Chapter 3

Symmetric Stress-Energy Tensor

We noticed that Noether’s conserved currents are arbitrary up to the addition of a

divergence-less field. Exploiting this freedom the canonical stress-energy tensor Θ µν can

be modified to a new tensor T µν such that ∂ µ T µν = 0 and òd

n
x T 0ν = òd
n
x Θ 0ν
Mn Mn

(here M n denotes the spatial sub-manifold of the space-time M ). The second condition

guarantees that the new tensor T µν defines the same physical observable (namely,

energy-momentum of the field). From Green’s theorem, such a modification of Θ µν

require the existence of an anti-symmetric Belinfante [1] tensor field B αµν ( x ) such that

T µν = Θ µν + ∂ α B αµν , B αµν = − B µαν (3.1)

In this chapter we will discuss a necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a

Belinfante tensor such that T µν is symmetric. Our main goal here is to introduce

notations, and to summarize the results necessary to make the thesis self-contained.

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3.1 Necessary and Sufficient Conditions

Theorem: The anti-symmetric part of the conserved canonical stress-energy tensor is a

total divergence, if and only if there exists a symmetric stress-energy tensor [1]. ■

Proof of Sufficiency: Suppose

Θ µν − Θ νµ = −∂ α H αµν (3.2)

By definition, H αµν = − H ανµ . Choose

1 αµν
B αµν =
2
(H + H µνα − H ναµ ) (3.3)

This tensor have the right anti-symmetry B αµν = − B µαν , and also

B αµν − B ανµ = H αµν (3.4)

Applying eqns. (3.2) and (3.4) in the definition (3.1), we find

( )
T µν − T νµ = Θ µν − Θ νµ + ∂ α ( B αµν − B ανµ ) = 0 (3.5)

Hence given H αµν one can explicitly construct a Belinfante tensor B αµν such that

T µν = Θ µν + ∂ α B αµν is symmetric. ■

16
Proof of Necessity: This is in fact trivial. If there exists a symmetric T µν then from

( )
definition (3.1), Θ µν − Θ νµ = −∂ α ( B αµν − B ανµ ) , a total divergence. ■

3.2 Construction of Belinfante Tensor

From eqn. (2.19) on angular momentum conservation we have seen that a necessary

condition for a translation invariant theory be Lorentz invariant is

( )
Θ µν − Θ νµ = −∂ α Π α Σ µν ϕ , a total divergence. Therefore as a consequence of eqn. (3.3)

a full Poincaré invariant field theory always have the following Belinfante tensor which

makes T µν = Θ µν + ∂ α B αµν a symmetric stress-energy tensor

1 α µν
B αµν =
2
(
Π Σ + Π µ Σ να − Π ν Σ αµ ϕ ) (3.6)

It is important to note that, in general, the choice of symmetric stress-energy tensors

is not unique. This will be our key to the analysis in chapter 5 to construct an improved

tensor, if exists, for the scale invariant field theories.

There is an alternative definition of symmetric stress-energy tensor in general

relativity [35]. The functional derivative of the action minimally generalized to a metric

compatible Riemannian manifold MR through the correspondence relations

(η µν → g µν (x ),∂ µ → ∇ µ ,∇ µ g αβ = 0, d d x → d d x g ) is defined as a symmetric stress-

energy tensor in general relativity. We will show in appendix A that these two symmetric

stress-energy tensors are identical in flat space-time [32-34]

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 2 δS
µν
= Tµν (3.7)
g δg
gαβ ( x )=ηαβ

We wish to express the angular momentum in terms of symmetric stress-energy

tensor. Substituting Θ µν = T µν − ∂ α B αµν in eqn. (2.18), we find

x λ T µρ − x ρ T µλ = M µλρ + ∂ α F αµλρ (3.8)

(
where F αµλρ = x λ B αµρ − x ρ B αµλ ) is anti-symmetric in (α , µ ) and in ( λ , ρ ) . Dropping

this anti-symmetric divergence, we obtain the conventional angular momentum tensor

J µλρ = x λ T µρ − x ρ T µλ (3.9)

It defines the same Lorentz generators as M µλρ . Due to the symmetry of T µν , the

conservation law ∂ µ J µλρ = 0 is now an identity.

It is important to note that T µν and hence J µλρ are gauge independent. The action is

invariant under a gauge transformation of the Lagrangian ( x ) → ′( x ) = ( x ) + ∂ µ Z µ ( x )

such that Z µ ( x ) ∂Λ = 0 . The canonical stress-energy tensor transforms as

( )
Θ µν → Θ ′ µν = Θ µν + ∂ ν Z µ − η µν ∂ α Z α . Treating Z µ ( x ) as an independent vector field

in the Lagrangian, one finds from eqns. (2.15b) and (3.6) that

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 (
B αµν → B ′ αµν = B αµν − η αν Z µ − η µν Z α ) which clearly shows the gauge independence

of T µν , namely T ′ µν = Θ ′ µν + ∂ α B ′ αµν = Θ µν + ∂ α B αµν = T µν .

