REVIEW
General coordinate invariance and conformal invariance in nonrelativistic physics: Unitary Fermi gas
Other Condensed Matter · Submitted 29 Sep 2005 · 28 references
Pith's verdict: The paper that turned nonrelativistic general coordinate invariance into a working tool, with a two-constant NLO Lagrangian that has held up; the completeness of the NLO basis is asserted rather than proved, but the obvious counterexample collapses.
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Referee report
The paper
The paper claims
Nonrelativistic physics has a hidden general-coordinate symmetry, and it pins the unitary Fermi gas to three numbers.
The reading
What carries the argument
The load-bearing object is the invariant combination $X = D_t theta - g^{ij} D_i theta D_j theta /(2m)$, built from the gauge-covariant time and space derivatives of the condensate phase. Under general coordinate transformations $X$ transforms as a scalar, so the leading-order Lagrangian must be a function $P(X)$ of it alone; evaluating $P$ at the ground state $theta = mu t$ identifies it with the thermodynamic pressure, which is how Thomas-Fermi theory and superfluid hydrodynamics drop out as special cases. At next-to-leading order the machinery is a relativistic lift: the authors classify the seven relativistic order-$p^2$ scalars built from $nabla_mu partial_nu Theta$, the Ricci tensor and the Ricci scalar, use the field equation and integration by parts to reduce them to four, and take the $c to infinity$ limit to obtain the nonrelativistic basis. Conformal invariance, applied as a reparametrization of time with $delta theta = -beta dot{theta}$, then removes one linear combination because the two terms containing time derivatives of the metric fail to have a definite conformal dimension separately but cancel in the ratio $c_3 = -9 c_2$.
Extended reading notes
Core claim
The authors establish that a nonrelativistic many-body Lagrangian can be coupled to an external $A_0$, $A_i$ and a time-dependent spatial metric $g_{ij}$ so that the action is invariant under a deformed coordinate transformation in which a time-dependent spatial shift $xi^k(t)$ is compensated by a shift of the vector potential proportional to $m g_{ik} dot{xi}^k$. This is a gauge version of translations and Galilean boosts, and it implies that the number current equals the momentum density (up to a factor of $m$) in flat space with $A_i = 0$. Combined with the conformal invariance that becomes exact at infinite scattering length, this fixes the effective Lagrangian of the unitary Fermi gas: at leading order $L = c_0 m^{3/2} X^{5/2}$ with $X = D_t theta - g^{ij}D_i theta D_j theta/(2m)$, and at next-to-leading order only two further dimensionless constants survive, $c_1$ and $c_2$, after conformal invariance imposes $c_3 = -9 c_2$ on the three constants that general coordinate invariance alone would allow. The paper then computes physical consequences: the phonon dispersion with its $q^3$ term, the static density and transverse response functions, a relation tying the dispersion correction to those response functions, and the ground-state energy of a trapped gas through order $N^{2/3}$.
Load-bearing premise
The claim that only two new constants appear at next-to-leading order rests on the assumption that every nonrelativistic term consistent with general coordinate invariance can be reached by taking the nonrelativistic limit of a relativistic term, which the paper asserts rather than proves.
Editorial extensions
If this is right
- Every low-momentum observable of the unitary Fermi gas is determined by three numbers, $c_0$ (equivalently $xi$), $c_1$ and $c_2$, so measuring any three independent quantities fixes the rest.
- The nonlinear $q^3$ term in the phonon dispersion and the $q^2$ corrections to the static density and transverse response functions are tied together by a parameter-free relation, Eq. (8), which can be checked without knowing $c_1$ or $c_2$.
- The trapped-gas energy acquires a calculable $N^{2/3}$ correction proportional to $(c_1 - tfrac{9}{2} c_2)(omega_1^2 + omega_2^2 + omega_3^2)/bar{omega}$, giving a second, independent handle on the same combination of constants.
- The sign of $c_2$ is fixed to be positive by the requirement that the static transverse response function be negative, so the transverse response provides a consistency check rather than a free fit.
- At finite scattering length the conformal symmetry is broken explicitly by a term proportional to $1/a$ with its own coefficient, giving a controlled way to interpolate away from the unitary limit.
Reading between the lines
- If the three-constant description holds, the natural next step is a lattice or quantum Monte Carlo extraction of $c_1$ and $c_2$ from the small-$q$ density and transverse response functions, which would turn the relation in Eq. (8) into a genuine numerical test rather than a consistency condition.
