Assignment-3 PHY 421

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1. Draw the Feynman diagrams for the following leptonic/hadronic processes in all possible
channel(s). Which channel dominates?
(a) νµ + ν̄µ → e+ +e− . Here νµ corresponds to muon-neutrino and ν̄µ is its anti-particle.
(b) Σ− → n + e− + ν̄e . The quark constituent of Σ− is (dds) and neutron(n) is (udd).
(c) Σ∗− → Σ− + νe + ν̄e . Both Σ∗− and Σ− have the quark constituent (dds).

2. Consider the decay (b) in the previous question. If the anti-neutrino (ν̄e ) is allowed to
propagate freely for a sufficient time and is made to interact with a source of protons.
Assuming that the neutrinos have mass, what kind of charged particles will be detected
as a result of the scattering process?

3. Consider the process where one particle decays to two particles A → B + C. Find the
energy of B in the rest frame of A. Express your answer in terms of the rest masses of
A, B and C.

4. Consider the process A → B + C + D. In the rest frame of A, what is the maximum

energy with which B can come out?

5. Consider elastic scattering A + B → A + B in the Lab frame of B (i.e B is at rest).

mA
Assume λ ≡ m B
<< 1 and the momentum of the incoming “A” is of the same order as
PA
its rest mass i.e m A
∼ O(1). Show that the momentum of the outgoing A (|P~C |) and
the energy of the outgoing B (ED ) are given as (up to first order in λ):
 v  
u !2
u |P~A |
 
θ 
|P~C | = |P~A | 1 − 2λ t + 1 sin2
 
mA 2


 !2 
|P~A |
 
θ 
ED = mB 1 + 2λ2 sin2
mA 2

Here θ is the scattering angle i.e the angle with which the particle A gets scattered.

6. Consider Compton scattering γ + e− → γ + e− in the lab frame where the incoming

electron is at rest. Find the energy of the outgoing photon EC and the energy of the
outgoing electron ED as a function of the incident energy of the photon EA , rest mass
of the electron me and the scattering angle θ (angle between the emergent photon and
the incident photon). Now consider the limit where the mass of the electron is very
small compared with the incident energy of the photon i.e λ ≡ EmAe << 1. Express your
answers for EC and ED to first order in λ.

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7. Let us consider the production of a strange Baryon Σ0 in a proton collider. I propose

two different ways by which a Σ0 can be produced in a proton collider

p+ + p+ → Σ 0 + p+ + π +
p+ + p+ → Σ 0 + p+ + K +

(a) Which of the above processes is dynamically more likely and why? The quark
constitution of p+ is uud, Σ0 is uds, π + is ud¯ and K + is us̄.
(b) For each of the processes, find the minimum energy required in the CM frame and
the Lab frame (in which one of the protons is at rest) for the reaction to happen.
The rest mass of p+ , Σ0 , π + and K + are 938.27 MeV, 1192.64 MeV, 139.57 MeV
and 493.68 MeV respectively.

8. The probability current 4-vector for a Klein-Gordon wave function is given as Jµ =

←→
iψ ∗ ∂ µ ψ. Show that the current 4-vector is conserved ∂µ J µ = 0 as a consequence of the
Klein-Gordon equation (∂ 2 − m2 ) ψ = 0.

9. Define γ5 = 24i µνρσ γ µ γ ν γ ρ γ σ , where µνρσ is the totally antisymmetric Levi Civita symbol
with 0123 = 1. Show the following.
(a) γ5† = γ5 , (γ 5 )2 = 1
(b) {γ5 , γ µ } = 0.
(c) T r(γ5 ) = T r(γ5 γ µ ) = 0.
(d) − 2i µνρσ γ ρσ γ5 = γµν . Where γ µν = 12 [γ µ , γ ν ]. Raising and lowering of indices are
done by the metric ηµν . Use the following identity for the product of the Levi Civita
symbol.
 
