Bosonic species-swap generator ($C=\exp (i\pi N_{-})$)

For two equal-energy bosonic species with annihilation operators $a,b$, set $c_{-}=(a-b)/\sqrt{2}$ and let $N_{-}$ be its number operator. Since $[N_{-},c_{-}]=-c_{-}$, conjugation by $e^{i\pi N_{-}}$ reverses the antisymmetric combination while fixing $(a+b)/\sqrt{2}$, and therefore exchanges $a,b$ and their creation operators. For the particle and antiparticle modes of a complex scalar field this realizes charge conjugation, fixes the Fock vacuum, and squares to one. The normal-ordered generator $\int (a^{†}-b^{†})(a-b)$ equals $2N_{-}$. Writing the annihilation factors first adds an infinite constant in the continuum, which must be subtracted or regulated before defining its exponential.