Two observers calculate the trace anomaly

TL;DR

This paper adapts a method to compute the trace anomaly for a massless scalar field in curved 1+1 dimensional spacetime, providing a straightforward derivation of the known result using simple regularization techniques.

Contribution

It introduces a coordinate-independent approach to calculating the trace anomaly, simplifying the derivation process in curved spacetime.

Findings

Reproduces the known trace anomaly result of R/24π

Uses a simple regulator and normal ordering for the calculation

Adapts existing methods to a coordinate-independent framework

Abstract

We adapt a calculation due to Massacand and Schmid to the coordinate independent definition of time and vacuum given by Capri and Roy in order to compute the trace anomaly for a massless scalar field in a curved spacetime in 1+1 dimensions. The computation which requires only a simple regulator and normal ordering yields the well-known result $\frac{R}{24\pi}$ in a straightforward manner.