English

Does a functional integral really need a Lagrangian?

Quantum Physics 2010-12-09 v2 High Energy Physics - Theory Mathematical Physics math.MP

Abstract

Path integral formulation of quantum mechanics (and also other equivalent formulations) depends on a Lagrangian and/or Hamiltonian function that is chosen to describe the underlying classical system. The arbitrariness presented in this choice leads to a phenomenon called Quantization ambiguity. For example both L1=q˙2L_1=\dot{q}^2 and L_2=e^\dot{q} are suitable Lagrangians on a classical level (δL1=0=δL2\delta L_1=0=\delta L_2), but quantum mechanically they are diverse. This paper presents a simple rearrangement of the path integral to a surface functional integral. It is shown that the surface functional integral formulation gives transition probability amplitude which is free of any Lagrangian/Hamiltonian and requires just the underlying classical equations of motion. A simple example examining the functionality of the proposed method is considered.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0812.0678,
  title  = {Does a functional integral really need a Lagrangian?},
  author = {Denis Kochan},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0812.0678},
  year   = {2010}
}

Comments

4 pages, published version, references added, comments are welcome

R2 v1 2026-06-21T11:47:52.215Z