Physics 513, Quantum Field Theory

Homework 8
Due Tuesday, 11th November 2003
Jacob Lewis Bourjaily

Problem 4.1
We are to consider the problem of the creation of Klein Gordon particles by a classical source. This
process can be described by the Hamiltonian
Z
H = Ho + d3 x − j(x)φ(x),

where Ho is the Klein-Gordon Hamiltonian, φ(x) is the Klein-Gordon filed, and j(x) is a c-number scalar
function. Let us define the number λ by the relation
Z
d3 p 1 ˜
λ= |j (p)|2 .
(2π)3 2Ep
a) We are to show that the probability that the source creates no particles is given by
¯ ½ · Z ¸¾ ¯2
¯ ¯
P (0) = ¯¯h0|T exp i d4 x j(x)φI (x) |0i¯¯ .

Without loss of understanding we will denote φ ≡ φI . Almost entirely trivially, we see that
Z
HI = − d3 x j(x)φ(x).

Therefore,
¯ ½ · Z ¸¾ ¯2
¯ ¯
¯
P (0) = ¯h0|T exp −i dt HI (t ) |0i¯¯ ,
0 0

¯ ½ · Z ¸¾ ¯2
¯ ¯
= ¯¯h0|T exp i d4 x j(x)φ(x) |0i¯¯ .

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óπ²ρ ²́δ²ι δ²ιξαι

b) We are to evaluate the expression for P (0) to the order j 2 and show generally that P (0) =
1 − λ + O(λ2 ).
First, let us only consider the amplitude for the process. We can make the naı̈ve expansion
½ · Z ¸¾ Z
h0|T exp i d x j(x)φ(x) |0i = h0|1|0i + i d4 x j(x)h0|φ(x)|0i − . . . .
4

For every odd power of the expansion, there will be at least one field φIo that cannot be contracted
from normal ordering and therefore will kill the entire term. So only even terms will contribute to
the expansion. It should be clear that the amplitude will be of the form ∼ 1−O(j 2 )+O(j 4 )−. . ..
Let us look at the O(j 2 ) term. That term is given by
( µZ ¶2 ) Z
4 1
h0|T −½ d x j(x)φ(x) |0i = − d4 xd4 y j(x)j(y)h0|T {φ(x)φ(y)}|0i,
2
Z
1
=− d4 xd4 y j(x)j(y) DF (x − y),
2
Z Z
1 d4 p i
=− d4 xd4 y e−ip(x−y) j(x)j(y),
2 (2π)4 p2 − m2 + i²
Z Z Z
1 d4 p 4 −ipx i
=− d x j(x)e d4 y j(y)eipy 2 ,
2 (2π)4 p − m2 + i²
| {z }| {z }
j˜(p) j˜ ∗(p)
Z 4
1 d p ˜ i
=− |j (p)|2 2 ,
2 (2π)4 p − m2 + i²
Z Z
1 d3 p dp0 ˜ i
=− |j (p)|2 2 .
2 (2π)3 (2π) p − m2 + i²
1
2 JACOB LEWIS BOURJAILY

We know how to evaluate the integral

Z Z
dp0 ˜ i dp0 ˜ i
|j (p)|2 2 2
= |j (p)|2 0 2 ,
(2π) p − m + i² (2π) (p ) − Ep2 + i²
Z
dp0 ˜ i
= |j (p)|2 0 .
(2π) (p − Ep )(p0 + Ep )
The function has a simple pole at p0 = −Ep with the residue
¯
i|j˜(p)|2 ¯¯ i|j˜(p)|2
0 ¯ =− .
p − Ep p0 =−Ep 2Ep
We know from elementary complex analysis that the contour integral is 2πi times the residue at
the pole. Therefore,
Z Z Z
1 d3 p dp0 ˜ 2 i 1 d3 p 1 ˜
− | j (p)| = − |j (p)|2 ,
2 (2π)3 (2π) p2 − m2 + i² 2 (2π)3 2Ep
1
= − λ.
2
Because we now know the amplitude to the first order of λ (or, rather, the second order of j),
we have shown, as desired, that
P (0) = |1 − ½λ + . . . |2 ∼ 1 − λ + O(λ2 ).
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óπ²ρ ²́δ²ι δ²ιξαι

