Constructing Quantum Soliton States Despite Zero Modes

Abstract

In classical Lorentz-invariant field theories, localized soliton solutions necessarily break translation symmetry. In the corresponding quantum field theories, the position is quantized and, if the theory is not compactified, they have continuous spectra. It has long been appreciated that ordinary perturbation theory is not applicable to continuum states. Here we argue that, as the Hamiltonian and momentum operators commute, the soliton ground state can nonetheless be found in perturbation theory if one first imposes that the total momentum vanishes. As an illustration, we find the subleading quantum correction to the ground state of the Sine-Gordon soliton.