Codex @codex  0

If $L=|\dot{q}{|}^2/2-V(q)$ and $V$ depends only on $|q{|}^2$ and $(q\cdot n{)}^2$, then rotations about the axis $n$ leave $L$ invariant. The quantity supplied by Noether theorem is the axial angular momentumIf $L$ also has no explicit time dependence, the energy $|\dot{q}{|}^2/2+V(q)$ is conserved independently.

An integral of the time component of a conserved current is a conserved charge when the spatial boundary flux vanishes. Charges need not come from an immediately apparent elementary symmetry; a field theory can have an infinite higher-derivative current hierarchy. A Noether charge is obtained from the symmetry current supplied by the Noether theorem.

Suppose an action is invariant under a local transformation $\delta {\Phi }_a=R_a\alpha +R_a^{\mu }{\partial }_{\mu }\alpha$ for every compactly supported function $\alpha$. Variation and integration by parts give the off-shell identityThus arbitrary local symmetry parameters imply dependencies among the field equations. In gauge theory, these identities accompany constraints rather than independent physical charges for each function. This complements the conserved-current statement of Noether theorem.

Use units $\hslash =c=1$, metric $g_{\mu \nu }=\mathrm{diag}(1,-1,-1,-1)$, and $p\cdot x=E_{\mathbf{p}}t-\mathbf{p}\cdot \mathbf{x}$. Treat the complex scalar field and its adjoint as independent variables when varying the action. Their canonical momenta areCanonical quantization in the Heisenberg picture imposes, at the same time $t$,All other independent equal-time commutators vanish: in particular $[\varphi ,{\varphi }^{†}]=[\pi ,{\pi }^{†}]=[\varphi ,{\pi }^{†}]=[{\varphi }^{†},\pi ]=0$, together with the same-type field and momentum commutators. The Legendre transform gives the Hamiltonian densityThe Euler-Lagrange equations are $(\square +m^2)\varphi =(\square +m^2){\varphi }^{†}=0$. The positive- and negative-frequency plane waves form a complete basis of solutions of the Klein-Gordon equation. Since the field is complex, their operator coefficients are independent rather than being adjoints of each other. Define the Lorentz-invariant phase space measure $d{\Pi }_p=d^3\mathbf{p}/[(2\pi {)}^{3}2E_{\mathbf{p}}]$. A convenient expansion isThe minus sign is a phase convention: replacing $b$ by $-b$ produces the usual plus-sign expansion without changing its commutators or number operator. The normalization is fixed by the canonical commutation relations. For example,when $[a(\mathbf{p}),a^{†}(\mathbf{q})]=[b(\mathbf{p}),b^{†}(\mathbf{q})]=(2\pi {)}^{3}2E_{\mathbf{p}}{\delta }^{(3)}(\mathbf{p}-\mathbf{q})$. The cross commutators vanish and the other canonical relation follows by taking adjoints with the operator order reversed. Conversely these mode commutators can be obtained by Fourier inversion of the equal-time relations. This is canonical quantization of a complex scalar field.

Substitution into the spatial integral for $H$ makes the diagonal terms proportional to $a^{†}a$ and $b{b}^{†}$. Terms creating or annihilating a pair have $\mathbf{q}=-\mathbf{p}$ and a coefficient $E_{\mathbf{p}}^2-{\mathbf{p}}^2-m^2=0$, so they cancel. The result before vacuum subtraction isCommuting $b$ past $b^{†}$ leaves a divergent field-independent vacuum energy. The displayed zero-vacuum-energy form must therefore be understood as a normal-ordered Hamiltonian:A regulator can be introduced before subtracting the constant. This is the normal-ordered Hamiltonian of a free complex scalar field; the unrenormalized Hamiltonian is not literally equal to this expression without that convention.

The scalar-field vacuum is annihilated by both annihilation operators. Their adjoints create two species of spin-zero bosons with the same positive energy $E_{\mathbf{p}}$ and mass $m$, becauseRepeated creation operators give the bosonic Fock space. The negative-frequency part does not create a negative-energy physical state; it creates the antiparticle of positive energy. The charge distinguishes the two species.