c) We must represent the term computed in part (b) as a Feynman diagram and show that the
whole perturbation series for P (0) in terms of Feynman diagrams is precisely P (0) = e−λ .
The term computed in part (b) can be represented by faf ≡ −λ. It has two points (neither
originated by the source) and a time direction specified (not to be confused with charge or
momentum). We can write the entire perturbation series as


fa f fa f fa
fa f
f
2

faf faf fa f
¯ ½ · Z ¸¾ ¯2

faf faf
fa
¯ ¯  
P (0) = ¯¯h0|T exp i d4 x j(x)φ(x) |0i¯¯ =  + ···
1 +
f
+ + +  .

To get the series we must figure out the correct symmetry factors. If one begins with 2n
vertices, then n of them must be chosen as ‘in’; there are 22n/2 = 2n ways to do this. After that,
each one of the ‘in’ vertices must be paired with one of the ‘out’ vertices; you can do this n!
ways. So the symmetry factor for the term with n uninteracting propagators is
S(n) = 2n · n!.
We may now compute the probability explicitly.

fa f fa f fa
fa f
f
2

P (0) =  faf faf fa f
faf faf
fa

+ ···
1 +
f
+ + +  ,

à ∞
!2
X (−λ)n
= ,
n=0
2n n!
̰
!2
X (−λ/2)n
= ,
n=0
n!
³ ´2
= e−λ/2 ,

∴ P (0) = e−λ .
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 PHYSICS 513: QUANTUM FIELD THEORY HOMEWORK 8 3

d) Let us now compute the probability that the source creates one particle of momentum k. First
we should perform this computation to O(j) and then to all orders using the same trick as in
part (c) to sum the series.
Let us calculate the amplitude that a particle is created with the explicit momentum k.
½ · Z ¸¾
4
h0|T φk exp i d x j(x)φ(x) |0i
Z Z
4 d3 p 1 ¡ ¢
= i d x j(x)h0|ak p ap e−ipx + a†p eipx |0i|0i,
(2π)3 2Ep
Z Z
d3 p 1
= i d4 x j(x)h0|ak 3
p a†p eipx |0i,
(2π) 2Ep
Z Z
4 d3 p 1
= i d x j(x)h0| p eipx (2π)3 δ (3) (p − k)|0i,
(2π)3 2Ep
Z 4
d x j(x) ikx
=i √ e ,
(2π)4 2Ek
ij˜(k)
=√ .
2Ek
Now, the probability of creating such a particle is the modulus of the amplitude.
|j̃(x)|2
P (1k ) = .
2Ek
We can compute the probability that a particle is created with any momentum by simply inte-
grating over all the possible k. This yields
Z 3
d k 1 ˜
P (1) = |j (x)|2 = λ.
(2π)3 2Ek
√
Therefore in Feynman graphs, xfef ≡ i λ. The entire perturbation in Feynman diagrams is
therefore
 
fa f fa f fa
fa f
f
2

P (1) =  xfef 
× faf faf fa f
faf faf
fa

+ ···
1 +
f
 + + +  ,

¯√ ¯2
¯ ¯
= ¯i λeλ/2 ¯ ,

∴ P (1) = λe−λ .
e) We are to show that the probability of producing n particles is given by a Poisson distribution.
From part (d)
√ above, we know that each creation vertex on the Feynman diagram must be
multiplied by i λ. Now, because each of the final products are identical and there are n! ways
of arranging them, the symmetry factor in each case is n!. The probability is approximated by
λn
P (n) ∼ .
n!
Like we have done before, to get the correct probability, we must take into account the probability
that no particle is created. Therefore,
λn e−λ
P (n) = .
n!
f ) We must show that a poisson distribution given above with parameter λ has a norm of 1, an
expectation value of λ, and a variance of λ.
First, let us compute the norm of the distribution function.
X∞ X∞
λn λ λn
e = e−λ = e−λ eλ = 1.
n=0
n! n=0
n!
4 JACOB LEWIS BOURJAILY

