Electron–positron annihilation

Hedwin Aaron Encinas Acosta

April 13, 2019

CONTENTS CONTENTS

Contents
1 The Dirac equation 2
1.1 Density and probability current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.2 Solution for the free particle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.3 Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.3.1 Covariant current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.4 Interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.4.1 The Dirac sea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.4.2 The Feynman–Stückelberg interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.5 The antiparticle spinors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
1.6 Helicity eigenstates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

2 Fermi’s golden rule 13

3 Cross section 17

4 Lorentz-invariant flux 17
4.1 Center-of-mas frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

5 Quantum electrodynamics 20

6 Electron- positron annihilation 22

6.1 Electron Positron innahilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6.2 Helicity amplitudes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.3 Probability currents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.4 Cross section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
6.5 Trace techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
6.5.1 completeness relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

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 1 THE DIRAC EQUATION

1 The Dirac equation

To give a suitably follow to these work, we must start with the Dirac equation. As we will
come to see, these equation is essential to understand much of what it is done in this work.
We begin with the relativistic wave equation in the Schrödinger form
∂ψ
i~= Ĥψ (1)
∂t
With a positive wave density. Since 1 is a first order derivative on the temporal term, we
propose that 1 be a first order derivative on the spatial terms as well. Following these, we
propose a Hamiltonian that has the form
   
~c ∂ ∂ ∂ 2
H= αˆ1 1 + αˆ2 2 + αˆ3 3 + β̂m0 c (2)
i ∂x ∂x ∂x
substituting 2 in 1 we obtain the Dirac equation
   
∂ψ ~c ∂ ∂ ∂ 2
i~ = αˆ1 1 + αˆ2 2 + αˆ3 3 + β̂m0 c ψ (3)
∂t i ∂x ∂x ∂x

The point of attention here are the α̂i coefficients. We suspect that these coefficients are
matrices, and put the symbol ∧ to indicate this, to find the nature of α̂i and β̂ we will demand
three natural properties for equation 3 and as we will come to see, the coefficient are matrices
that are in terms of the Pauli matrices.
Back to the Dirac equation, we can follow that if the α are not simple scalar number, than ψ
is not a scalar number, but a column vector
 ψ1 (x,t) 
ψ2 (x,t)
ψ= .  (4)
.
.
ψN (x,t)

From this it is obviously that α̂i and β̂ are quadratic N × N matrices, thus we can rewrite
equation 3 in the form
N
"   N
#
∂ψσ X ~c ∂ ∂ ∂ X
i~ = αˆ1 1 + αˆ2 2 + αˆ3 3 + m0 c2 βˆτ σ ψτ (5)
∂t τ =1
i ∂x ∂x ∂x τ σ τ =1

To proceed, we demand the following natural properties:

(a) It must follow the correct energy-momentum relation for the relativistic free particle

E 2 = p2 c2 + m20 c4 (6)

(b) The continuity equation for the density must be of the form
ψ 
1 N
ψ2 X
†
ρ(x) = ψ ψ(x) = (ψ1 , ψ2 , ..., ψN )  .. = ψi∗ ψi (x) (7)
.
ψN i=1

R
for which, a continuity equation must exist, so that the integral ρd3 x becomes constant
in time. Whit this the probability interpretation of ρ(x) is ensure.

(c) The Lorentz covariance for 3 and 5.

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 1 THE DIRAC EQUATION

For the Dirac equation to fulfill requirement (a) all the components ψσ must satisfy the Klein-
Gordon equation, shown below

∂ 2 ψσ
= −~2 c2 ∇2 + m22 c4 ψσ


−i~ 2
(8)
∂t
To obtain the second derivative of the Dirac equation, in both, spatial and time terms, first
we propose that the Hamiltonian in the Klein-Gordon equation be the squared of a previous
Hamiltonian. We will show it, for one of the components of ψ. These Hamiltonian has the form
c~ ∂
α̂i + β̂m0 c2 )
H=( (9)
i ∂xi
where the α̂i and β are the matrices of the Dirac equation and the i=1,2,3. Now we obtain the
squared Hamiltonian
c~ ∂ c~ ∂
H2 = ( α̂i + β̂m0 c2 )( α̂j + β̂m0 c2 )
i ∂xi i ∂xj
3 3 3
!
X ∂2 ~m0 c3 X ∂ X ∂
= −~2 c2 α̂i α̂j + α̂i β̂ + α̂j β̂ + βˆ2 m20 c4
i,j
∂xi ∂xj i i
∂xi j
∂xj

the first summation can be rewritten as

3 3
X ∂2 X α̂i α̂j + α̂j α̂i ∂ 2
−~2 c2 α̂i α̂j = −~2 c2
i,j
∂xi ∂xj i,j
2 ∂xi ∂xj

the factor of 1/2 is aggregated because the summation is summating twice over the same index.
In the second summation, we can rename the terms βαi,j , so that we can group them:
3 3
! 3
~m0 c3 X ∂ X ∂ ~m0 c3 X   ∂
α̂i β̂ + α̂j β̂ = α̂i β̂ + α̂i β̂
i i
∂xi j
∂xj i i
∂xi

then H 2 is
3 3
X α̂i α̂j + α̂j α̂i ∂ 2 ~m0 c3 X   ∂
2
H = −~ c 2 2
+ α̂i β̂ + α̂i β̂ + βˆ2 m20 c4 (10)
i,j
2 ∂x i ∂x j i i
∂x i

