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jak
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The Hamiltonian operator in quantum field theory is constructed by using the fields in question. For example, the Hamiltonian for a free scalar field reads \begin{equation} \notag H = \frac{1}{2} \int_V d^3x \left( \pi^2 + ( \partial_i \phi )^2 + m^2 \phi^2 \right) \, . \end{equation} The key observation is now that a given field evaluated at different times does not commute with itself $$ [\phi(t',\vec x) , \phi (t,\vec x)] \neq 0 \, . $$ Therefore, the Hamiltonian evaluated at two different instants of time does not commute: $$[H_i(t) , H_i(t')] \neq 0 . $$

(The field commutator only vanishes for spacelike separations but not for timelike separations. See, for example, page 37 in Tong's notes.)

The Hamiltonian operator in quantum field theory is constructed by using the fields in question. For example, the Hamiltonian for a free scalar field reads \begin{equation} \notag H = \frac{1}{2} \int_V d^3x \left( \pi^2 + ( \partial_i \phi )^2 + m^2 \phi^2 \right) \, . \end{equation} The key observation is now that a given field evaluated at different times does not commute with itself $$ [\phi(t',\vec x) , \phi (t,\vec x)] \neq 0 \, . $$ Therefore, the Hamiltonian evaluated at two different instants of time does not commute: $$[H_i(t) , H_i(t')] \neq 0 . $$

The Hamiltonian operator in quantum field theory is constructed by using the fields in question. For example, the Hamiltonian for a free scalar field reads \begin{equation} \notag H = \frac{1}{2} \int_V d^3x \left( \pi^2 + ( \partial_i \phi )^2 + m^2 \phi^2 \right) \, . \end{equation} The key observation is now that a given field evaluated at different times does not commute with itself $$ [\phi(t',\vec x) , \phi (t,\vec x)] \neq 0 \, . $$ Therefore, the Hamiltonian evaluated at two different instants of time does not commute: $$[H_i(t) , H_i(t')] \neq 0 . $$

(The field commutator only vanishes for spacelike separations but not for timelike separations. See, for example, page 37 in Tong's notes.)

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jak
  • 10.3k
  • 4
  • 38
  • 114

The Hamiltonian operator in quantum field theory is constructed by using the fields in question. For example, the Hamiltonian for a free scalar field reads \begin{equation} \notag H = \frac{1}{2} \int_V d^3x \left( \pi^2 + ( \partial_i \phi )^2 + m^2 \phi^2 \right) \, . \end{equation} The key observation is now that a given field evaluated at different times does not commute with itself $$ [\phi(t',\vec x) , \phi (t,\vec x)] \neq 0 \, . $$ Therefore, the Hamiltonian evaluated at two different instants of time does not commute: $$[H_i(t) , H_i(t')] \neq 0 . $$