ηµα ηµβ ηµγ ηµδ 
 
ηνα ηνβ ηνγ ηνδ 
µνρσ αβγδ = − 
 
 ηρα η ρβ η ργ ηρδ


ησα ησβ ησγ ησδ 

(e) Using Clifford algebra and definition of γ µν , show the commutation relation [γ µν , γ ρ ] =
−4η ρ[µ γ ν] . The anti-symmetric brackets used here is defined with a unit weight.
(f) Use the above results and [γ µν , γ ρ ] = −4η ρ[µ γ ν] , to show that {γ µν , γ ρ } = 2iµνρσ γ5 γσ .
(g) Show the following:

[γµν , γρσ ] = −2 [ηµρ γνσ − ηµσ γνρ − ηνρ γµσ + ηνσ γµρ ]
{γµν , γρσ } = −4ηµ[ρ ησ]ν + 2iµνρσ γ5

10. Trace Properties of Gamma Matrices

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(a) Show T r(γ µ γ ν ) = 4η µν , T r(γ µ γ ν γ ρ γ σ ) = 4 (η µν η ρσ − η µρ η νσ + η µσ η νρ ).

(b) Show T r(γ µ γ ν γ ρ ) = 0. [Hint: Use the anti-commutation relation {γ µν , γ ρ } derived
above].
(c) Show that trace of any odd number of gamma matrices is zero i.e T r(γ µ1 γ µ2 · · · γ µ2n+1 ) =
0. [Hint: Use principle of mathematical induction]
0
11. The generators of Lorentz transformation on the Dirac Spinor (defined as δψ ≡ ψ (x) −
ψ(x) = 2i λµν Lµν ψ(x)) is given as Lµν = 2ix[ν ∂µ] − 2i γµν . Show that the generators satisfy
the Lorentz algebra:

[Lµν , Lρσ ] = i [ηµρ Lνσ − ηµσ Lνρ − ηνρ Lµσ + ηνσ Lµρ ]

12. Define the angular momentum generators, from the spatial components of the Lorentz
generators, as Ji = 12 ijk Ljk . Show that the generators satisfy the SU(2) algebra
[Ji , Jj ] = iijk Jk . We have seen in the class that the total angular momentum gen-
erator decomposes into an orbital part Li = −iijk xj ∂k and a spin part defined as
Σi = − 4i ijk γjk . Using the Dirac as well as Weyl representations of the gamma-matrices,
show that the spin-angular momentum takes the form:
 
k 1 σk 0
Σ =
2 0 σk


13. Consider the positive energy solutions of Dirac equation ∂/ + m ψ = 0, given as ψ(x) =
mx
U (p)eip  µ
. Letus write the four components U(p) in terms of two component blocks
U1 (p)
U (p) = . The Dirac equation gives the relation between the two component
U2 (p)
blocks as:
~σ · p~
U1 (p) = U2 (p)
E+m
(1) (2)
Find appropriate basis U2 (p) and U2 (p) for a generic choice of momentum p~ so that
µ µ
ψ (1) = U (1) (p)eip xµ and ψ (2) = U (2) (p)eip xµ becomes helicity eigenstates with eigenvalue
+1/2 and −1/2 respectively i.e

~ · p~ ψ (1) = 1 ψ (1)
 
Σ
2
  1
~ · p~ ψ (2) = − ψ (2)
Σ
2

14. Dirac conjugate is defined as ψ̄ = iψ † γ 0 .

←−
(a) Show that the Dirac conjugate satisfies the equation ψ̄( ∂/ − m) = 0.

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0 0
(b) Show that, under Lorentz transformation, the Dirac conjugate transforms as ψ̄ (x ) =
ψ̄(x)S −1 , where S is the matrix by which the Dirac Spinor ψ transforms under
0 0
Lorentz transformation (ψ (x ) = Sψ(x)) and satisfies (S −1 γ µ S)(Λ−1 )ν µ = γ ν .
(c) Show:
(a) The quantity ψ̄ψ transforms like a Lorentz scalar.
(b) The quantity ψ̄γ µ ψ transforms like a contravariant vector under Lorentz trans-
formation.
(c) The quantity ψ̄γ µν ψ transforms like an anti-symmetric tensor of rank (2,0)
under Lorentz transformation.
(d) Define probability current 4-vector for Dirac spinor as J µ = iψ̄γ µ ψ. Show that J µ
is real as well as conserved ∂µ J µ = 0.
0 0
15. A covariant vector Vµ transforms under Lorentz transformation as Vµ (x ) = Vν (x)Λ−1ν µ .
Find the representation of Lorentz generators Mµν on the space of covariant vectors
which are defined via the infinitesimal Lorentz transformation δVµ = 2i λρσ (Mρσ )µ ν Vν .
Show that the generators Mµν satisfy the same algebra as Lµν in question (12).
16. Define the angular momentum generators on the space of covariant vectors by taking the
spatial component of the Lorentz generators above i.e Ji = 12 ijk Mjk . Show that they
satisfy the SU(2) algebra [Ji , Jj ] = iijk Jk .
17. Decompose the angular momentum generators Ji defined above into its orbital and spin
part Ji = Li + Σi , where Li = −iijk xj ∂k is the orbital angular momentum generator
and the remaining is the spin angular momentum generator. Write down the explicit
form of the spin angular momentum generator Σi on the space of covariant vectors.
18. Recall that when we are in a frame, where the coordinate axes are aligned so that z-
axis coincides with the direction of the momentum and the residual gauge condition is
A0 = 0, then the two independent polarization-4 vectors for an electromagnetic wave
takes the following form:
   