Substituting the this Hamiltonian in equation 3, we obtain

3 3
!
∂ 2ψ X α̂i α̂j + α̂j α̂i ∂ 2 ~m0 c3 X   ∂
−i~ 2 = 2 2
−~ c + α̂i β̂ + α̂i β̂ + βˆ2 m20 c4 ψ (11)
∂t i,j
2 ∂x i ∂x j i i
∂x i

Comparing 11 to 8 we can see that to satisfy the Klein-Gordon equation, the following require-
ments are necessary for the α̂i and β̂ matrices

α̂i α̂j + α̂j α̂i = 2δij 1

α̂i β̂ + β̂ α̂i = 0 (12)

αˆ2 = βˆ2 = 1

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 1 THE DIRAC EQUATION

From the relation α̂2 = β̂ 2 = 1 we can conclude that the eigenvalues are ±1. These can be
shown, let F be en eigenfunction of α̂i , then

α̂i F = λF

were λ is a eigenvalue, applying λ again

α̂i 2 F = 1F

then λ = ±1. Another conclusion can be arrived from the relation α̂i β̂ + β̂ α̂i = 0. If we write

α̂i β̂ = −α̂i β̂

and multiply by β̂ from the right we get the identity

α̂i β̂ 2 = −β̂ α̂i β̂

α̂i = −β̂ α̂i β̂ (13)

From 13 we can prove that the trace of the matrices α̂i has to be 0. Writing

tr(α̂i ) = tr(α̂i β̂ 2 ) = tra(β̂ α̂i β̂)

now from 13 the above can be rewritten

tr(α̂i ) = tr(−α̂i )

this can only be true if the trace is 0. And last, for the Hamiltonian to remain Hermitian, the
matrices have to be Hermitian as well, this is

α̂i = α̂i†

β̂i = β̂i†
With the conditions and relations we have set on the matrices we are ready to introduce and
explicit form for the matrices
   
0 σi I 0
α̂i = and β̂ = (14)
σi 0 0 −I

where      
0 1 0 −i 1 0
σ1 = σ2 = σ3 = (15)
1 0 i 0 0 −1
where σi are the Pauli matrices and I are the identity 2 × 2 matrices. It’s worth mentioning
that the particular form chosen for the matrices are not the only ones. The physics of the Dirac
equations are not define by the explicit forms of these matrices, rather, by the algebra (12)
satisfied by α̂i and β̂. There for, any explicit form that satisfies the 12 relations, are a valid
form for the matrices.
Let us prove that the condition α̂i α̂j + α̂j α̂i = 2δij 1 is met
    
0 σi 0 σj σi σj 0
α̂i α̂j = =
σi 0 σj 0 0 σi σj

now for α̂j α̂i  

σj σi 0
α̂i α̂j =
0 σj σi

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1.1 Density and probability current 1 THE DIRAC EQUATION

thus  
σi σj + σj σi 0
α̂i α̂j + α̂j α̂i =
0 σi σj + σj σi
let’s compute the resulting product for the σ1 and σ2 matrices
      
0 1 0 −i i 0 −i 0
σ1 σ2 = = and σ2 σ1 =
1 0 i 0 0 −i 0 i

from these we can see that αˆ1 αˆ2 + αˆ2 αˆ1 = 0. Now for αˆ2 αˆ2 + αˆ2 αˆ2
    
0 −i 0 −i 1 0
σ2 σ2 = =
i 0 i 0 0 1

and
αˆ2 αˆ2 + αˆ2 αˆ2 = 21
doing the same for the remaining matrices combination yields the same results, 0, and 21 when
the Pauli matrices are the same, thus the condition is met.

1.1 Density and probability current

Before proceeding any further, let us introduce the natural units in particle physics. For these
we chose
~=c=1 (16)
These simplifies Dirac’s equation
   
∂ψ ∂ ∂ ∂
i = −i αˆ1 1 + αˆ2 2 + αˆ3 3 + β̂m0 ψ (17)
∂t ∂x ∂x ∂x
To find the probability density and probability current we must introduce the general form of
the continuity equation
∂ρ
∇·j+ =0 (18)
∂t
where j is the probability current and ρ is the probability density. To compute the continuity
equation for the Dirac equation we need the Hermitian conjugate of 17, which is
∂ψ †
   
∂ ∂ ∂
−i = i αˆ1 1 + αˆ2 2 + αˆ3 3 + β̂m0 ψ † (19)
∂t ∂x ∂x ∂x

the Hermitian conjugate ψ † replaces the complex conjugate ψ ∗ because ψ is a four-vector. since
α̂† = α̂, the matrices stay the same.The procedure is the same utilize for the Schrödinger
equation. Multiplying 17 by ψ † from the left and 19 by ψ by the right. Finlay we sum 17, 19
and divide by i, we get
∂ψ †
 
