Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-theoretical-physics-major-option-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2017/4/c/solution
Past exam of the theoretical physics major option course of the University of Oxford 2017 4 c Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
Put . Direct differentiation of cancels the mixed radial-angular terms, leavingUse from part b to expand the potential. The complete local expression isThe radial field is canonically normalized, giving . For arbitrary , the canonically normalized angular field is and has zero mass:The interactions comprise radial cubic and quartic self-couplings, a derivative coupling and a derivative coupling. In canonical variables the latter coefficients are and respectively. The additive constant shifts the vacuum energy and does not affect these masses or interactions.
The original phase symmetry becomes the exact shift , with unchanged. Any undifferentiated polynomial or would violate this shift, so such terms are absent. This argument allows derivative interactions; it forbids an angular potential. The massless angular excitation is the Goldstone boson for the broken global .
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