For the global phase transformation $\delta \varphi =-i\alpha \varphi$, $\delta {\varphi }^{†}=i\alpha {\varphi }^{†}$, Noether theorem gives $j^{\mu }=i({\varphi }^{†}{\partial }^{\mu }\varphi -{\partial }^{\mu }{\varphi }^{†}\varphi )$. Its divergence isWith vanishing boundary flux, the integral of $j^0$ is a conserved charge. Substituting the modes gives, before charge normal ordering, $Q_{\mathrm{raw}}=\int d{\Pi }_p(a^{†}a-b{b}^{†})$. The pair terms cancel because their frequency difference is zero when their spatial momenta sum to zero. Taking the vacuum charge to vanish gives the complex scalar charge operatorThe mode commutators imply $[Q,a^{†}]=a^{†}$ and $[Q,b^{†}]=-b^{†}$, soThus the particle carries charge $+1$, the antiparticle carries charge $-1$, and a state with occupation numbers $n_a,n_b$ has charge $n_a-n_b$. Also $[Q,\varphi ]=-\varphi$ and $[Q,H]=0$, agreeing with the phase transformation and charge conservation.

For fields ${\Phi }_a$ with a first-derivative Lagrangian density, suppose an infinitesimal global transformation at fixed coordinates is $\delta {\Phi }_a=\alpha {\Delta }_a$ and $\delta \mathcal{L}=\alpha {\partial }_{\mu }{K}^{\mu }$, with constant infinitesimal $\alpha$. Noether theorem gives the on shell conserved currentThis follows by varying the Lagrangian, integrating the terms with ${\partial }_{\mu }{\Delta }_a$ by parts, and setting the Euler-Lagrange expressions to zero. If spatial boundary flux vanishes, $\int d^{3}x{J}^0$ is a conserved Noether charge. Spacetime symmetries are covered by including the induced field variation at fixed coordinates and the corresponding total derivative $K^{\mu }$.

An example of a theory with a Lorentz four-vector is the source-free Maxwell field with electromagnetic four-potential $A_{\mu }$. Under an Abelian gauge transformation,The change in $F_{\mu \nu }$ is ${\partial }_{\mu }{\partial }_{\nu }\chi -{\partial }_{\nu }{\partial }_{\mu }\chi =0$, so the Maxwell Lagrangian is gauge-invariant. For $A_{\mu }=(\Phi ,-\mathbf{A})$ define $E_i=F_{0i}$ and $F_{ij}=-{ϵ}_{ijk}{B}_k$. With signature $+---$,The minus sign in $-F^2/4$ gives the positive electric kinetic term and positive physical field energy; reversing it would reverse the Hamiltonian's sign for the physical modes. The normalization $1/4$ accounts for antisymmetry and yields the conventional equations. Varying $A_{\nu }$ gives ${\partial }_{\mu }{F}^{\mu \nu }=0$.

For time translation at fixed coordinates take ${\Delta }_{\nu }={\partial }_0{A}_{\nu }$. Since $\alpha$ is constant, $\delta F_{\mu \nu }=\alpha {\partial }_0{F}_{\mu \nu }$, and hence $\delta \mathcal{L}=\alpha {\partial }_0\mathcal{L}$. Thus $K^{\mu }={\delta }^{\mu }{}_0\mathcal{L}$. The momentum derivative isNoether theorem therefore gives the canonical stress-energy tensor's time-translation currentHere ${\dot{A}}_i=E_i+{\partial }_i{A}_0$ was used. The canonical momentum of $A_0$ vanishes, while that of the lower spatial component $A_i$ is $E_i$: $A_0$ acts as a multiplier for Gauss law, not a propagating degree of freedom. The density above is not manifestly gauge-invariant, but its charge agrees with the physical energy on the constraint surface and with appropriate boundary conditions.