† ∂ψ † ∂ψ ∂ψ ∂ψ
ψ + ψ = ψ −αˆ1 1 − αˆ2 2 − αˆ3 3 + β̂m0
∂t ∂t ∂x ∂x ∂x

∂ψ † ∂ψ † ∂ψ †
 
+ −αˆ1 1 − αˆ2 2 − αˆ3 3 − β̂m0 ψ
∂x ∂x ∂x
from these it’s easy to see that the derivative of a product is apply at every side of the equality,
these is
∂ψ † ψ ∂ψ † α̂i ψ
=− (20)
∂t ∂xi

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1.2 Solution for the free particle 1 THE DIRAC EQUATION

comparing 20 and 18 we can see that

∂ρ ∂ψ † ψ
= (21)
∂t ∂t
∂ψ † α̂i ψ
∇·j = = ∇ · ψ † α̂i ψ (22)
∂xi
there for

ρ = ψ†ψ (23)
j = ψ † α̂i ψ (24)

whit these we prove property (b)

1.2 Solution for the free particle

Before moving to the solution to a free particle for the Dirac equation, we first need to rewrite
it in it’s covariant form. How ever these is not necessary to compute these solution or any other
for that reason, a solution can be obtained for 17, but utilizing the the covariant form of 17
will lead to some identities that will simplify some of the math in these work an of curse, the
most important reason the covariant form is Lorentz invariant.
For these we multiply the left side o 17 by β̂
∂ψ ∂ψ ∂ψ ∂ψ
β̂ + β̂ αˆ1 1 + β̂ αˆ2 2 + β̂ αˆ3 3 − β̂ 2 m0 = 0 (25)
∂t ∂x ∂x ∂x
we introduce the γ-matrices and define them as

γ 0 ≡ β̂ γ k ≡ β̂ α̂i i = 1, 2, 3 (26)

introducing the four-derivative

 
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
∂µ = , 1, 2, 3
∂t ∂x ∂x ∂x

we can rewrite 25 in a more compact form

γ µ ∂µ ψ − mψ = 0 (27)

Of curse the properties of the γ-matrices can be obtained from 12, mainly β̂ 2 = α̂2 = 1 and
β̂ α̂ = −α̂β̂
γ 0 = β̂ 2 = 1
(γ k )2 = β̂ α̂i β̂ α̂i = −α̂i β̂ β̂ α̂i = 1
γ ν γ µ = −γ µ γ ν
now we see if the matrices are Hermitian

(γ 0 )† = β † = β = γ 0

(γ k )† = (βαk )† = αk† β † = αk β = −βαk = −γ k

we can see that the γ k is anti-Hermitian

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1.3 Solution 1 THE DIRAC EQUATION

1.3 Solution
now that we have the covariant form of 17 we are ready to compute the solution to the free
particle. For these we propose that the soluton be of the form

ψ = u(E, p)ei(p·x−Et) (28)

where u(E,p) are the Dirac spinors. Substituting 28 in 27 we get

Eγ 0 u(E, p) − px u(E, p)γ 1 − py uγ 2 (E, p) − pz γ 3 u(E, p) − 1m0 u(E, p) = 0 (29)

where 29 is in term of the eigenvalues E and px,y,z .Now puting 29 in its matrix form we get

1 0 1 0
      
0 p·σ
E − −m u=0 (30)
0 −1 −p · σ 0 0 1

from these we get  

E−m p·σ
u=0 (31)
−p · σ −E − m
developing the term p · σ
     
0 1 0 −i 1 0
p · σ = px σx + py σy + pz σz = px + py + pz
1 0 i 0 0 −1
 
pz px − ipy
= (32)
px + ipy −pz
expressing u in a tow term column vector such as
 
uA
u=
uB

31 can be expressed as   
E − m −p · σ uA
=0 (33)
p · σ −E − m uB
from these we get the tow fallowing coupled equations

(E − m)uA − p · σuB = 0 (34)

p · σuA − (E + m)uB = 0 (35)

from 32 and 35 we can expressed uA and uB

 
1 pz px − ipy
uA = uB (36)
E − m px + ipy −pz
 
1 pz px − ipy
uB = uA (37)
E + m px + ipy −pz

The sipinor u has four solutions u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 . The first tow solutions can be indebted by
shushing the tow simplest orthogonal choices for uA
   
1 0
uA = uA = (38)
0 1

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1.3 Solution 1 THE DIRAC EQUATION

utilizing 37 we can compute the first set of solutions using the to explicit form chosen for uA
     pz 
1 pz px − ipy 1
uB = = pE+mx +ipy (39)
E + m px + ipy −pz 0 E+m
!
   px −ipy
1 pz px − ipy 0
uB = = E+m −pz (40)
E + m px + ipy −pz 1 E+p

an so u1 and u2 is
 
1
 0 
u1 (E, p) = N2  pz 
 E+m  (41)
px +ipy
E+m
 
0
 1 
u2 (E, p) = N2 
 px −ipy 
 (42)
E+m
−pz
E+m

fallowing the same procedure for u3 and u4 , these time choosing

   
1 0
uB = uB = (43)
0 1
we get the final tow solutions
 pz 
E−m
 px +ipy 
u3 (E, p) = N3   E−m  (44)
1 
0
 px −ipy 
E−m
 −pz 
u4 (E, p) = N4  E−m 
 0  (45)
1
An so the full solution to 27 is
ψi = ui (E, p)ei(p·x−Et) i = 1, 2, 3, 4 (46)
where ui
     pz 
1 0 E−m
 0   1   px +ipy 
u1 (E, p) = N2  pz  u2 (E, p) = N2 
 px −ipy 
 u3 (E, p) = N3   E−m 
 E+m 
E+m 1 
px +ipy −pz
E+m E+m 0
 px −ipy 
E−m
 −pz 
u4 (E, p) = N4  E−m 
 0 
1
where u1 and u2 correspond to the positive energy
p 
E = +  p2 + m2  (47)
 

and the spinors u3 and u4 correspond to the negative energy solutions

p 
E = −  p2 + m2  (48)
 