- The same general-coordinate construction should apply to any nonrelativistic superfluid with a known equation of state, so the framework suggests a systematic route to next-to-leading-order hydrodynamics for cold Bose gases and for mixtures, where the paper itself sketches a two-gauge-field extension for a $^4$He-$^3$He-like system.
- The boundary-layer problem noted near the edge of a trapped cloud is a structural warning: higher-order terms in the derivative expansion diverge there, so any precision test of the next-to-leading-order coefficients is best done in a uniform gas rather than in a trap.
- Because the operator basis is obtained by lifting relativistic invariants and then taking $c to infinity$, a purely nonrelativistic invariant with no relativistic ancestor would be an extra, unconstrained term; searching for such a term is the sharpest way to test whether the counting of constants is complete.
Original abstract
We show that the Lagrangian for interacting nonrelativistic particles can be coupled to an external gauge field and metric tensor in a way that exhibits a nonrelativistic version of general coordinate invariance. We explore the consequences of this invariance on the example of the degenerate Fermi gas at infinite scattering length, where conformal invariance also plays an important role. We find the most general effective Lagrangian consistent with both general coordinate and conformal invariance to leading and next-to-leading orders in the momentum expansion. At the leading order the Lagrangian contains one phenomenological constant and reproduces the results of the Thomas-Fermi theory and superfluid hydrodynamics. At the next-to-leading order there are two additional constants. We express various physical quantities through these constants.
The compiled record
The paper's own sentences, arranged, kept beside the review and separate from it. Each label is drawn from a closed vocabulary; the number beside it is the probability the classifier gave that label. Numbers in the tables are the authors', checked by code. No sentence in this record was written by a model.
The abstract, sentence by sentence
We show that the Lagrangian for interacting nonrelativistic particles can be coupled to an external gauge field and metric tensor in a way that exhibits a nonrelativistic version of general coordinate invariance. We explore the consequences of this invariance on the example of the degenerate Fermi gas at infinite scattering length, where conformal invariance also plays an important role. We find the most general effective Lagrangian consistent with both general coordinate and conformal invariance to leading and next-to-leading orders in the momentum expansion. At the leading order the Lagrangian contains one phenomenological constant and reproduces the results of the Thomas-Fermi theory and superfluid hydrodynamics. At the next-to-leading order there are two additional constants. We express various physical quantities through these constants.
background contribution method result interpretation main claim
| # | sentence | role | the authors' own work | states the main conclusion | strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s0 | We show that the Lagrangian for interacting nonrelativistic particles can be coupled to an external gauge field and metric tensor in a way that exhibits a nonrelativistic version of general coordinate invariance. | contribution 0.89 | 0.94 | 0.54 | asserted 1.00 |
| s1 | We explore the consequences of this invariance on the example of the degenerate Fermi gas at infinite scattering length, where conformal invariance also plays an important role. | contribution 0.80 | 0.85 | 0.07 | asserted 0.92 |
| s2 | We find the most general effective Lagrangian consistent with both general coordinate and conformal invariance to leading and next-to-leading orders in the momentum expansion. | contribution 0.65 | 0.96 | 0.36 | asserted 1.00 |
| s3 | At the leading order the Lagrangian contains one phenomenological constant and reproduces the results of the Thomas-Fermi theory and superfluid hydrodynamics. | result 0.99 | 0.84 | 0.18 | asserted 1.00 |
| s4 | At the next-to-leading order there are two additional constants. | result 0.98 | 0.86 | 0.07 | asserted 1.00 |
| s5 | We express various physical quantities through these constants. | contribution 0.53 | 0.92 | 0.12 | asserted 0.99 |
What was examined, and what was not
- arXiv listing abstract v2
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Figures
Figures reproduced from arXiv:cond-mat/0509786 by the authors.
References
How later papers used it
135 later papers cite it
3 later papers by other authors are listed below: 1 built on it and 2 used its method or tool.
Builds on it 1 of 5 papers with this label
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We then went on to build the complete large-charge eft, to be regarded as the extension of the Son & Wingate eft [ref] .
The large-charge expansion in nonrelativistic conformal field theories (2025) · Closing word · 1.00
Uses its method or tool 2 of 6 papers with this label
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Based its procedure on an effective Lagrangian for the Fermi gas in the unitarity limit derived in this paper.