The expectation value for the number created is simply,

X∞ X∞ X∞
nλn −λ −λ λn−1 −λ λm
E(n) = e = λe = λe = λe−λ eλ = λ.
n=0
n! n=1
(n − 1)! m=0
m!
To compute the variance, we will use the relation V ar(n) = E(n2 ) − E(n)2 . Let us compute
E(n2 ).
∞
X λn −λ
E(n2 ) = n2 e ,
n!
k=0
∞
X λn−1
= λe−λ n ,
n=1
(n − 1)!
X∞
λn−1
= λe−λ ((n − 1) + 1) ,
n=1
(n − 1)!
" ∞ ∞
#
X λn−1 X λn−1
−λ
= λe (n − 1) + ,
n=1
(n − 1)! n=1 (n − 1)!
X∞
λn−1
= λe−λ eλ + λe−λ ,
n=1
(n − 2)!
X∞
λn−2
= λ+ λ2 e−λ ,
n=2
(n − 2)!
= λ2 + λ.
Knowing this, it is clear that
V ar(n) = λ2 + λ − λ = λ.
Problem 4.4
The cross section for scattering of an electron by the Coulomb field of a nucleus can be computed, to
lowest order, without quantizing the electromagnetic field. We will treat the field as a given. classical
potential Aµ (x). The interaction Hamiltonian is then
Z
HI = d3 x eψ̄γ µ ψAµ ,

where ψ(x) is the usual quantized Dirac field.

a) We must show that the T -matrix element for an electron scatter to off a localized classical
potential is given to the lowest order by
hpf |iT |pi i = −ieū(pf )γ µ u(pi ) · õ (pf − pi ).
where õ is the Fourier transform of Aµ .
We may compute this contribution directly.
Z
hpf |iT |pi = −i d4 xhpf |T {HI (x)}|pi i,
Z
= −ie d4 x Aµ hpf |T {ψ̄(x)γ µ ψ(x)}|pi i,
Z
= −ie d4 x Aµ hpf |ψ(x)γ µ ψ(x)|pi i,
Z
0
= −ie d4 x Aµ (x)us (pf )γ µ us (pi )eix(pf −pi ) ,
Z
0
= −ieus (pf )γ µ us (pi ) d4 x Aµ (x)eix(pf −pi ) ,
0
= −ieus (pf )γ µ us (pi )õ (pf − pi ).
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 PHYSICS 513: QUANTUM FIELD THEORY HOMEWORK 8 5