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1.4 Interpretation 1 THE DIRAC EQUATION

1.3.1 Covariant current

We show the form of the probability current in 22. we can see that it depends explicitly of the
α̂i matrices, there for we mas rewrite in terms of the γ-matrices. For these we can write

j = ψ † β̂ 2 α̂k ψ

we know that γ 0 = β̂ and γ k = β̂ α̂k . Introducing the dour-current we have

j µ = ψ†γ 0γ k ψ (49)

introducing the adjoint spinor ψ̄ defined as

ψ̄ = ψ † γ 0 = (ψ ∗ )T γ 0

1 0
 
∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
= (ψ1 , ψ2 , ψ3 , ψ4 ) = (ψ1∗ , ψ2∗ , −ψ3∗ , −ψ4∗ )
0 −1
whit these 49 can be expressed as
j µ = ψ̄γ k ψ (50)

1.4 Interpretation
there are to main interpretation to the results of the Dirac Equation, the first one is the Dirac’s
sea interpretation and the Feynman-Stückelberg. We will discus both of these interpretations.

1.4.1 The Dirac sea

As we can see the negative energy solutions poses a problem since it can’t be discarded, Dirac
propose the following interpretation: according to Dirac the vacuum corresponds to state where
all negative energy states are occupied, these interpretation is called the ”Dirac sea”. In these
interpretation the Pauli exclusion principle prevents positive energy electrons to fall in to the
negative energy states.
Further more a photon whit sufficient energy can move a negative energy electron for example,
to a positive energy estate. These would leave a hole in the vacuum, whit positive energy state
and a positive charged. In these way the holes correspond to positive energy state antiparticle
whit positive charge.
How ever these interpretation has it’s problems to, for example the vacuum will have infinite
negative energy and boson antiparticles are not explain by the Pauli exclusion principle.

1.4.2 The Feynman–Stückelberg interpretation

The modern interpretation of the negative energy states is provided by Feynman and Stück-
elberg. These interpretation states: The negative energy solutions are interpreted as negative
energy particles which propagate backwards in time. These negative energy particle solutions
correspond to physical positive energy antiparticle states with opposite charge, which propagate
forwards in time. These sounds a lite confusing but utilizing the first part of these interpreta-
tion that says E → −E and t → −t and replacing it in to the time dependence of the wave
function (28)
e−i(−E)(−t) = e−iEt
we The lefts side corresponds to the first part of the interpretation and the right side to the
second part of the statement, which makes these tow mathematically equivalent.

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1.5 The antiparticle spinors 1 THE DIRAC EQUATION

1.5 The antiparticle spinors

in these sections we sill calculate the antiparticle spinors v1 v2 fallowing the Feynman–Stückel-
berg interpretation. It s worth mentioning that there is no problem whit utilizing the u3 and u4
to perform calculation, but we will have to take in to account that the energy in these spinors
is the negative of the physical energy and since these spinores propagate backwards in time the
momentum to is the negative of the physical momentum. To put u3 and u4 in terms of the
positive physical energy y change signs of the energy an the momentum as fallows

ei((−p)·x−(−E)(t)) = e−i(p·x−Et) (51)

an defining v1 and v2

v1 (E, p) = u3 (−E, −p)

v2 (E, p) = u3 (−E, −p)

we can finely rewrite 28 as

ψ = v(E, p)e−i(p·x−Et) (52)
now substituting these in 27 we get

(−Eγ 0 + px γ 1 + py γ 2 + pz γ 3 − 1m0 )v = 0 (53)

fallowing the same procedure as before we get the acopladed equations

σ·p
va = vb (54)
E+m
σ·p
vb = va (55)
E−m
again using the same orthogonal form for the column vectors va and vb as before we get the
fallowing solutions
 px −ipy   pz     
E+m E+m
1 0
 −pz   px +ipy 
 E+m  , v3 = N  p0z  , v4 = N  px −ip
   1 
v1 = N  E+m  ,
 0  v 2 = N  1   E−m  

y (56)
E−m
px +ipy −pz
1 0 E−m E−m

Here v1 and v2 have p 

E =  p2 + m2 
 

and v3 , v4 p 
E = −  p2 + m2 
 

Since it is easier to work whit the positive physical energy, we will work whit the spinor
associated whit these energy, that is, u1 ,u2 ,v1 and v2 . Thus we have that for normal particles

ψi = ui (E, p)ei(p·x−Et)

   
1 0
 0   1 
u1 (E, p) = N2  pz 
 E+m  u2 (E, p) = N2 
 px −ipy 
 (57)
E+m
px +ipy −pz
E+m E+m

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1.6 Helicity eigenstates 1 THE DIRAC EQUATION

and for antiparticles we have

ψ = v(E, p)e−i(p·x−Et)
 px −ipy   pz 
E+m E+m
 −pz  px +ipy 
v1 = N  E+m, v2 = N 
 E+m  (58)
 0  1 
1 0
These is known as the tow particle solution.