0 0
1
0
 
(1) = 
0 , (2)
= 1
0 0
~ · p̂ = Σ3 .
Define (±) ≡ (1) ± i(2) . Show that (±) are eigenstates of helicity operator Σ
What are their eigenvalues?
19. The Lagrangian density of a Dirac field interacting with an electromagnetic field is given
as:
1
L = − Fµν F µν + ψ̄ ∂/ψ + mψ̄ψ + iqge ψ̄ Aψ
/
4

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Write down the interacting Maxwell’s and Dirac equations of motion.

20. Consider a Klein Gordon scalar field φ whose free action is given as:
Z
∂µ φ∗ ∂ µ φ + m2 φ∗ φ d4 x
 
SKG =

The field φ is charged with charge “q” i.e it transforms under the U(1) gauge trans-
formation as φ0 (x) = e−iqge λ φ. Find the interaction terms between the scalar field φ
and electromagnetic field Aµ . Write down the interacting Maxwell’s equation and Klein
Gordon equation.
21. 2+1 dimensional electrodynamics:
Consider the following action for 2+1 dimensional electrodynamics:
Z
S = d3 x [κµνρ Aµ Fνρ + Fµν F µν ]

where, κ is a constant and µνρ is a completely anti-symmetric rank-3 tensor with 012 = 1.
Raising and lowering is via the metric η = diag(−1, +1, +1). They satisfy the following
product relation:
 α α α
δµ δν δρ 
αβγ
 
µνρ  = − δµβ δνβ δρβ 
δ γ δ γ δ γ 
µ ν ρ

(a) Show that the above action is Lorentz invariant.

(b) Show that the above action is invariant under the gauge transformations A0µ =
Aµ + ∂µ λ, up to a boundary term.
(c) Find the equations of motion and show that the equations of motion are also gauge
invariant.
(d) Show that in the Lorentz gauge ∂ µ Aµ = 0, the above equations of motion can be
brought into the following form ∂ 2 (∂ 2 − κ2 ) Aµ = 0.
(e) Hence, show that there is one massless mode with p2 = 0 and one massive mode
with p2 = −κ2 . Show that the massless mode is a pure gauge i.e it can be written
as Aµ = ∂µ λ for some λ satisfying ∂ 2 λ = 0.
22. Consider Compton scattering process e− + γ → e− + γ.
(a) Draw all possible Feynman diagrams for the process and appropriately label the
diagrams.
(b) In the class we saw that there are two diagrams. Write the contribution to the
scattering matrix amplitude for both the diagrams. What is the total scattering
matrix amplitude?

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(c) Define the total scattering matrix amplitude as M = µ(r1 ) (p2 )Mµ = µ(r2 ) (p3 )M̃µ ,
where µ(r1 ) (p2 ) is the polarization 4-vector for the incoming photon with helicity
r1 and momentum p2 and µ(r2 ) (p3 ) is the polarization 4-vector for the outgoing
photon with helicity r2 and momentum p3 . Show that pµ2 Mµ = pµ3 M̃µ = 0.
(d) The up-shot of the above analysis is that we can use the completeness relation
P2 (r) (r)
for the polarization vector P of the photon in the form r=1 µ (p)ν (p) = ηµν .
Using this we calculated 14 s1 ,s2 ,r1 ,r2 |M1 |2 and found it to be of O( λ1 ), where
λ≡ m E
<< 1 (m is the P rest mass of 2electron and E is the energy of the incoming
photon). Calculate 4 s1 ,s2 ,r1 ,r2 |M2 | and 2 s1 ,s2 ,r1 ,r2 M∗1 M2 and show that they
1 1
P

are subleading compared to 41 s1 ,s2 ,r1 ,r2 |M1 |2 .

P

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