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A global symmetry has transformation parameters constant across spacetime and preserves the action. It can relate physically distinct states. Continuous global symmetries give Noether currents and conserved charges when boundary fluxes vanish; discrete symmetries do not receive currents from the same infinitesimal theorem. A gauge redundancy instead uses local parameters to relate descriptions of the same physical state, except that nontrivial boundary transformations may carry physical charges. The global phase symmetry of a complex scalar field is an important internal example.

For the global phase symmetry of a complex scalar field oriented as $\delta \psi =-i\epsilon \psi$, the Noether current is $j^{\mu }=i({\psi }^{\ast }{\partial }^{\mu }\psi -\psi {\partial }^{\mu }{\psi }^{\ast })$. The Euler-Lagrange field equations $\square \psi +V^{\prime }(|\psi {|}^2)\psi =0$ and its complex conjugate give ${\partial }_{\mu }{j}^{\mu }=i({\psi }^{\ast }\square \psi -\psi \square {\psi }^{\ast })=0$ for a real differentiable potential. Integrating $j^0$ gives $Q$ when boundary flux vanishes. A charged scalar coupled to electromagnetism has electric charge $qQ$ with the chosen charge normalization; without that physical identification it is an internal charge.

A variational symmetry of a Lagrangian density maps admissible field configurations to configurations with the same action, up to an allowed boundary contribution. Thus (i) the action is invariant for suitable boundary conditions, while (ii) the Lagrangian density need only change by a total divergence, rather than be pointwise invariant. For an internal symmetry of a classical field theory, the coordinates are fixed. A spacetime transformation also changes the integration measure and must be treated accordingly.

A conserved current satisfies ${\partial }_{\mu }{j}^{\mu }=0$ on shell. The Noether charge $Q=\int j^0{d}^{3}x$ then obeys $\dot{Q}=-{\int }_{\partial V}\mathbf{j}\cdot d\mathbf{S}$, so conservation of the integrated charge additionally requires vanishing net boundary flux.

For several real field components $q_A$ and a constant infinitesimal parameter, write $\delta q_A=\epsilon X_A$ and $\delta \mathcal{L}=\epsilon {\partial }_{\mu }{K}^{\mu }$. The product rule givesSubtract the specified divergence. The Euler-Lagrange field equations make the first term vanish, proving the Noether theorem withFor a complex scalar field, treat the field and its complex conjugate as independent variables in this calculation; this is equivalent to using its two real components. This is the Noether current for a first-derivative scalar field, summed over components.

Collect the two complex fields into $\Phi =({\varphi }_1,{\varphi }_2{)}^T$. Their Lagrangian density has the radial formFor a constant Hermitian matrix $T$, the unitary transformation $\delta \Phi =i\epsilon T\Phi$ preserves both the kinetic contraction and ${\Phi }^{†}\Phi$. In particular the two specified transformations have generators $T_1={\sigma }_1$ and $T_2={\sigma }_2$, the first two Pauli matrices. Their Noether currents are instances of the unitary scalar multiplet currentExplicitly,An overall change of current sign corresponds to reversing the associated symmetry parameter; the signs here follow the two transformations as written.

The matrix commutator of their infinitesimal matrices is $[i{\sigma }_1,i{\sigma }_2]=-2i{\sigma }_3$. The antisymmetric difference of successive transformations therefore supplies a third symmetry, after a nonzero rescaling of its parameter:Its current isThe three traceless matrices ${\sigma }_a/2$ obey $[{\sigma }_a/2,{\sigma }_b/2]=i{ϵ}_{abc}{\sigma }_c/2$. Their exponentials act as SU(2) on the complex doublet. This identifies both the Lie algebra and the group acting on these fields: the central element $-I$ changes $\Phi$ and is not the identity transformation, so the doublet action is not an action of $SO(3)$ obtained by identifying $I$ with $-I$.

There is also a common global phase symmetry of a complex scalar field, $\Phi \mapsto e^{i\alpha }\Phi$, with current $j_I^{\mu }$. Together with SU(2) this gives $U(2)\simeq (SU(2)\times U(1))/{\mathbb{Z}}_2$ among complex-linear transformations. Independent constant phases of ${\varphi }_1$ and ${\varphi }_2$, and field interchange, are already contained in this group.