1.6 Helicity eigenstates

We have calculated the solutions to the free particle, how ever, these aren’t very useful since we
will need to work whit the spin states of the particles and the u1 ,u2 ,v1 and v2 spinors map onto
easy identified spin states. To proceed, we will work whit the helicity eigenstates of the Dirac
equation for the free particle. For these we first define the concept of helicity as the projection
of the spin onto the direction of movement of the particle in question, the corresponding helicity
operator can is defined below
Σ̂ · p̂
ĥ = (59)
2p
Where p̂ is the momentum operator and Σ̂ is
 
σ 0
Σ̂ =
0 σ
To calculate the helicity eigenstates that satisfy the free particle Hamiltonian for the Dirac
equation as well as the helicity operator, the eigenstates must also satisfy the eigenvalue equa-
tion
ĥu = λu (60)
developing these expression and defining u as before
    
1 σ · p̂ 0 uA u
=λ A
2p 0 σ · p̂ uB uB
we get the fallowing equations

(σ · p̂)uA = 2pλuA (61)

(σ · p̂)uB = 2pλuB (62)

to obtain the eigenvalues er multiply 61 by (σ · p̂)

(σ · p̂)2 uA = 2pλ(σ · p̂)uA = 4p2 λ2 uA

we know from 32  
pz px − ipy
(σ · p̂) =
px + ipy −pz
whit these we can calculate (σ · p̂)2
  2
px + p2y + p2z
  
2 pz px − ipy pz px − ipy 0
(σ · p̂) = = = p2
px + ipy −pz px + ipy −pz 0 p2x + p2y + p2z

thus 61 becomes
p2 uA = 4p2 λ2 uA (63)

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1.6 Helicity eigenstates 1 THE DIRAC EQUATION

and from these we get that there are to possible eigenvalues λ = ±1/2. Now that we know
the eigenvalues we can proceed to calculate the eigenstates, utilizing 62 and the relation 37 the
fallowing relation is obtained
1
uB = (σ · p̂)uA
E+m
2pλ
uB = uA (64)
E+m
Before proceeding any further we will express the momentum in spherical polar coordinates,
these is done so that the equations 61 and 62 are easily solved, thus the momentum is

p = (p sin θ cos φ, p sin θ sin φ, p cos θ)

whit these and remembering that cos θ + i sin θ = eiθ , we rewrite the helicity operator

cos θ sin θe−iφ

   
1 pz px − ipy 1
=
2p px + ipy −pz 2 sin θeiφ − cos θ

now defining uA as  
a
uA =
b
and substituting these in 61

cos θ sin θe−iφ

    
a a
= 2λ
sin θeiφ − cos θ b b

from these we get

a cos θ + b sin θe−iφ = 2λa
and we get the relation
b 2λ − cos θ iφ
= e (65)
a sin θ
using λ = 1/2 ans the trigonometric identities

1 − cos 2θ
sin2 θ =
2
θ θ
sin θ = 2 cos sin
2 2
we can rewrite 65 as
b 2 sin2 2θ
= eiφ
a 2 cos 2θ sin 2θ

b sin 2θ iφ
= e (66)
a cos 2θ
whit these we now know the values of a and b
θ
a = cos
2
θ
b = sin eiφ
2

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 2 FERMI’S GOLDEN RULE

using these and the relation 64 we can obtain the right-and helicity state, denoted u↑

cos 2θ
 
 sin θ eiφ 
u↑ = N  2 (67)
 p cos θ 

E+m 2
p
E+m
sin 2θ eiφ
√
where the normalization constant N = E + m, normalized to 2E particles per unit of volume.
Doing the same but now for λ = −1/2 we get the left-hand state u↓
   
c −s
√  seiφ  √ iφ
 , u↓ = E + m  cep
 
u↑ = E + m  p
 E+m c   E+m s 
 (68)
p −p
E+m
seiφ E+m
ceiφ

where s = sin 2θ and c = cos 2θ . The corresponding states for the antiparticles are calculated
in a same way, but since the helicity operator depend explicitly on the momentum and the
momentum for a antiparticles is taken as the negative physical momentum, for h = 1/2 we
have
ĥv↓ = −1/2v↓
fallowing these the tow corresponding helicity states for and antiparticle are
 p   p 
E+m
s E+m
c
√  −p ceiφ  √  p iφ 
v↑ = E + m  E+m  , v↓ = E + m  E+m se  (69)
 −s   c 
iφ iφ
ce se

In the ultra-relativistic limit where E  m 68 and 69 can be approximated as

       
c −s s c
√ seiφ  √  iφ  √  iφ  √  iφ 
u↑ = E   , u↓ = E  ce  , v↑ = E −ce  , v↓ = E se  (70)
 c   s   −s   c 
iφ iφ iφ
se −ce ce seiφ

