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Where was the symmetry?


Genady

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Here are steps of derivation of energy-momentum conservation:

Consider a shift of the field ϕ by a constant 4-vector ξ :

(1) ϕ(x)ϕ(x+ξ)=ϕ(x)+ξννϕ(x)+...

The infinitesimal transformation makes

(2) δϕδξν=νϕ

and

(3) δLδξν=νL

Using the E-L equations, the variation of Lagrangian is

(4) δL[ϕ,μϕ]ξν=μ(L(μϕ)δϕδξν)

Using (2) and (3),

(5) νL=μ(L(μϕ)νϕ)

or equivalently

(6) μ(L(μϕ)νϕgμνL)=0

The conclusion is, "The four symmetries have produced four Noether currents, one for each ν :

(7) Tμν=L(μϕ)νϕgμνL

all of which are conserved: μTμν=0 ."

My question:

where in this derivation the assumption was used that the transformation is a symmetry?

P.S. I am sorry that LaTex is so buggy here. I don't have a willing power to do this again. Ignore. Bye. 

Edited by Genady
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I think, I got it.

The symmetry validates the equation (3), because this equation makes the variation of Lagrangian a total derivative, and this makes the variation of action vanish:

image.png.34a61fdbbe3cea3db786d2c9f6cafe89.png 

IOW, without the symmetry, we can't go from (4) to (5).

Edited by Genady
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1 hour ago, Genady said:

I think, I got it.

The symmetry validates the equation (3), because this equation makes the variation of Lagrangian a total derivative, and this makes the variation of action vanish:

image.png.34a61fdbbe3cea3db786d2c9f6cafe89.png 

IOW, without the symmetry, we can't go from (4) to (5).

Exactly! In fact, that's how you define a symmetry in the action, as a total divergence does not change the "surface" (hypersurface) terms t=t1 and t=t2.

You must apply Stoke's theorem first. Perhaps you did, but I didn't have time to check.

It is amazing that you're doing this stuff at this point in your life.

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