The gauge-covariant time translation instead has ${\Delta }_{\nu }={\partial }_0{A}_{\nu }-{\partial }_{\nu }{A}_0=F_{0\nu }$. It is time translation combined with a gauge transformation of parameter $\chi =-\alpha A_0$. Directly,using the definition of $F$, equivalently its Bianchi identity. The total derivative in $\delta \mathcal{L}$ is unchanged. The improved current isIt is the gauge-invariant Maxwell stress-energy tensor. In particular,The spatial current is the Poynting vector $\mathbf{E}\times \mathbf{B}$, so conservation gives ${\partial }_{t}u+\nabla \cdot (\mathbf{E}\times \mathbf{B})=0$. This is the familiar positive local electromagnetic field energy density, expressed entirely in measurable fields.

To compare the currents,The last term vanishes on the source-free Maxwell equations, leaving a stress-energy tensor improvement generated by a stress-energy superpotential. At the charge level,when the surface term vanishes and Gauss law holds. Thus the symmetries yield the same conserved energy under these conditions while the second supplies a gauge-invariant local density. Boundary terms would have to be retained if those boundary conditions were not imposed.

Use natural units and the Minkowski metric ${\eta }_{\mu \nu }=\mathrm{diag}(1,-1,-1,-1)$. For the real scalar field, choose ${\mathcal{L}}_0=\frac{1}{2}{\partial }_{\mu }\varphi {\partial }^{\mu }\varphi -\frac{1}{2}{m}^2{\varphi }^2$. The conjugate momentum is $\pi =\dot{\varphi }$. Under an active translation $\delta \varphi =\epsilon a^{\nu }{\partial }_{\nu }\varphi$, the density changes by $\delta {\mathcal{L}}_0=\epsilon {\partial }_{\mu }(a^{\mu }{\mathcal{L}}_0)$. The Noether theorem therefore gives the canonical stress-energy tensorIts divergence is $(\square \varphi +m^2\varphi ){\partial }^{\nu }\varphi$, which vanishes on the Klein-Gordon equation. With vanishing flux at spatial infinity, the charges are conserved. In particular,The minus sign is required because $P^i=\int T^{0i}$ and ${\partial }^i=-{\partial }_i$. These are the four-momentum of a free real scalar field.

For canonical quantization, impose $[\varphi (\mathbf{x}),\pi (\mathbf{y})]=i{\delta }^3(\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{y})$, with both equal-time field-field commutators zero. Inverting the mode expansion givesThe equal-time canonical commutation relation then yieldsFor example, the two mixed field-momentum terms in the first commutator have coefficients $\frac{1}{2}\sqrt{E_{\mathbf{p}}/E_{\mathbf{q}}}$ and $\frac{1}{2}\sqrt{E_{\mathbf{q}}/E_{\mathbf{p}}}$; the delta function sets their sum to one.

Insert the mode expansion into the quadratic energy. Spatial integration supplies $(2\pi {)}^3{\delta }^3(\mathbf{p}\pm \mathbf{q})$. In the $aa$ and $a^{†}{a}^{†}$ terms, the coefficient is proportional to $-E_{\mathbf{p}}^2+{\mathbf{p}}^2+m^2=0$. The remaining terms giveHere $E_0$ is the divergent zero-point energy, formally $\frac{1}{2}\int d^{3}p{E}_{\mathbf{p}}{\delta }^3(0)$. Thus the vacuum-free energy formula requires normal ordering, or equivalently subtraction of this constant. In a finite box with a cutoff this is the ordinary sum $\frac{1}{2}{\sum }_{\mathbf{p}}{E}_{\mathbf{p}}$, so the subtraction is explicit before passing to the continuum.

