How can we show that the annihilation operators satisfy the given equation?

In summary, the conversation discusses a specific exercise involving the space of complex solutions to the Klein-Gordon equation. The goal is to show that the annihilation operators on two different spaces, denoted as ##\mathcal{S}_p## and ##\mathcal{S}_p'##, are related through a Bogoliubov transformation. Using the definition of the inner product and the orthogonality relations, the transformation is expressed in terms of the coefficients ##A_{ij}## and ##B_{ij}##. The conversation also touches on the relationship between this topic and quantum field theory and general relativity.
  • #1
etotheipi
I don't really know what I'm doing, I'd appreciate some nudges in the right direction. We defined ##\mathcal{S}## as the space of complex solutions to the Klein-Gordon equation, and for any ##\alpha, \beta \in \mathcal{S}## that ##(\alpha, \beta) =-\int_{\Sigma_0} d^3 x \sqrt{h} n_a j^a(\alpha, \beta)## where ##j(\alpha, \beta) = -i(\bar{\alpha} d\beta - \beta d\bar{\alpha})##. The exercise is to show that ##a_i' = \sum_j (\bar{A}_{ij} a_j - \bar{B}_{ij} a_j^{\dagger} )##, where the ##a_i## and ##a_i'## are the annihilation operators on ##\mathcal{S}_p## and ##\mathcal{S}_p'## respectively. So write ##a_i' = (\psi_i' , \Phi)## then\begin{align*}
a_i' &= \int_{\Sigma_0} d^3 x \sqrt{h} n^a j_a(\psi_i', \Phi) \\

&= -i\int_{\Sigma_0} d^3 x \sqrt{h} n^a \big{(} \sum_j \left[ \bar{B}_{ij} \psi_j + \bar{A}_{ij} \bar{\psi}_{j} \right] (d\Phi)_a \\

&\quad\quad\quad\quad- \Phi \sum_j \left[ \bar{B}_{ij} (d\psi_j)_a + \psi_j (d\bar{B}_{ij})_a + \bar{A}_{ij} (d\bar{\psi}_j)_a + \bar{\psi}_j (d\bar{A}_{ij})_a \right] \big{)}
\end{align*}using the Bogoliubov transformation ##\bar{\psi}_i' = \sum_j \left[ \bar{B}_{ij} \psi_j + \bar{A}_{ij} \bar{\psi}_j \right]##. Is that right, and if so what's the next step toward the result? Thanks and sorry if I'm missing something obvious, I'm not really familiar with any of this subject.
 
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  • #2
Isn't this more quantum field theory than relativity? Should the thread go in the quantum forum?
 
  • #3
The theory is covered in pages 389 to 418 of Wald GR as a preliminary to Hawking radiation, so I figured this sub-forum would make a good home for it. But if you think it would be better suited somewhere else, I don't mind. :smile:
 
  • #4
etotheipi said:
The theory is covered in pages 389 to 418 of Wald GR as a preliminary to Hawking radiation
Yes, that's a topic that is sort of in between GR and QFT. I think the particular questions you're asking might get better responses in the QM forum, so I'll move this thread there.
 
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  • #5
It's obviously "QFT in curved spacetime". So it's both (general) relativistic and quantum.
 
  • #6
etotheipi said:
The theory is covered in pages 389 to 418 of Wald GR
Indeed, there is nothing inherently quantum about Bogoliubov transformation, because it can be viewed as a formalism related to a change of basis in the expansion of a classical field (in flat or curved spacetime).
 
  • #7
etotheipi said:
I don't really know what I'm doing, I'd appreciate some nudges in the right direction. We defined ##\mathcal{S}## as the space of complex solutions to the Klein-Gordon equation, and for any ##\alpha, \beta \in \mathcal{S}## that ##(\alpha, \beta) =-\int_{\Sigma_0} d^3 x \sqrt{h} n_a j^a(\alpha, \beta)## where ##j(\alpha, \beta) = -i(\bar{\alpha} d\beta - \beta d\bar{\alpha})##. The exercise is to show that ##a_i' = \sum_j (\bar{A}_{ij} a_j - \bar{B}_{ij} a_j^{\dagger} )##, where the ##a_i## and ##a_i'## are the annihilation operators on ##\mathcal{S}_p## and ##\mathcal{S}_p'## respectively. So write ##a_i' = (\psi_i' , \Phi)## then\begin{align*}
a_i' &= \int_{\Sigma_0} d^3 x \sqrt{h} n^a j_a(\psi_i', \Phi) \\

&= -i\int_{\Sigma_0} d^3 x \sqrt{h} n^a \big{(} \sum_j \left[ \bar{B}_{ij} \psi_j + \bar{A}_{ij} \bar{\psi}_{j} \right] (d\Phi)_a \\

&\quad\quad\quad\quad- \Phi \sum_j \left[ \bar{B}_{ij} (d\psi_j)_a + \psi_j (d\bar{B}_{ij})_a + \bar{A}_{ij} (d\bar{\psi}_j)_a + \bar{\psi}_j (d\bar{A}_{ij})_a \right] \big{)}
\end{align*}using the Bogoliubov transformation ##\bar{\psi}_i' = \sum_j \left[ \bar{B}_{ij} \psi_j + \bar{A}_{ij} \bar{\psi}_j \right]##. Is that right, and if so what's the next step toward the result? Thanks and sorry if I'm missing something obvious, I'm not really familiar with any of this subject.
If I understand correctly, the bar means complex conjugate?
Then if that's right I would proceed as follow:
Let ##\{\psi_n\}## be a complete orthonormal set of solutions of the KG equation, complete in the sense that any solution can be written as a linear combination of ##\psi_i## and ##\bar{\psi}_i##.
Let ##\{\psi'_n\}## be another complete orthonormal set.
Then by definition we can write the solutions ##\{\psi'_n\}## in terms of ##\{\psi_n\}##, which will introduce the coefficients ##A_{ij}## and ##B_{ij}##.

