zero mode

{{short description |Eigenvector with vanishing eigenvalue}}

{{Use British English |date=February 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates |date=February 2024}}

{{More citations needed |date=February 2024}}

In physics, a zero mode is an eigenvector with a vanishing eigenvalue.{{cite book |last=Vaughn |first=Michael T.

|title=Introduction to Mathematical Physics |location=Germany |publisher=Wiley |year=2008 |page=81 |isbn=9783527618859 |doi=10.1002/9783527618859 }}

In various subfields of physics zero modes appear whenever a physical system possesses a certain symmetry. For example, normal modes of multidimensional harmonic oscillator (e.g. a system of beads arranged around the circle, connected with springs) corresponds to elementary vibrational modes of the system. In such a system zero modes typically occur and are related with a rigid rotation around the circle.

The kernel of an operator consists of left zero modes, and the cokernel consists of the right zero modes.