PHYS 513 Fall 2016: Quantum Field Theory I

HW 9: Quantum Processes
Due Tuesday November 15
This problem set has 3 problems for a total 100 points.

Problem 1. (20 points) Two-body Decay of a Scalar Particle

There are many two-body decays in AMO (photoemission from an excited level, positronium
decay to two photons, ....), condensed matter (exciton decay to phonon and electron,...), nuclear
(fission,...), and elementary particle physics. As a specific example, consider the decay of a neutral
scalar particle to two other scalars.
Assume that the Lagrangean responsible for this decay is
1
1
1
1
L = ( )2 M 2 2 + ( )2 m2 2 2
2
2
2
2
There are two scalar fields and . The last term is an interaction term that allows a -particle
to decay into two s, provided that M > 2m. Assuming that this condition is met, calculate the
lifetime of the to the lowest order in . Write your result in terms of , m, M .
This problem is PS prob. 4.2, reproduced for your convenience.
Problem 2 (30 points). The Dirac Propagator
The Dirac propagator is defined as the time-ordered two point correlator

h0|a (x)b (y)|0i , x0 > y 0
SF (x y)ab = h0|T a (x)b (y)|0i =
h0|b (y)a (x)|0i , y 0 > x0

(1)

We can write this definition as

SF (x y)ab = (x0 y 0 )h0|a (x)b (y)|0i (y 0 x0 )h0|b (y)a (x)|0i

(2)

(a) Evaluate SF (x y) for a free Dirac field , by inserting the appropriate oscillator expansion.
For each time ordering, express your answer as a linear differential operator acting on
Z
d3 p 1 ip(xy)
D(x y) =
e
(3)
(2)3 2E
(b1) Starting afresh from the definition (2), show that the Dirac propagator satisfies the Dirac
equation with a source
(i/ m)ca SF (x y)ab = i(x y)(4) cb

(4)

i.e., that SF (xy) is a Greens function. You will need the equal time commutation relations.
1

(b2) Find the propagator by solving the equation for the Greens function (4). You can do this
by introducing the Fourier transform
Z
d4 p
SC (x y)ab =
S (p)ab eip(xy)
(5)
4 C
(2)
C
Express your result for SC (x y)ab as a linear differential operator acting on the scalar
propagator
Z
d4 p
i
DC (x y) =
eip(xy)
(6)
4
2
2
C (2) p m
where C is some contour in the complex p0 -plane. Alternatively the integral could
 be speci
C (p) = 2 i 2 .
fied by providing some suitable i-prescription to the scalar propagator D
p m
C

F (p) = 2 i 2
(c) Using the Feynman contour or, alternatively, the prescription D
for the
p m +i
propagator, it is shown in PS 2.60 that the bosonic propagator can be written
DF (x y) = (x0 y 0 )D(x y) + (y 0 x0 )D(x y)

(7)

Use this expression to show that your result in b) is consistent with the one found in (a).

Problem 3. (50 points) Linear Sigma Model

Solve PS problem 4.3