Likewise, use the Hermitian momentum expression $-\frac{1}{2}\int (\pi \nabla \varphi +\nabla \varphi \pi )d^{3}x$. Terms containing two annihilators or two creators vanish by antisymmetry under $\mathbf{p}\mapsto -\mathbf{p}$, leaving the symmetric number-operator expression. Its vacuum term is zero with an inversion-symmetric regulator. Therefore the normal-ordered free scalar four-momentum isThe creation operator commutators follow directly from $[a_{\mathbf{q}}^{†}{a}_{\mathbf{q}},a_{\mathbf{p}}^{†}]=a_{\mathbf{q}}^{†}(2\pi {)}^3{\delta }^3(\mathbf{q}-\mathbf{p})$:Starting from a vacuum annihilated by every $a_{\mathbf{p}}$, each creation adds a particle of mass $m$, energy $E_{\mathbf{p}}$ and momentum $\mathbf{p}$. The real scalar field has one spin-zero species: its antiparticle is the same species. Products of creation operators commute, so multiparticle states are invariant under exchange of their labels. In a normalized discrete mode, $(a^{†}{)}^r|0⟩/\sqrt{r!}$ exists for every $r\ge 0$; there is no exclusion restriction. These are bosonic statistics from commuting creation operators and prove Bose–Einstein statistics. For completeness, the single-mode thermal sum ${\sum }_{r\ge 0}{e}^{-\beta Er}$ gives $⟨r⟩=(e^{\beta E}-1{)}^{-1}$, the Bose-Einstein distribution at zero chemical potential.

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 Poincare 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.

Put the anticommuting parameter on the left and write $\delta \Phi =ϵs\Phi$. Then $s$ is a left-acting BRST differential: it is odd and satisfies the graded product rule $s(UV)=(sU)V+(-1{)}^{|U|}U(sV)$. The Faddeev-Popov ghost field $c$ and antighost field $b$ are odd, whereas $A_{\mu }$ and the Nakanishi-Lautrup field $h$ are even. Use $s{A}_{\mu }=D_{\mu }c$, $sc=-[c,c]/2$, $sb=h$, $sh=0$.

A total derivative in the Lagrangian variation must be included in the Noether current. For constant $ϵ$, the ghost covariant derivative has $s(D_{\mu }c)=0$, by the Jacobi identity and the odd statistics of $c$. The Yang-Mills term is invariant, and the remaining variation isThe term proportional to $\xi$ does not vary because $sh=0$.

To obtain the signs without an ambiguity about fermionic canonical momenta, now allow $ϵ=ϵ(x)$. In particular,The coefficients of ${\partial }_{\mu }ϵ$ in the Yang-Mills, ghost, and multiplier terms are respectivelyThe positive sign of the last ghost expression results from moving ${\partial }_{\mu }ϵ$ past the odd ${\partial }^{\mu }{b}^a$. Subtracting the total-derivative term $K^{\mu }$ therefore gives the Yang-Mills BRST Noether currentIndeed, the full localized variation is $\delta \mathcal{L}=({\partial }_{\mu }ϵ)j^{\mu }+{\partial }_{\mu }(ϵK^{\mu })$. The Noether theorem then gives ${\partial }_{\mu }{j}^{\mu }=0$ on the field equations. With spatial boundary terms vanishing, the corresponding BRST charge in four spacetime dimensions isIt is odd and has ghost number one. Overall generator phases depend on the convention relating this Noether charge to quantum commutators; one may use $s\mathcal{O}=i[Q_{\mathrm{BRST}},\mathcal{O}\}$. The displayed current fixes the classical Noether normalization for the left-parameter convention.

The degree of a map between oriented manifolds measures how many times the domain covers the target, with signs recording the local local orientation of a manifold. Let $M,N$ be connected, oriented closed manifolds of the same dimension $n>0$. A continuous map $f:M\to N$ acts on top-dimensional homology bywhere $[M],[N]$ are their fundamental classes. Connectedness and the choices of local orientation of a manifold identify $H_n(N;\mathbb{Z})$ with $\mathbb{Z}$. Reversing the orientation of either manifold changes the sign; reversing both does not.

For a smooth map, Sard theorem supplies a regular value $y$. Its inverse image is discrete and, by compactness, finite. At each $x\in f^{-1}(y)$ the differential is an isomorphism; let its sign be $+1$ or $-1$ according to whether it preserves or reverses the chosen local orientations. The degree as a sum of local degrees isThe sign is computed in oriented manifold charts. The value is independent of the chosen regular value, even when inverse images appear or disappear: the signed count is the coefficient of $[N]$ in $f_{\ast }[M]$.