In fact this particular scalar potential has a larger real internal symmetry. Write ${\varphi }_1=(q_1+i{q}_2)/\sqrt{2}$ and ${\varphi }_2=(q_3+i{q}_4)/\sqrt{2}$; thenThe O(4) symmetry of a complex scalar doublet includes transformations mixing $\Phi$ with ${\Phi }^{\ast }$, which need not be complex-linear. Its connected part has six rotation generators, so listing $U(2)$ alone would not exhaust the internal symmetries of the displayed isolated theory. Individual field conjugations are examples of its discrete transformations. Finally the spacetime-independent scalar coefficients and Lorentz contractions give Poincaré symmetry, and the real scalar action also permits spatial reflection and time reversal. These statements concern the action; a chosen vacuum or external boundary conditions can preserve fewer symmetries. Special parameter choices can introduce additional symmetries, but are not required here.

Treat $\varphi ,{\varphi }^{†}$ as independent variables when taking the Legendre transform. Their canonical momenta areThe canonical quantization of a complex scalar field imposes, at equal times,with $[\varphi ,{\varphi }^{†}]=[\varphi ,\varphi ]=[\pi ,{\pi }^{†}]=[\pi ,\pi ]=0$, together with their adjoints, and $[\varphi ,{\pi }^{†}]=[{\varphi }^{†},\pi ]=0$. These are canonical commutation relations for two real scalar degrees of freedom, written in a complex basis. Local fields are operator-valued distributions, so these identities are understood after smearing or with a regulator.

The Hamiltonian density is $\pi \dot{\varphi }+{\pi }^{†}{\dot{\varphi }}^{†}-\mathcal{L}$, givingThe Heisenberg equation of motion is $\dot{O}=i[H,O]$. For example, $i[\int {\pi }^{†}\pi ,\varphi ]={\pi }^{†}$, while commuting $\pi$ with the gradient term and integrating its derivative of a Dirac delta distribution gives ${\nabla }^2{\varphi }^{†}$. ThusBoth fields satisfy the Klein-Gordon equation. Their spatial Fourier modes therefore have frequencies $\pm E_p$, $E_p=\sqrt{{\mathbf{p}}^2+m^2}$. A complex scalar field has independent coefficients for these two frequency sectors, so, defining the invariant measure $d{\Pi }_p=d^{3}p/[(2\pi {)}^{3}2E_p]$, its mode expansion isOne can recover the mode operators at any fixed time using complex scalar mode inversion:Substitution of the expansion verifies these inverses: the spatial integral selects the appropriate momentum, while the two frequency sectors acquire factors $E_p\pm E_q$. The unwanted sector vanishes when the delta function sets $E_p=E_q$. The canonical commutation relations then give, for example,Likewise $[b(p),b^{†}(q)]$ has the same value. The cross commutators vanish; their coefficients contain $E_p-E_q$ on the corresponding momentum delta function. Conversely, these oscillator brackets reproduce the equal-time field brackets, confirming the normalization of the measure.

Insert the mode expansion into $H$ and integrate over space. The terms $a^{†}{b}^{†}$ and $ba$ enforce opposite spatial momenta; their coefficient is $-E_p^2+{\mathbf{p}}^2+m^2=0$. For the diagonal terms the coefficient is $E_p^2+{\mathbf{p}}^2+m^2=2E_p^2$. Combining this with the two invariant measures leavesIn a box, $E_0={\sum }_{\mathbf{p}}{E}_p$, one half-quantum for each of the two real oscillator species. It diverges as the cutoff is removed. Normal ordering removes this vacuum energy, yielding the normal-ordered Hamiltonian of a free complex scalar field:In this nongravitational free theory an additive constant in $H$ changes only an overall state phase, not Heisenberg equations of motion, energy differences or scattering probabilities. It is therefore consistent to choose the Fock vacuum energy as zero. Both creation operators raise the energy: $[H,a^{†}(p)]=E_p{a}^{†}(p)$ and $[H,b^{†}(p)]=E_p{b}^{†}(p)$. Repeated creation builds a bosonic Fock space of spin-zero particles and antiparticles, with the same positive mass and energy. The negative-frequency part of the field does not describe negative-energy physical particles.

The global phase symmetry of a complex scalar field, with orientation $\varphi \mapsto e^{-i\alpha }\varphi$, has the indicated Noether current. Taking its divergence, the two first-derivative terms cancel, givingThe same calculation holds for its normal-ordered version. Integrating its temporal component gives a conserved charge when spatial boundary flux vanishes.