Density Functional Theory for non-relativistic Fermions in the Unitarity Limit (2008) · 0.83 · paraphrased: the licence does not allow quoting
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Used the scattering rates obtained from this paper's EFT Lagrangian to evaluate η via Beliaev 1↔2 processes.
Phonon contribution to the shear viscosity of a superfluid Fermi gas in the unitarity limit (2012) · 0.84 · paraphrased: the licence does not allow quoting
How the literature uses it
100 arXiv papers cite this in 236 sentences
Papers citing it · 175 sentences without a confident label
Contests it 1 paper
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However, non-relativistic spacetimes can not have a preferred vector field and so we must have invariance under a change of choice of \(v^μ\), the so called Milne boosts v^μ↦v^μ+ k^μ where k^μn_μ= 0 In [ref] , Milne boosts were conflated with certain time-dependent spatial diffeomorphisms acting on tensors fields on \(M\), and the tensor fields were assigned anomalous transformation properties under diffeomorphisms to maintain certain invariance properties.
Curved non-relativistic spacetimes, Newtonian gravitation and massive matter · Introduction · contest 0.82
Builds on it 4 papers
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We then went on to build the complete large-charge eft, to be regarded as the extension of the Son & Wingate eft [ref] .
The large-charge expansion in nonrelativistic conformal field theories · Closing word · 1.00
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While a complete description of the crossover is still lacking, the emergent scale invariance at unitarity allows for an eft description of the cold Fermi gas with a large number of trapped particles, as initiated by Son & Wingate [ref] and completed in the present work from a lsm perspective, where the only massless, low-energy degree of freedom $χ$ corresponds to the phase of the condensate.
Operator spectrum of nonrelativistic CFTs at large charge · Introduction · 0.88
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This generalizes the action found in Ref. [ref] to an arbitrary spacetime background, including sources for momentum density and energy density and current.
General coordinate invariance in quantum many-body systems · Superfluid effective theory · 0.99
Uses its method or tool 3 papers
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Our procedure is based on an effective lagrangian for the Fermi gas in the unitarity limit derived in [ref] .
Density Functional Theory for non-relativistic Fermions in the Unitarity Limit · Introduction · 0.83
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For the evaluation of $η$, we consider the Beliaev $1 ↔2$ processes, using for this purpose the scattering rates obtained from the EFT Lagrangian of Ref. [ref] .
Phonon contribution to the shear viscosity of a superfluid Fermi gas in the unitarity limit · Introduction · 0.84
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We here employ the effective field theory based on the symmetries and the systematic derivative expansion following Refs. [ref] .
Hall viscosity in the A-phase of superfluid $^3$He · Introduction · 0.99
Compares with it 4 papers
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It will turn out that the sharp conformal cutoff is equivalent to the “cloud radius" cutoff used in [ref] , but organized in a more manifestly conformal way.
Droplet-Edge Operators in Nonrelativistic Conformal Field Theories · Conformal sharp cutoff in $d=2$ · 0.80
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The opposite sign in front of the $g^μν/2mD_μπD_νπ$ term as compared to Ref. [ref] is just a matter of a sign convention for the field $π$.] [equation] where $P$ defines the thermodynamic pressure of the system at zero temperature as a function of the chemical potential for the U(1) symmetry.
General coordinate invariance in quantum many-body systems · Superfluid effective theory · 0.93
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This is consistent with the analysis in [ref] .
Spontaneous Breaking of Non-Relativistic Scale Symmetry · Spectrum Analysis · 0.89
Cites it as support 1 paper
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As argued in [ref] , the transverse response should be positive to ensure stability with respect to a spontaneous generation of currents or formation of inhomogeneous condensates.
Validating Simple Dynamical Simulations of the Unitary Fermi Gas · Linear Response · 0.98
Cites it as background 41 papers
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At low-energies, the UFG can be characterized by a superfluid EFT describing phonon dynamics [ref] .
The Unitary Fermi Gas in a Harmonic Trap and its Static Response · Introduction · 0.81
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The constraints imposed by Galilean invariance and conformal symmetry on the structure of the Navier-Stokes equation were studied by Son [ref] based on earlier work by Son and Wingate [ref] .
Conformal symmetry and non-relativistic second order fluid dynamics · Navier-Stokes equation · 0.92
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In Sec. [ref] we review the phonon EFT at leading order and next-to-leading order in a derivative expansion [ref] .
Effective field theory and dispersion law of the phonons of a non-relativistic superfluid · Introduction · 0.96
Discussion
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