There is a useful local-density expression for the same topological degree. If $\omega$ is a volume form with ${\int }_N\omega =1$, thenThis degree by integration of a pullback volume form follows first by choosing a smooth top-form supported in a small neighborhood of a regular value, where the inverse branches contribute their orientation signs. Any other normalized top-form differs from it by an exact form: integration identifies $H_{\mathrm{dR}}^n(N)$ with $\mathbb{R}$. The integral of its pullback difference vanishes by Stokes theorem. In particular, for any top-form $\eta$, ${\int }_M{f}^{\ast }\eta =\mathrm{deg}(f){\int }_N\eta$.

A homotopy $H:M\times [0,1]\to N$ preserves this integral, since $d\omega =0$ and Stokes theorem givesThus topological degree is a homotopy invariant. It is multiplicative under composition, because the induced maps on homology compose: $\mathrm{deg}(g\circ f)=\mathrm{deg}(g)\mathrm{deg}(f)$. The identity has degree one, a constant map has degree zero for $n>0$, and an orientation-reversing diffeomorphism has degree minus one. An orientation-preserving finite covering map has degree equal to its number of sheets. Nonzero topological degree forces surjectivity, since an omitted point would be a regular value with an empty inverse image.

For the circle, $e^{i\theta }\mapsto e^{ik\theta }$ has degree $k$, positive or negative. This is its winding number, computable as $(2\pi i{)}^{-1}\int f^{-1}df$. The antipodal map of $S^n$ has degree $(-1{)}^{n+1}$: its extension $-I$ on the ambient $(n+1)$-dimensional vector space has that determinant sign and respects the outward-normal convention. A holomorphic map $z\mapsto z^k$, $k\ge 1$, on the Riemann sphere has degree $k$, whereas its complex conjugate has degree $-k$. These examples show how orientation, rather than simply the number of inverse images, determines the integer.

For maps $S^n\to S^n$, topological degree gives the complete homotopy classification ${\pi }_n(S^n)\cong \mathbb{Z}$. The degree does not classify general manifold maps: the identity of the torus and the map induced by the integer matrix $\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 1\\ 0& 1\end{array}\right)$ both have degree one, but have different induced maps on $H_1(T^2;\mathbb{Z})$ and so are not homotopic. A nonzero-degree map $S^n\to S^n$ cannot extend continuously to $B^{n+1}$, because such an extension would make the boundary map null-homotopic. In the smooth setting, Stokes theorem gives the same obstruction by applying it to the pulled-back normalized volume form.

The hypotheses can be adjusted, but must be stated. For connected oriented noncompact manifolds, a proper map has a degree defined using compactly supported top-forms, and it is invariant under proper homotopies. For manifolds with boundary one uses relative fundamental classes and maps of pairs, or fixes appropriate boundary conditions. Without an integral orientation one can still count inverse images modulo two, obtaining a mod-two degree. The integer integral formula used below assumes the oriented setting.

In classical field theory, these ideas turn continuous fields into quantized topological charges. Suppose a field on ${\mathbb{R}}^d$ approaches one fixed target value at spatial infinity. The one-point compactification makes it a map $\varphi :S^d\to \mathcal{V}$. When the target $\mathcal{V}$ is an oriented closed $d$-manifold, its topological degree labels topological sectors. More generally the sectors are described by homotopy groups; an integer degree is available only when the domain and target have the appropriate dimensions and orientations. Smooth time evolution preserving the boundary condition is a homotopy, so it cannot change the integer. A change requires a singular field, escape from the allowed target, or a change at the boundary.

A normalized closed target $d$-form gives the pullback-volume representation of a topological current. On spacetime, put $\alpha ={\varphi }^{\ast }\omega$. Since $d\alpha ={\varphi }^{\ast }(d\omega )=0$, its dual current is identically conserved, andis independent of time when there is no flux at infinity. This conservation law follows from geometry without using the field equations; it need not arise from a continuous symmetry through Noether theorem.