Here the ordering convention is important. Direct substitution into the literally ordered product $i\int ({\varphi }^{†}\dot{\varphi }-{\dot{\varphi }}^{†}\varphi )d^{3}x$ yieldsThe pair terms again vanish, now because their coefficient is a difference of equal energies. Reordering the $b$ term produces a divergent vacuum constant: with a finite-mode regulator $Q_{\mathrm{bare}}=N_a-N_b-N_{\mathrm{modes}}$. Thus the requested finite charge formula uses zero vacuum charge, or equivalently the vacuum subtraction of a complex scalar charge. With that conventional subtraction,The subtraction changes neither current conservation nor the action of $Q$ on fields; without it, the unrenormalized product does not literally equal the displayed normal-ordered operator.

Finally the oscillator commutators giveor $\boxed{Q{a}^{†}=a^{†}(Q+1),Q{b}^{†}=b^{†}(Q-1)}$. Acting on a charge eigenstate, the first creator raises its charge by one and the second lowers it by one. Starting from the neutral Fock vacuum, their one-particle states therefore have charges $+1$ and $-1$ respectively. This is the complex scalar charge operator $N_a-N_b$, whereas the energy counts the sum of the two occupations. A multiparticle state has additive charge equal to the number of particles minus the number of antiparticles.

A symmetry preserves the action, possibly up to a boundary term. In a classical field theory, this connects transformations of fields to conserved quantities. In a quantum field theory, it also constrains states, observables and scattering amplitudes. Continuous symmetries have Noether currents; discrete symmetries can be equally important without supplying a current through the same theorem.

For a local density depending on fields ${\Phi }_a$ and their first derivatives, define ${\Pi }_a^{\mu }=\partial \mathcal{L}/\partial ({\partial }_{\mu }{\Phi }_a)$ and ${\mathcal{E}}_a=\partial \mathcal{L}/\partial {\Phi }_a-{\partial }_{\mu }{\Pi }_a^{\mu }$. Suppose a one-parameter transformation has fixed-coordinate variation $\delta {\Phi }_a=\epsilon R_a$ and satisfies $\delta \mathcal{L}=\epsilon {\partial }_{\mu }{K}^{\mu }$. The Noether's first theorem asserts thatFor Grassmann-valued fields the derivatives and ordering are chosen consistently; the same integration-by-parts argument applies. To prove the theorem, expand the density variation and integrate its derivative term once algebraically:Comparison with the assumed divergence gives ${\partial }_{\mu }{j}^{\mu }=-{\sum }_a{\mathcal{E}}_a{R}_a$. On shell every Euler-Lagrange expression vanishes. Integrating this continuity equation over space gives the Noether charge $Q=\int j^0{d}^{3}x$ and $dQ/dt=-{\int }_{\partial {\mathbb{R}}^3}\mathbf{j}\cdot d\mathbf{S}$. Thus $Q$ is conserved whenever the boundary flux vanishes. Boundary conditions are part of the conservation statement; the local identity alone does not discard nonzero flux.

Translations illustrate the theorem in every relativistic field theory. For $R_a=a^{\nu }{\partial }_{\nu }{\Phi }_a$ and $K^{\mu }=a^{\mu }\mathcal{L}$, the current is $a^{\nu }{T}^{\mu }{}_{\nu }$, whereThe four charges are energy and momentum. For the Klein-Gordon field they reduce to the expressions derived in Question 1. Lorentz invariance gives angular momentum and boost currents. With a symmetric improved stress-energy tensor, these are $M^{\lambda \mu \nu }=x^{\mu }{T}^{\lambda \nu }-x^{\nu }{T}^{\lambda \mu }$. The canonical Dirac expression also carries an intrinsic spin current; improvement incorporates it into the symmetric tensor. Together translations and Lorentz transformations form the Poincaré group.

