Scalar fields should have no spin angular momentum according to conventional textbook understandings inclassical field theory.Yet,recent studies demonstrate the undoubted existence of wave spin endowed by acousticand ...Scalar fields should have no spin angular momentum according to conventional textbook understandings inclassical field theory.Yet,recent studies demonstrate the undoubted existence of wave spin endowed by acousticand elastic longitudinal waves,which are of irrotational curl-free nature without vorticity and can be describedby scalar fields.Moreover,the conventional theory cannot even answer the question of whether wave spin existsin dissipative fields,given the ubiquitous dissipation in reality.Here,to resolve the seeming paradox and answerthe challenging question,we uncover the origin of wave spin in scalar fields beyond traditional formalism byclarifying that the presence of higher-order derivatives in scalar field Lagrangians can give rise to non-vanishingwave spin.For“spinless”scalar fields of only first-order derivatives,we can make the hidden wave spin emergeby revealing a latent field that leads to the original field through a time derivative,thus giving higher-order termsin Lagrangian.Based on the standard Noether theorem approach,we exemplify the wave spin for unconventionaldrifted acoustic fields,and even for dissipative media,in scalar fields with higher-order derivative Lagrangian.The results would prompt people to build more comprehensive and fundamental understandings of structuralwave spin in classical fields.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant Nos.2022YFA1404400 and 2023YFA1406900)the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai(Grant No.23ZR1481200)the Program of Shanghai Academic Research Leader(Grant No.23XD1423800)。
文摘Scalar fields should have no spin angular momentum according to conventional textbook understandings inclassical field theory.Yet,recent studies demonstrate the undoubted existence of wave spin endowed by acousticand elastic longitudinal waves,which are of irrotational curl-free nature without vorticity and can be describedby scalar fields.Moreover,the conventional theory cannot even answer the question of whether wave spin existsin dissipative fields,given the ubiquitous dissipation in reality.Here,to resolve the seeming paradox and answerthe challenging question,we uncover the origin of wave spin in scalar fields beyond traditional formalism byclarifying that the presence of higher-order derivatives in scalar field Lagrangians can give rise to non-vanishingwave spin.For“spinless”scalar fields of only first-order derivatives,we can make the hidden wave spin emergeby revealing a latent field that leads to the original field through a time derivative,thus giving higher-order termsin Lagrangian.Based on the standard Noether theorem approach,we exemplify the wave spin for unconventionaldrifted acoustic fields,and even for dissipative media,in scalar fields with higher-order derivative Lagrangian.The results would prompt people to build more comprehensive and fundamental understandings of structuralwave spin in classical fields.