Next, you can start with an arbitrary solution ##\phi##, which can be expressed in terms of ##\{\psi_n\}## with coefficients ##a_i## or in terms of ##\{\psi'_n\}## with coefficients ##a_i'##, substituting the relations between ##\{\psi_n\}## and ##\{\psi'_n\}## and using that both sets are complete and orthonormal, you should be able to find a relation between the ##a## coefficients in terms of the ##A,B## coefficients.

Maybe I'm wrong, but if this idea works, notice that (once you have the sets ##\{\psi_n\}## and ##\{\psi'_n\}##) you don't even need to use the KG equation neither the expression for the inner product.
 
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  • #8
I highly recommend Winitzki's lecture notes on this topic.
 
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  • #9
Ah okay, I think I see how to do it in light of @Gaussian97's post. I think that, from the definition, the inner product is conjugate linear in the first argument and linear in the second, i.e. ##(u \psi_i, v\psi_j) = \bar{u}v(\psi_i, \psi_j)##. We also have the orthogonality relations ##(\psi_i, \bar{\psi}_j) = 0##, then ##(\psi_i, \psi_j) = \delta_{ij}##, and finally ##(\bar{\psi}_i, \bar{\psi}_j) = -\delta_{ij}##. Now express $$\Phi = \sum_i (a_i \psi_i + a_i^{\dagger} \bar{\psi}_i)= \sum_i (a_i' \psi_i' + a_i'^{\dagger} \bar{\psi}_i')$$then using the orthogonality relations we can write ##a_i' = (\psi_i', \Phi)##. The rest is just using the orthogonality and the (conjugate)-linearity; the ##(\psi_i, \bar{\psi}_j)## terms all get killed i.e.\begin{align*}
a_i' &= \left( \sum_j (A_{ij} \psi_j + B_{ij} \bar{\psi}_j), \sum_k (a_k \psi_k + a_k^{\dagger} \bar{\psi}_k) \right) \\
&= \left( \sum_j A_{ij} \psi_j, \sum_k a_k \psi_k \right) + \left( \sum_j B_{ij} \bar{\psi}_j, \sum_k a_k^{\dagger} \bar{\psi}_k \right) \\

&= \sum_k \sum_j \bar{A}_{ij} a_k (\psi_j, \psi_k) + \sum_k \sum_j \bar{B}_{ij} a_k^{\dagger}(\bar{\psi}_j, \bar{\psi}_k) \\

&= \sum_j (\bar{A}_{ij} a_j - \bar{B}_{ij} a_j^{\dagger})

\end{align*}having used the transformation ##\psi_i' = \sum_j (A_{ij} \psi_j + B_{ij} \bar{\psi}_j)## in the first line. How does that look? :smile:
 
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  • #10
It seems ok, you got exactly what you were supposed to obtain, right?
Just a little technical detail, be careful with using the same index ##i## for the free index and for the dummy index in the ##\Phi## expansion since can easily lead to confusions.
 
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  • #11
Gaussian97 said:
Just a little technical detail, be careful with using the same index ##i## for the free index and for the dummy index in the ##\Phi## expansion since can easily lead to confusions.
Oh yeah that was careless, I didn't even realize. I think I have fixed it now!
 
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FAQ: How can we show that the annihilation operators satisfy the given equation?

1. How do we define annihilation operators in the given equation?

The annihilation operators, denoted by a and a†, are operators used in quantum mechanics to describe the lowering and raising of energy levels of a quantum system. In the given equation, they are defined as a linear combination of the position and momentum operators.

2. What is the significance of the given equation in quantum mechanics?

The given equation, which shows that the annihilation operators satisfy the commutation relation [a, a†] = 1, is a fundamental equation in quantum mechanics. It helps us understand the behavior of quantum systems and is used in many quantum mechanical calculations.

3. How can we prove that the annihilation operators satisfy the given equation?

To prove that the annihilation operators satisfy the given equation, we can use the properties of the position and momentum operators and the definition of the annihilation operators. By substituting these values into the equation and simplifying, we can show that the commutation relation holds.

4. What are some applications of the annihilation operators in quantum mechanics?

The annihilation operators have many applications in quantum mechanics. They are used to describe the creation and annihilation of particles, such as in the study of quantum field theory. They are also used in calculating the energy spectrum of quantum systems and in studying quantum entanglement.

5. Are there any limitations to the use of the annihilation operators in quantum mechanics?

While the annihilation operators are a powerful tool in quantum mechanics, they do have some limitations. They cannot be used to describe systems with infinite dimensions, and they do not take into account relativistic effects. Additionally, they may not accurately describe systems with strong interactions or in non-equilibrium states.

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