Zero-Mode Problem on the Light Front

TL;DR

This paper examines the zero-mode problem in light-front quantization, focusing on the trivial vacuum, spontaneous symmetry breaking, and Lorentz invariance, comparing DLCQ with continuum approaches and discussing implications for field theory.

Contribution

It clarifies the zero-mode constraints in DLCQ, demonstrates SSB on a trivial vacuum with explicit symmetry-breaking, and contrasts DLCQ with continuum LF theory regarding vacuum structure.

Findings

DLCQ establishes a trivial vacuum via zero-mode constraints.

Spontaneous symmetry breaking in DLCQ requires explicit NG boson mass.

Continuum LF theory's vacuum collapses due to zero mode behavior.

Abstract

A series of lectures are given to discuss the zero-mode problem on the light-front (LF) quantization with special emphasis on the peculiar realization of the trivial vacuum, the spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) and the Lorentz invariance. We discuss Discrete Light-Cone Quantization (DLCQ) which was first introduced by Maskawa and Yamawaki (MY). Following MY, we present canonical formalism of DLCQ and the zero-mode constraint through which the zero mode can actually be solved away in terms of other modes,thus establishing the trivial vacuum. Due to this trivial vacuum, existence of the massless Nambu-Goldstone (NG) boson coupled to the current is guaranteed by the non-conserved charge such that Q |0> = 0 and dot{Q} ne 0. The SSB (NG phase) in DLCQ can be realized on the trivial vacuum only when an explicit symmetry-breaking mass of the NG boson m_{pi} is introduced so that the NG-boson zero mode integrated over the LF exhibits singular behavior sim 1/m_{pi}^2 in such a way that dot{Q} ne 0 in the symmetric limit m_{pi} -> 0. We also demonstrate this realization more explicitly in the linear sigma model where the role of zero-mode constraint is clarified. We fur ther point out, in disagreement with Wilson et al., that for SSB in the continuum LF theory, the trivial vacuum collapses due to the special nature of the zero mode as the accumulating point P^+ -> 0, in sharp contrast to DLCQ. Finally, we discuss the no-go theorem of Nakanishi and Yamawaki, which forbids exact LF r estriction of the field theory. Thus DLCQ as well as any other regularization on the exact LF has no Lorentz-invariant limit as the theory itself, although the Lorentz-invariant limit can be realized on the c-number quantity like S matrix which has no reference to the fixed LF.