Internal symmetries act on field components without moving spacetime points. The global phase symmetry of a complex scalar field, $\delta \varphi =-i\epsilon \varphi$, hasIts charge distinguishes particles and antiparticles. A Dirac phase transformation $\delta \psi =-i\epsilon \psi$ gives $j^{\mu }=\bar{\psi }{\gamma }^{\mu }\psi$. This is preserved by the real-scalar Yukawa interaction, because the phases of $\bar{\psi }$ and $\psi$ cancel; consequently fermion number is conserved even while scalar and fermion particles interact. A multiplet of real scalars with a potential depending only on ${\sum }_a{\varphi }_a^2$ has orthogonal internal rotations. Their antisymmetric currents can be written $j_{ab}^{\mu }={\varphi }_a{\partial }^{\mu }{\varphi }_b-{\varphi }_b{\partial }^{\mu }{\varphi }_a$.

Discrete examples include $\varphi \mapsto -\varphi$ for an even real-scalar potential, parity symmetry in quantum field theory, and charge conjugation, which interchanges a complex scalar with its conjugate and reverses the electromagnetic potential. Discrete transformations are not generated by an infinitesimal continuous parameter, so Noether theorem does not attach a local conserved current to each of them. Nevertheless they forbid interaction terms and relate physical processes.

A global symmetry in field theory uses parameters constant across spacetime and can act nontrivially on physical states. A gauge redundancy allows arbitrary spacetime-dependent parameters and relates descriptions of the same physical configuration. In scalar electrodynamics, replacing the scalar's global phase by a local phase requires the compensating gauge transformation of $A_{\mu }$ and the gauge covariant derivative; the invariant contraction uses the opposite representation for ${\varphi }^{\ast }$. In Yang-Mills theory, matter transforms in a representation of a non-Abelian gauge group and the gauge potential transforms so that covariant derivatives and field strengths transform covariantly. Gauge fixing, such as Coulomb gauge, chooses representatives of these descriptions rather than changing physical predictions. The current-contracted propagator identity of Question 3 illustrates why a noncovariant gauge choice leaves scattering Lorentz invariant.

The arbitrary local parameter produces a stronger statement than one independent conserved charge for each function. For the abelian scalar transformation, vary the action with an arbitrary compactly supported $\alpha (x)$ and integrate its derivative term:ThereforeThis consequence of Noether second theorem, the Noether identity for abelian scalar gauge symmetry, holds off shell: gauge invariance makes the field equations dependent. In Hamiltonian language the same redundancy is reflected by the Gauss law constraint in gauge theory and the elimination of unphysical gauge degrees of freedom. Gauge transformations that vanish at the boundary are redundancies; transformations with nontrivial boundary behaviour can instead carry physical surface charges. This is why identifying every gauge transformation with a zero-charge operation would be too strong.

Finally, symmetry of the action need not imply symmetry of a chosen vacuum. For a complex scalar with a symmetry-preserving potential whose minima occur at nonzero $|\varphi |$, different constant phases label degenerate vacua. Choosing one breaks the global phase symmetry of the state; the Goldstone theorem supplies a massless mode under its usual relativistic assumptions. When the same phase is gauged, the Higgs mechanism describes the phase degree of freedom becoming the longitudinal polarization of a massive gauge boson; the local redundancy is still present in the underlying description. At the quantum level a classical symmetry can also fail through a quantum anomaly, so a classical Noether derivation alone does not guarantee an exact quantum Ward identity. Conserved charges, physical global transformations and local gauge redundancy are related but distinct consequences of symmetry.

Use a local first-derivative Lagrangian density $\mathcal{L}(\varphi ,{\partial }_{\mu }\varphi ,x)$ with sufficient differentiability, and let variations have compact support or vanish at the spacetime boundary. If the phrase “a function of the field” were read literally as forbidding derivatives, the equation below would reduce to $\partial \mathcal{L}/\partial \varphi =0$; a propagating field requires derivative dependence. Varying the action givesIntegration by parts and arbitrary interior variations yield the Euler-Lagrange field equation,The boundary condition is part of this derivation; if boundary variations are allowed, their separate boundary equations must also be imposed.

A variational symmetry of a Lagrangian density is an infinitesimal field change $\delta \varphi =\epsilon X$ for which $\delta \mathcal{L}=\epsilon {\partial }_{\mu }{K}^{\mu }$ off shell. Equality to zero is sufficient but is not necessary: a divergence changes only the boundary contribution to the action. For fixed-coordinate field variations,Equating the two expressions proves the scalar-field form of the Noether theorem:Thus every differentiable one-parameter variational symmetry gives a conserved current, and its Noether charge $Q=\int d^{3}x{j}^0$ is constant when the spatial boundary flux vanishes. This is the Noether current for a first-derivative scalar field; the same identity applies to several real components by summing over them. Identically conserved improvement terms can change its local expression without changing the charge under the same boundary assumptions.