3.3 Some Examples

We can now apply the definition (3.6) of Belinfante tensor with the spin-matrices

(2.15a,b) and (2.16a,b,c) to construct the symmetric stress-energy tensor for real scalar,

vector, and Dirac bi-spinor fields.

3.3.1 Real Scalar Field

Scalar fields are spinless: Σ µν = 0 Þ T µν = Θ µν and J µλρ = M µλρ . These results also

follow from a direct calculation using the standard Lagrangian

1
= ∂ µ ϕ∂ µ ϕ − V (ϕ ) (3.10)
2

Explicit calculation shows

T µν = Θ µν = ∂ µ ϕ ∂ ν ϕ − η µν (3.11a)

( ) (
J µλρ = M µλρ = ∂ µ ϕ x λ ∂ ρ ϕ − x ρ ∂ λ ϕ + η µλ x ρ − η µρ x λ ) (3.11b)

It is important to note that the trace of T µν is

æ dö
T µ µ = ç 1 − ÷ ∂ µ ϕ ∂ µ ϕ + dV (ϕ ) (3.12)
è 2ø
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Notice that, if V (ϕ ) = 0 , then the trace vanishes identically in d = 2 . This is a

consequence of general conformal invariance.

3.3.2 Vector Field

The Lagrangian for a massive free U (1) vector field is

1 m2
=− Fαβ F αβ + Aα A α (3.13a)
16π 8π

Fαβ = ∂ α Aβ − ∂ β Aα (3.13b)

If m ≠ 0 the gauge freedom does not exist and the Lorentz gauge condition ∂ α Aα = 0 is

an ad-hoc constraint on the vector field A µ ( x ) due to the equation of motion

∂ α F αβ + m2 A β = 0 . The canonical stress-energy tensor is

1 µ ν λ
Θ µν = − F λ ∂ A − η µν (3.14)
4π

From the spin-matrices (2.15b), we find the Belinfante tensor for the vector field as:

1 αµ ν
B αµν = − F A . Applying the equation of motion, one finds the well-known
4π

symmetric stress-energy tensor

1 æ µ λν 1 µν αβ ö m2 æ µ ν 1 µν αö
T µν = ç F λ F + η Fαβ F ÷ + ç A A − η Aα A ÷ (3.15)
4π è 4 ø 4π è 2 ø

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Notice that the trace of T µν is

1 æd ö m2 æ dö
Tµµ = ç − 1÷ F F αβ
+ ç 1 − ÷ Aα A
α
(3.16)
4π è 4 ø αβ 4π è 2 ø

If m = 0 ( U (1) gauge theory of photons), the trace of the symmetric stress-energy tensor

identically vanishes in d = 4 . This is again a consequence of general conformal

invariance.

3.3.3 Dirac Bi-Spinor Field

A real scalar Lagrangian for the free Dirac field is

r s
1
2
( 1
)
= ψ iγ µ ∂ µ − m ψ − ψ iγ µ ∂ µ + m ψ
2
( ) (3.17)

The arrow on top of the differential operator denotes its direction of operation. The

canonical stress-energy tensor is

r s
i
(
Θ µν = ψ γ µ ∂ ν − γ µ ∂ ν ψ
2
) (3.18)

Recalling the spin-matrices (2.16a,b,c), we obtain the Belinfante tensor

1
8
([
B αµν = ψ γ α , σ µν ] + [γ
+
µ
, σ να ] − [γ
+
ν
, σ αµ ] )ψ .
+
This expression can be further

21
simplified by using the Clifford algebra of Dirac matrices γ µ , γ ν [ ] +
= 2η µν and the

[
identity A, [ B, C ] − ] − [ B,[C, A] ] = [[ A, B] , C]
+ − + + −

1
B αµν = ψ γ α , σ µν ψ
8 +
[ ] (3.19)

Using the commutation relation γ α , σ µν [ ] −

(
= 2i η αµ γ ν − η αν γ µ ) and then applying the

r s
( ) (
equations of motion iγ µ ∂ µ − m ψ = 0 = ψ iγ µ ∂ µ + m , we obtain the symmetric stress- )
energy tensor for Dirac bi-spinor field

r r s s
i
(
T µν = ψ γ µ ∂ ν + γ ν ∂ µ − γ µ ∂ ν − γ ν ∂ µ ψ
4
) (3.20)

Straightforward calculation yields the angular momentum tensor as

r r s s
i
2
(
J µλρ = ψ γ µ ∂ [ ρ x λ ] + γ [ ρ ∂ µ x λ ] + x [ ρ ∂ µ γ λ ] + x [ ρ γ µ
)
∂ λ] ψ (3.21)

Here we have used the notation: Q

[α µ β ] def 1
=
2
(Q αµβ
)
− Q βµα . The trace of T µν is

T µ µ = mψψ (3.22)

If m = 0 , then it is traceless for all space-time dimensions. Massless Dirac field is

general-conformal invariant in all space-time dimensions.

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