2 Fermi’s golden rule

The main objective of these work so far is to calculate the cross section of an annihilation
process. We have introduce Dirac’s equation and derive what we need from it, mainly the
helicity eigenstates, but these isn’t enough, another tool is needed, here is where Fermi’s golden
rule fits in. Fermi’s golden rule allows us to calculate the transition rates between states, which
in term will let us calculate the scattering cross section. These is derive from non-relativistic
quantum mechanics, we start whit φk (x, t) which is a normalize solution to the Schrödinger
equation for the time-independent Hamiltonian, these means that

Ĥ0 φk (x, t) = Ek φk (x, t) and hφj |φk i = δjk

introducing and interacting Hamiltonian Ĥ 0 (x, t), which can induce a transition between states,
the time-dependent Schrödinger equation is
∂ψ
i = [Ĥ0 + Ĥ 0 ]ψ (71)
∂t

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 2 FERMI’S GOLDEN RULE

where ψ can be expressed in terms of complete set of states of the unperturbed Hamiltonian
X
ψ(x, t) = ck (t)φk e−iEk t (72)
k

where ck (t) is the time-dependent coefficient that allow transitions between states, substituting
72 in 71 we obtain the following differential equation for the coefficient c(t)k
X  ∂ck  X X
−iEk t −iEk t
i φk (x, t)e − iEk ck φk (x, t)e = ck Ĥ0 φk (x, t)e−iEk t + Ĥ 0 ck φk (x, t)e−iEk t
k
∂t k k
(73)
We know that Ĥ0 φk (x, t)k = Ek φk (x, t)k , so we can eliminate the second term in the left side
and the first term in the right side, and thus 73 becomes
X ∂ck X
i φk (x, t)e−iEk t = Ĥ 0 ck φk (x, t)e−iEk t (74)
k
∂t k

Now for a first order approximation we take the following conditions, at a time t = 0, the initial
state for the wave function is |ii = φi , and the coefficient are ck (0) = δik . If we consider the
Hamiltonian sufficiently small, which in these cases is constant for any time t > 0, we have that
for all times ci (t) ≈ 1 and since any k 6= i represents another state, we have ck6=i ≈ 0. Whit
these we have
X dck
i φk e−iEk t ≈ Ĥ 0 φi e−iEi t (75)
k
dt
To obtain the corresponding differential equation that will give us the coefficient cf (t), which
in these case corresponds to a transition to a final state |f i = φf . We take the inner product
of the left hand side an the right hand side of 75 wit the final state to obtain
X dck
i φ∗f φk e−iEk t ≈ φ∗f Ĥ 0 φi e−iEi t (76)
k
dt

Since φf is time-independent its not affected by the time derivative. Integrating both sides of
77 in a certain volume V
X dck Z Z
−iEk t ∗ −iEi t
i e 3
φf φk d x = e φ∗f Ĥ 0 φi d3 x (77)
k
dt V V

remembering that hφf |φk i = δf k , we have k = f and so

dcf
= −i hφf |Ĥ 0 |φi i ei(Ef −Ei )t (78)
dt
Thanks to the Kronecker delta, only one term in the summative survives. Defining the transition
matrix elements as
Tf i = hφf |Ĥ 0 |φi i (79)
Now to calculate the amplitude for a transition to a state |f i at a time t = T , we integrate
both sides of 78 Z T
cf (T ) = −i Tf i ei(Ef −Ei )t dt (80)
0
since Tf i is time-independent we can take it out of the integral
Z T
cf (T ) = −iTf i ei(Ef −Ei )t dt (81)
0

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 2 FERMI’S GOLDEN RULE

Now the probability for a transition to a state |f i is defined as

Z T Z T
0
Pif = cf (T )c∗f (T ) 2
= |Tf i | ei(Ef −Ei )t e−i(Ef −Ei )t dtdt0 (82)
0 0

whit these we can define the transition rate from an initial sate |ii to a single final state |f i,
as Z T /2 Z T /2
Pif 1 0
dΓif = = |Tf i |2
ei(Ef −Ei )t e−i(Ef −Ei )t dtdt0 (83)
T T −T /2 −T /2

the limit are obtained by making the the change t → t + T /2 and t0 → t0 + T /2. For the upper
limit t we have
t + T /2 = T
t = T /2
and for the inferior limit we have
t + T /2 = 0
t = −T /2
the same is true for t0 . Integrating we have
1
dΓif = |Tf i | 2
(ei(Ef −Ei )T /2 − e−i(Ef −Ei )T /2 )(e−i(Ef −Ei )T /2 − ei(Ef −Ei )T /2 )
T (Ef − Ei )

1
= |Tf i | 2
(2 − ei(Ef −Ei )T − e−i(Ef −Ei )T )
T (Ef − Ei )
Utilizing Euler’s formula we have
2
dΓif = |Tf i | [1 − cos(T (Ef − Ei ))]
T (Ef − Ei )2

Finally, utilizing the trigonometric identity

1 − cos(2x)
sin2 (x) =
2
we have that the solution to the integral 83 is

sin2 x T (Ef − Ei )
x= (84)
x2 2
Since 84 is narrow function, 83 can be written as
" Z #
1 T /2 T /2 i(Ef −Ei )t −i(Ef −Ei )t0
Z
2 0
dΓif = |Tf i | lim e e dtdt (85)
T →∞ T −T /2 −T /2

