Expanding the Hamiltonian about a static classical solution removes the linear term by its Euler-Lagrange field equation. For a canonical real scalar field with potential , the quadratic fluctuation operator is . Positive-frequency normal modes become quantum harmonic oscillators under canonical quantization, yielding the Gaussian contribution to a one-loop soliton mass correction. A negative eigenvalue signals an instability, while a physical zero mode in field theory must be replaced by a collective coordinate.
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