Moduli-space approximation for solitons ($L_{\mathrm{eff}}=\frac{1}{2}{g}_{ab}(q){\dot{q}}^a{\dot{q}}^b-E_0$)

Substitute a static soliton family with slowly time-dependent collective coordinates into the action. The kinetic energy induces a Riemannian metric $g$ on the family, after imposing any Gauss law constraint in gauge theory constraint and projecting out gauge directions. If its static energy is constant, the Euler-Lagrange equations are the geodesic equations of $g$. An approximately flat family instead carries a potential $V(q)$. This approximation neglects excitations of the other field modes and is justified only when their effects are small on the time and energy scales studied.

Quantizing a moduli-space approximation gives wavefunctions with measure $\sqrt{\det g}{d}^{d}q$ and, under the minimal scalar ordering, the Hamiltonian operator $-{\hslash }^2{\Delta }_g/2+V$, where ${\Delta }_g$ is the Laplace-Beltrami operator. Global identifications, statistics and regularity supply additional restrictions on wavefunctions. Curvature-dependent ordering terms or quantum corrections are extra choices, not determined by the classical kinetic energy alone.