For an active spacetime translation, ${\varphi }^{\prime }(x)=\varphi (x-a)$ and $\delta \varphi =-a^{\nu }{\partial }_{\nu }\varphi$. If the Lagrangian density has no explicit coordinate dependence, $\delta \mathcal{L}=-a^{\nu }{\partial }_{\nu }\mathcal{L}$, so $K^{\mu }=-a^{\mu }\mathcal{L}$. The Noether current is $j^{\mu }=-a^{\nu }{T}^{\mu }{}_{\nu }$, whereThese four translation currents are the canonical stress-energy tensor, also called the energy-momentum tensor. The sign in $j=-aT$ follows from the chosen active translation; the translation charges themselves can be labelled by $P_{\nu }=\int T^0{}_{\nu }{d}^{3}x$.

For the free real scalar field, take the standard kinetic term and mass term. Its Lagrangian density and Klein-Gordon equation areHere ${\Pi }^{\mu }={\partial }^{\mu }\varphi$, so $T^{\mu \nu }={\partial }^{\mu }\varphi {\partial }^{\nu }\varphi -{\eta }^{\mu \nu }\mathcal{L}$. Raising the charge index gives the four-momentum of a free real scalar field,The first is total energy, and the three components of the second are physical spatial momentum. With signature $(+,-,-,-)$, $P_i=-P^i$; this explains the opposite sign if the conserved quantities are instead written with lower spatial indices. For example, a plane wave proportional to $\cos (Et-\mathbf{k}\cdot \mathbf{x})$ has momentum density along $\mathbf{k}$, confirming the sign. All charges require convergence of the integrals and vanishing boundary flux, or periodic boundary conditions in a finite box.

For the complex scalar field, treat $\psi$ and ${\psi }^{\ast }$ as independent variables when varying, equivalently use their two real components. The global phase symmetry of a complex scalar field is $\psi \mapsto e^{-i\alpha }\psi$, ${\psi }^{\ast }\mapsto e^{i\alpha }{\psi }^{\ast }$ for constant $\alpha$. Both the kinetic term and $V(|\psi {|}^2)$ are invariant. This is a global internal symmetry of a classical field theory with circle group $U(1)$; a spacetime-dependent phase would require a gauge connection.

Choosing this orientation for the phase parameter gives the Noether charge of a complex scalar field:To check conservation directly, the Euler-Lagrange field equations are $\square \psi +V^{\prime }(|\psi {|}^2)\psi =0$ and their complex conjugates, assuming a real differentiable potential. Hence ${\partial }_{\mu }{j}^{\mu }=i({\psi }^{\ast }\square \psi -\psi \square {\psi }^{\ast })=0$. Reversing the phase-parameter orientation reverses the current and charge, which is merely a convention. For a scalar carrying electric charge $q$, the physical electric charge is $qQ$ after electromagnetic coupling. In a neutral theory the same global charge can instead label an internal conserved quantum number; the density alone does not identify it automatically with electricity.

For a constant real parameter, ${\partial }_{\mu }(e^{i\alpha }\varphi )=e^{i\alpha }{\partial }_{\mu }\varphi$. The phases therefore cancel separately in the kinetic term and in ${\varphi }^{\ast }\varphi$, leaving any $f({\varphi }^{\ast }\varphi )$ unchanged. This is the global phase symmetry of a complex scalar field, with circle group $U(1)$.

Use infinitesimal variations per unit parameter, $\delta \varphi =i\varphi$, $\delta {\varphi }^{\ast }=-i{\varphi }^{\ast }$. The Lagrangian density is exactly invariant, so no total-derivative correction is needed in Noether's theorem. The Noether current isIt depends only on derivatives of the Lagrangian density with respect to field derivatives, so the derivative-free scalar potential cannot alter its form. Direct differentiation cancels the mixed first-derivative terms:Thus it is conserved on solutions of the Euler-Lagrange equations. Its spatial integral is a conserved Noether charge when the flux through the boundary vanishes. Its overall sign is fixed here by $\delta \varphi =+i\varphi$; reversing the orientation of the phase transformation reverses the current.