Using the definition of the Dirac delta-function and taking the Fourier transform of δ(x − a)
Z ∞
1
δ(x − a) e−ik(x−a) dk = 1
−∞ 2π
Z ∞
2πδ(x − a) = eik(x−a) dk (86)
−∞

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 2 FERMI’S GOLDEN RULE

With these we can replace the integral over dt0 with 2πδ(Ef − Ei ), thus we have
" Z #
T /2
1
dΓif = 2π|Tf i |2 lim ei(Ef −Ei )t δ(Ef − Ei )dt (87)
T →∞ T −T /2

If for a range on energies Ef → Ef + dEf there are dn final states available, then the total
transition rate can be written as
" Z #
1 T /2 i(Ef −Ei )t
Z
2 dn
Γif = 2π |Tf i | lim e δ(Ef − Ei )dt dEf (88)
dEf T →∞ T −T /2

the delta-function implies that Ef = Ei , thus the exponential is equal to 1, and the integral
over dt is equal to 1 as well, so we end up with
Z
dn
Γif = 2π |Tf i |2 δ(Ef − Ei )dEf (89)
dEf
the delta-function is still in effect since the integral is over dEf . Again utilizing the definition
of delta-function the total transition rate is
 
2  dn 
 
Γif = 2π|Tf i |  (90)
dEf  Ei
 
 dn 
The term  dEf
 is refer as the density of state, and is denoted as
Ei
 
 dn 
ρ(Ei ) =  
dEf  Ei

and finally Fermi’s golden rule for the total transition rate is
Γif = 2π|Tf i |2 ρ(Ei ) (91)
So far we have only obtain a first approximation of the total transition rate, these is very useful
but not for what we want to do in these work. What we need is a second order approximation,
for these we replace ck6=i in 74 with the result obtained for cf (T ) in 81 and, again, taking ci = 1.
Explicitly these is
X ∂ck Z t
0
X
−iEk t 0 −iEi t 0 i(Ef −Ek )t
i φk e ≈ Ĥ φi e + (−i) Ĥ φk e Tki ei(Ek −Ei )t dt0 (92)
k
∂t k6=i 0

where the exponential ei(Ef −Ek )t appears because of the intermediate state φk . Taking the inner
product with φf an remembering that Tki = hφk |Ĥ 0 |φi i we obtain
Z t
dcf 0 (Ek −Ei )t
X
0 i(Ef −Ek )t 0
≈ −i hφf |Ĥ |φi i e + (−i) 2
hφf |Ĥ |φk i e hφk |Ĥ 0 |φi i ei(Ek −Ei )t dt0 (93)
dt k6=i 0

Since the perturbation is not present at time t = 0 and is constant for any time t > 0, the
integral in 93 is
Z t
0 hφk |Ĥ 0 |φi i i(Ek −Ei )t
hφk |Ĥ 0 |φi i ei(Ek −Ei )t dt0 = e (94)
0 i(Ek − Ei )
replacing these back in to 94
" #
dcf X hφf |Ĥ 0 |φk i hφk |Ĥ 0 |φi i
0
≈ −i hφf |Ĥ |φi i + e(Ef −Ek )t e(Ek −Ei )t (95)
dt k6=i
(Ek − Ei )

Licenciatura en Fı́sica 16 Universidad de Sonora

 4 LORENTZ-INVARIANT FLUX

finally we get
" #
dcf X hφf |Ĥ 0 |φk i hφk |Ĥ 0 |φi i
≈ −i hφf |Ĥ 0 |φi i + e(Ef −Ei )t (96)
dt k6=i
(Ek − Ei )

We can see that for a second order approximation the transition matrix element is given by
X hφf |Ĥ 0 |φk i hφk |Ĥ 0 |φi i
Tif = hφf |Ĥ 0 |φi i + (97)
k6=i
(Ek − Ei )

3 Cross section
One of the final tools we will need to calculate the probability that the process e+ e− → µ+ µ−
happens is the interacting cross section. Now to calculate this we will have to take in to account
the flux of initial state particles, where the flux is defined as the number of particles crossing a
unit of area per unit of time. Lets imagine a beam of particles of type a, with flux φa crossing
a region of space with a number nb per unit of volume of particles of type b. The interaction
rate per particle rb si proportional to the flux of particles of type a, so we can write rb as
rb = σφa (98)
the most important part of equation 98 is the quantity σ which is in units of area and is
defined as the interaction cross section. We can think of the cross section as the physical area
of interaction of each particle, and in some cases this is true, but in general the cross section is
the quantum mechanic probability that interaction between the particles will occur.

