NATURAL SCIENCES TRIPOS: Part III Physics

MASTER OF ADVANCED STUDY IN PHYSICS

Wednesday 15 January 2014

12.00 to 14.00

MAJOR TOPICS
Paper 160 (Quantum Condensed Matter Field Theory)

Answer two questions only. The approximate number of marks allocated to

each part of a question is indicated in the right-hand margin where
appropriate. The paper contains 3 sides including this one and is
accompanied by a book giving values of constants and containing
mathematical formulae which you may quote without proof.
You should use a separate Answer Book for each question.
STATIONERY REQUIREMENTS
2 20-page answer books
Rough workpad

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Mathematical formulae handbook
Approved calculator allowed

You may not start to read the questions

printed on the subsequent pages of this
question paper until instructed that you
may do so by the Invigilator.

Show that the Holstein-Primakoff transformation (h = 1),

!1/2
a a
z

+
1/2

S = S a a,
S = (2S )
1
a,
2S

where operators a and a obey bosonic commutation relations, is consistent with the
quantum spin algebra, [S + , S ] = 2S z , for spin S .

[4]

The Hamiltonian of the quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnetic spin chain is given by

H = J

N
X

S m S m+1 ,

S m S N+m ,

m=1

where J > 0, and the sum runs over the N sites of a one-dimensional lattice, where N is
even.
(a) Comment on the degeneracy of the classical ground state. Explain why the
quantum ground states are characterised by zero-point fluctuations.
(b) In the spin-wave approximation, show that the Hamiltonian can be
reexpressed in terms of Bose operators, ak and ak , in the form
X
 1 k ! ak !

+ O(S 0 ) .
H = JNS (S + 1) + JS
ak ak
k 1
ak

[2]
[8]

Your answer should define the range of the sum on k and the parameters k .
(c) With the Bogoliubov transformation,
!
!
!
k
ak
cosh k sinh k
=
sinh k cosh k
k
ak
show that the Bose commutation relations of the operators are conserved.

[2]

(d) Making use of this transformation, show that the Hamiltonian can be brought
to diagonal form,
X
H = JNS (S + 1) +
k (k k + 1/2) + O(S 0 ) .
k

Sketch the form of the dispersion k , and comment on its dependence on k at

small k.

[8]

(e) Considering the sublattice magnetization,

hg.s.|

N
X

(1)m S mz |g.s.i ,

m=1

comment on the effect of zero-point fluctuations on the magnetic order of the

ground state, |g.s.i. How does your conclusion generalise in higher space
dimension?

[6]

2
Explain the connection between the quantum partition function, Z = tr eH , and

the Euclidean time path integral formulation of the Feynman propagator, hqF |eiHt/h
|qI i.
(a) By evaluating the Euclidean time path integral for the quantum harmonic
p 2 1
+ m2 q2 , where p = ihq , show that
oscillator, H =
2m 2
!1/2
"
#
Z
m
mq2
Z=
dq
exp
tanh(h/2) .
2h sinh(h)
h

In evaluating the path integral, the following identities may be useful,

"
#
!1/2
"
 x 2 #1

Y
x
p 2
m

=
,
hq| exp
|qi =
.
1+

2
n
sinh
x
2m
2h

n=1

[6]

[10]

1
.
2 sinh(h/2)
(c) In the coherent state formulation, show that the quantum partition function for
the harmonic oscillator can be written in the form

(b) Using this result, show that Z =

Z=

[4]
[5]

#
" Z
D() exp
d ( + h) .
0

What are the boundary conditions on the complex field ()?

(d) Evaluate the coherent state path integral and show that the result is consistent
with the expression for Z derived in (b).
3

[5]

Write detailed notes on one of the following topics:

(a) the theory of quantum tunnelling using the Feynman path integral formalism;

[30]

(b) coherent states and the formulation of the many-body path integral;

[30]

(c) the field theory of the weakly interacting Bose gas and superfluidity.

[30]

END OF PAPER