b) If Aµ (x) is time independent, its Fourier transform contains a delta function of energy. We
therefore define
hpf |iT |pi i ≡ iM · (2π)δ(Ef − Ei ).
Given this definition of M, we must show that the cross section for scattering off a time-
independent localized potential is given by
1 1 d3 pf 1
dσ = (2π)δ(Ef − Ei )|M(pi → pf )|2 .
vi 2Ei (2π)3 2Ef
From class we know that we can represent an incoming wave packet with momentum pi in
the z-direction and impact parameter b by the relation
Z 3
d pi 1
|ψb i = p e−ibpi ψ(pi )|pi i.
(2π)3 2Epi
The probability of interaction given an impact parameter is then
d3 pf 1
P (b) = |hpf |iT |ψb i|2 ,
(2π)3 2Ef
Z 3 3
d3 pf 1 d pi d k 1
= 3 6
p e−ib(pi −k) ψ(pi )ψ ∗ (k)hpf |iT |pi ihpf |iT |ki∗ ,
(2π) 2Ef (2π) 2Epi 2Ek
Z 3 3
d3 pf 1 d pi d k e−ib(pi −k)
= p ψ(pi )ψ ∗ (k)(2π)2 δ(Ef − Epi )δ(Ef − Ek )M(pi → pf )M(k → pf )∗ .
(2π)3 2Ef (2π)6 2Epi 2Ek
Therefore,
Z
dσ = d2 b P (b),
Z
d3 pf 1 3 3
2 d pd k e
−ib(p−k)
= d b p ψ(p)ψ ∗ (k)(2π)2 δ(Ef − Ep )δ(Ef − Ek )M(p → pf )M(k → pf )∗ ,
(2π)3 2Ef (2π)6 2Ep 2Ek
Z 3 3
d3 pf 1 d pd k ψ(p)ψ ∗ (k)
= 3
p (2π)2 δ (2) (p⊥ − k⊥ )δ(Ef − Ep )δ(Ef − Ek )M(p → pf )M(k → pf )∗ ,
(2π) 2Ef (2π)6 2Ep 2Ek
Z 3 3
d3 pf 1 1 d pd k ψ(p)ψ ∗ (k) (2)
= (2π) p δ (p⊥ − k⊥ )δ(pz − kz )δ(Ef − Ep )M(p → pf )M(k → pf )∗ ,
(2π)3 2Ef |vi | (2π)3 2Ep 2Ek
Z
d3 pf 1 1 d3 p 1
= 3
(2π) |ψ(p)|2 δ(Ef − Ep )|M(p → pf )|2 ,
(2π) 2Ef |vi | (2π)3 2Ep
With a properly normalized wave function, this reduces directly to (allow me to apologize for
the inconsistency with notation. It is hard to keep track of. The incoming momentum p has
energy Ei .)
1 1 d3 pf 1
dσ = (2π)δ(Ef − Ei )|M(pi → pf )|2 .
vi 2Ei (2π)3 2Ef
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Now, let us try to write an expression for dσ/dΩ.
Z Z 3
d pf 1 1 1
dσ = (2π)δ(Ef − Ei )|M|2 ,
(2π)3 vi 2Ei 2Ef
Z 2
pf dpf dΩ 1 1 1
= δ(p0 − p)|M|2 ,
(2π)2 vi 2Ef 2Ei vf
Z
dΩ p2
= |M|2 ,
(2π)2 4vi2 Ei2
Z
1
= dΩ |M|2 .
16π 2
Therefore, we have that
dσ 1
= |M|2 .
dΩ 16π 2
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6 JACOB LEWIS BOURJAILY

c) We will now specialize to the non-relativistic scattering of a Coulomb potential (A0 = Ze/4πr).
We must show that in this limit
dσ α2 Z 2
= .
dΩ 4m2 v 4 sin4 (θ/2)
Let us first take the Fourier transform of the Coulomb potential.
Z
Ze eikr
õ (k) = d3 r ,
4π r
Ze 4π
= ,
4π k2
Ze
∴ õ (k) = 2 .
k
From part (a) above, we calculated that
0
M = −ieus (pf )γ µ us (p)õ (pf − p),
−ie2 Z s0
= u (pf )γ 0 us (p).
(pf − p)2
In the nonrelativistic limit, E >> p so we may approximate that
0 0 0
us (pf )γ 0 us (p) = us † (pf )us (p) = 2Eδ s s .
Therefore, our amplitude becomes
−ie2 Z 0
M= 2Eδ s s .
(pf − p)2
From part (b), we may compute dσ/dΩ directly.
dσ 4Z 2 e4 E62
= ,
dΩ 16π 2 (pf − p)4
Z 2 α2 E 2
= ,
p4 (1 − cosθ)2
Z 2 α2 E 2
= 4 4 ,
4p sin (θ/2)
Z 2 α2
= .
4E v sin4 (θ/2)
2 4

In the nonrelativistic limit, we have that E 2 ∼ m2 . Therefore we may conclude as desired that
dσ α2 Z 2
= .
dΩ 4m2 v 4 sin4 (θ/2)
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óπ²ρ ²́δ²ι δ²ιξαι