Past exam of the quantum field theory course of the University of Oxford / 2016 / 1 / d

Under the finite dilation, the volume element transforms as $d^4{x}^{\prime }=e^{4\alpha }{d}^{4}x$, whereas ${\partial }_{\mu }^{\prime }{\varphi }^{\prime }(x^{\prime })=e^{-2\alpha }{\partial }_{\mu }\varphi (x)$. Thus the kinetic term and quartic interaction both acquire the factor $e^{-4\alpha }$. Their factors cancel the Jacobian determinant, provingA mass term would instead acquire a net factor $e^{2\alpha }$ in the action and break this scale invariance.

For the Noether current, use the variation at the same coordinate, rather than comparing values at different coordinates:At $m=0$, the corresponding Lagrangian density variation is ${\delta }_0\mathcal{L}=-\alpha (4+x\cdot \partial )\mathcal{L}=-\alpha {\partial }_{\mu }(x^{\mu }\mathcal{L})$. Thus $J_0^{\mu }=-x^{\mu }\mathcal{L}$, and the stated Noether current convention givesThe frequently used dilatation current $D^{\mu }=x_{\nu }{T}^{\mu \nu }+\varphi {\partial }^{\mu }\varphi$ is $-j^{\mu }$; this is solely an overall parameter convention. In the convention $D^{\mu }=x_{\nu }{T}^{\mu \nu }-V^{\mu }$, the virial current is $V^{\mu }=-\varphi {\partial }^{\mu }\varphi$.

Using solution and the trace computed in solution gives the useful identityIt follows that $\boxed{{\partial }_{\mu }{j}^{\mu }=0}$ in the massless theory on shell. Equivalently, $x_{\nu }{\Omega }^{\mu \nu }$ is a conserved current, since its divergence is the trace of the improved stress-energy tensor on shell. These are classical scale invariance statements; the nonzero beta function in solution explains why the interacting quantum theory need not retain them.