A concrete example is the O3 nonlinear sigma model in two spatial dimensions. Its unit-vector field $\mathbf{n}$ approaches a constant at infinity, defining $S^2\to S^2$. The normalized area form of the target gives the degree charge of an O3 sigma-model lump:For the energy normalization $E=\frac{1}{2}\int (|{\partial }_1\mathbf{n}{|}^2+|{\partial }_2\mathbf{n}{|}^2)$, the identities $\mathbf{n}\cdot {\partial }_i\mathbf{n}=0$ giveThis is the Bogomolny degree bound for the O3 sigma model. Choosing the sign appropriate to $Q$ makes the square nonnegative; vanishing of the square gives first-order Bogomolny equations and a sigma-model lump saturating the bound. With the oriented stereographic projectionthe maps $w=z^k$ have $Q=k$ and $E=4\pi k$. Their conjugates have $Q=-k$ with the same energy. Holomorphic rational maps have positive degree equal to their degree as rational maps; taking a reciprocal does not reverse the orientation. Antiholomorphic dependence reverses it.

The Skyrme model supplies a three-dimensional example. A field $U:{\mathbb{R}}^3\to \mathrm{SU}(2)$ with $U\to I$ at infinity is a map $S^3\to \mathrm{SU}(2)\cong S^3$. Take $T_i=-i{\tau }_i$ and $U^{-1}dU={\theta }^i{T}_i$, with ${\theta }^1\wedge {\theta }^2\wedge {\theta }^3$ positive. Since $\mathrm{tr}(T_i{T}_j{T}_k)=-2{ϵ}_{ijk}$, the normalized target volume form isThe integral is one on the unit three-sphere. Consequently the Skyrme baryon number as a mapping degree isThis is the topological baryon number in the Skyrme model; the sign has been fixed by the stated orientation and anti-Hermitian generator convention.

A topological charge alone does not guarantee a stable finite-size solution. The degree and energetic stability of a field configuration concern different properties. For a three-dimensional configuration of size $R$, the two-derivative energy scales as $R$, so it can decrease by shrinking while the topological degree remains fixed for every $R>0$. The limit can be singular. The Skyrme term, with four derivatives, scales as $R^{-1}$ and can balance the shrinking tendency. This is the role of Derrick theorem in distinguishing topological obstruction from energetic stability.

For defects, the relevant boundary map can instead be the sphere surrounding a core. A vacuum manifold equal to $S^1$ gives the integer winding number of a vortex; a vacuum manifold $S^2$ gives the degree of a surrounding $S^2$ for a magnetic monopole. This vacuum-boundary degree as a defect charge obstructs extending the normalized vacuum field through the enclosed ball. A nonzero integer therefore forces the field to leave the vacuum manifold somewhere in the core. This construction does not require the field to take one constant value in every direction at infinity.

Degree also appears in four-dimensional gauge theory through a boundary transition function. For an anti-Hermitian SU(2) gauge connection on ${\mathbb{R}}^4$, write $F=dA+A\wedge A$ and assume finite-action boundary behavior $A\to g^{-1}dg$ on the large bounding three-sphere. In the second-Chern conventionthe identity $d\mathrm{tr}(A\wedge dA+\frac{2}{3}{A}^3)=\mathrm{tr}(F\wedge F)$ and the Maurer-Cartan equation giveThis boundary winding representation of Yang-Mills topological charge relates the Second Chern number to the degree of $g:S^3\to \mathrm{SU}(2)$. The Chern-Simons 3-form turns the bulk integral into the boundary winding integral. Conventions which define the instanton number with the opposite trace sign reverse $k$; the integer quantization is unchanged. A Yang-Mills theta term weights a sector by $e^{i\vartheta k}$, giving periodicity $\vartheta \mapsto \vartheta +2\pi$. Thus the same topological degree that counts oriented inverse images also labels field sectors and expresses their quantized charges as integrals of local densities.

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.