Stress-tensor trace anomaly in a gravitational metric: Scalar fields

Journal Article · Tue Mar 15 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Phys. Rev., D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.15.1469· OSTI ID:7308982

Brown, L S

We compute the stress-tensor vacuum expectation value of a massive, scalar quantum field that is coupled to the metric of an arbitrary classical gravitational field. The renormalized tensor is defined by a dimensionally continued, proper-time representation. The stress tensor is calculated for arbitrary dimension in a potentially conformal-invariant manner so that its trace is formally proportional to the square of the scalar-field mass with this trace vanishing as the scalar field becomes massless. However, the renormalized stress tensor violates this formal identity with its trace containing additional, anomalous terms. These finite-trace anomalies are intimately related to the infinite counterterms that must be put into the action to make the stress tensor finite.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
• OSTI ID: 7308982
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev., D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev., D; (United States) Vol. 15:6; ISSN PRVDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645400* -- High Energy Physics-- Field Theory
657003 -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Relativity & Gravitation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ENERGY-MOMENTUM TENSOR
FIELD THEORIES
FUNCTIONS
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
GREEN FUNCTION
METRICS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
RENORMALIZATION
SCALAR FIELDS
SPACE-TIME
TENSORS
VACUUM STATES