetic term. I did a bit of browsing and couldn't find a clear explanation of what, exactly, a non-canonical kinetic term is. Any help would be...

I have been asked to solve the equation for x - All letters bar λ are vectors. λx + (a cross x) = b I have worked it down as far as x.(λb + (b cross a)) = |b|^2 by taking the dot product with b of both sides. But is there any way I can now solve this equation for x?

Hello, people. I'm studying (as an exercise) the breaking of an SU(3) gauge group to SU(2) x U(1) via a Higgs mechanism. The scalar responsible for the breaking is \Phi, who transforms under the adjoint representation of SU(3) (an octet). First of all I want to construct the most general...

Is there a simple intuitive description of what the Ricci tensor and scalar represent? I have what seems to me a straightforward understanding of what the Riemann tensor Rabcd represents, as follows. If you parallel transport a vector b around a tiny rectangle, the sides of which are determined...

I noticed that sometimes exist a parallel between scalar and vector calculus, for example: ##v=at+v_0## ##s=\int v dt = \frac{1}{2}at^2 + v_0 t + s_0## in terms of vector calculus ##\vec{v}=\vec{a}t+\vec{v}_0## ##\vec{s}=\int \vec{v} dt = \frac{1}{2}\vec{a}t^2 + \vec{v}_0 t + \vec{s}_0##...

I am a bit confused about something! Exactly under what kind of transformations are scalars invariant in the domain of classical mechanics? The fact which is disturbing me is, say we have a moving body of certain kinetic energy in a certain inertial frame of ref, and then we choose to.observe...

Can you please tell me whether I am right or wrong? Lagrangians are scalars. They are NOT invariant under coordinate transformations[ the simplest example is when you have a gravitational potential(V=mgz) and you translate z by "a"(some number)...