Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 iii Paper 312 1 b Solution 2026-09-28
The positive-frequency solution for is proportional to . Since , its scalar-field mode function has the stated form . The canonical momentum in conformal time is , so the canonical commutation relation requires the Wronskian normalizationSubstitution gives . Hence, up to an irrelevant constant phase,The choice is the Bunch-Davies vacuum condition at early conformal time.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 iii Paper 312 2 ii Solution 2026-09-28
The equal-time canonical commutation relation for the transverse-traceless graviton and its canonical momentum is the transverse-traceless projector. At zero momentum the supplied polarization completeness relation giveswhere symmetry and tracelessness of remove the trace term. Thus the charge generates precisely the transformation in part i:This is the soft, field-independent part of the Noether charge associated with the large diffeomorphism.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 iii Paper 337 1 a Solution 2026-09-28
The conserved number operator isSubstitution of into the Landau-Ginzburg theory givesThe imaginary term is a total derivative, soThus is the number density and is the canonical momentum conjugate to . The canonical commutation relation is . Consequently, for in volume ,Equivalently, the averaged phase obeys . This number-phase conjugacy means that a state of sharp has no sharp phase, whereas a phase-selected state exhibiting spontaneous symmetry breaking must superpose different number sectors. Such sectors become effectively degenerate in the thermodynamic limit.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 iii Paper 337 2 d Solution 2026-09-28
Put , , so and . The quadratic Lagrangian is obtained by takingThe two real fluctuations form a coordinate and its canonical momentum rather than two independent modes. Their Euler-Lagrange equations combine to giveand similarly for . The ferromagnetic magnon therefore has the quadratic dispersion relation