4 Lorentz-invariant flux
To calculate the cross section for an annihilation process, we need the relativistic formulation
of Fermi’s golden rule and the appropriate Lorentz invariant expression. Let’s take the annihi-
lation process a + b → 1 + 2, observed in the rest frame where the particle a has a velocity va
and the particle b a velocity vb

fuking picture here

The interaction rate in the volume V is given by

rate = φa nb V σ = (va + vb )na nb σV (99)
Where na and nb are the density of particles of each type and φa is the flux of particles of type
a that that passes through a plane moving at velocity vb
φa = na (va + vb )
Now normalizing the function to one particle per volume V, we have that the density na =
nb = 1/V . Thus the interaction rate is
(va + vb )σ
Γf i = (100)
V
and with this the interacting cross section is
Γf i
σ= (101)
(va + vb )

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 4 LORENTZ-INVARIANT FLUX

we can see that in equation 101 the volume is not included, this is because the term fore the
volume will be cancelled wen we normalize the wave function in Face space. Thus is easier to
consider one particle per unit of volume.
We know that Γf i is Fermi’s golden rule, and is given by
d 3 P1 d 3 P 2
Z
4
Γf i = (2π) |Tf i |2 δ(Ea + Eb − E1 − E2 )δ 3 (Pa + Pb − P1 − P2 ) (102)
(2π)3 (2π)3
101 becomes
(2π)4 d 3 P1 d 3 P 2
Z
σ= |Tf i |2 δ(Ea + Eb − E1 − E2 )δ 3 (Pa + Pb − P1 − P2 ) (103)
(va + vb ) (2π)3 (2π)3
We can write Tf i in terms of the Lorentz-invariant matrix elements Mf i . This is done by nor-
malizing the wave function ψ 0 = Aψ, where A is a normalization constant, with the appropriate
Lorentz-invariant normalization, here we normalize to 2E particles per volume
Z
ψ 0∗ ψ 0 d3 x = 2E
V
this means that
ψ 0 = (2E)1/2 ψ
using this for the Lorentz-invariant matrix element
Mf i = hψ10 , ψ,0 ...|H 0 |ψa0 , ψb0 , ..i = (2E1 2E2 ....2Ea 2Eb )1/2 hψ1 , ψ, ...|H 0 |ψa , ψb , ..i
and from the golden rule we know that
Tf i = hψ1 , ψ, ...|H 0 |ψa , ψb , ..i
and with this we can relate the Lorenz-invariant matrix elements to the transition matrix
elements
Mf i
Tf i =
(2E1 2E2 ....2Ea 2Eb )1/2
Using this in 103, we can rewrite it as
(2π)−2 d3 P1 d3 P2
Z
σ= |Mf i |2 δ(Ea + Eb − E1 − E2 )δ 3 (Pa + Pb − P1 − P2 ) (104)
4Ea Eb (va + vb ) 2E1 2E2
This is the Lorentz-invariant form of the interacting cross section. From 104 and important
quantity is derived, the Lorentz-invariant flux F = 4Ea Eb (va + vb ), to prove that this quantity
is Lorentz-invariant we can start to rite the flux in terms of the momentum of the particles
Pa Pb
F = 4Ea Eb ( + ) = 4(Eb Pa + Ea Pb )
Ea Eb

F 2 = 16(Ea2 Pb2 + Eb2 Pa2 + 2Ea2 Eb2 Pa2 Pb2 ) (105)

if we consider the case here the incident particle velocity is collinear
(Pa · Pb )2 = (Ea Eb + Pa Pb )2 = Ea2 Eb2 + Pa2 Pb2 + 2Ea2 Eb2 Pa2 Pb2 (106)
now clearing 2Ea2 Eb2 Pa2 Pb2 from 106 and using it on 105 we have
F 2 = 16((Pa · Pb )2 + Ea2 Pb2 + Eb2 Pa2 − Ea2 Eb2 − Pa2 Pb2 )

F 2 = 16((Pa · Pb )2 − (Ea2 − Pa2 )(Eb2 − Pb2 )) (107)

Finally using the expression for the relativistic energy we have
F = 4((Pa · Pb )2 − m2a m2b )1/2 (108)
Since 108 its written in terms of the four-momentum we can see that is Lorentz invariant, and
since the integral in 104 is Lorentz-invariant too, the cross section its Lorentz-invariant as well.

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4.1 Center-of-mas frame 4 LORENTZ-INVARIANT FLUX

4.1 Center-of-mas frame

As demonstrated before, the cross section is Lorentz invariant, so we can take any frame of
reference and work from there. So for a process such as a + b → 1 + 2 we will choose the most
convenient frame, that is, the center of mass frame. This
√ means that Pa = −Pb = Pi∗ and
P1 = −P2 = Pf∗ and the center of mass energy will be s = (Ea∗ + Eb∗ ), with this the Lorentz
invariant flux factor is
∗
∗ ∗ Pi Pi∗ √
F = 4Ea∗ Eb∗ (va + vb ) = 4Ea Eb ( ∗ + ) = 4p∗i (Eb∗ + Ea∗ ) = 4Pi∗ s
Ea Eb

using this an the fact that Pa + Pb = 0 we have that the cross section 104

(2π)−2 √ d3 P1 d3 P2
Z
2 3
σ= √ |M f i | δ( s − E1 − E 2 )δ (P 1 + P 2 ) (109)
4Pi∗ s 2E1 2E2

The δ 3 (P1 + P2 ) term means that P1 = −P2 , as stated before, with this the integral over d3 P2
banishes, hence
(2π)−2 √
Z
1
σ= ∗
√ |Mf i |2 δ( s − E1 − E2 )d3 P1 (110)
4Pi s 4E1 E2
making a change to spherical polar coordinates

d3 P1 = P12 dP1 sin(θ)dθφ = P12 dP1 dΩ

and writting the terms of energy inside the Dirac delta such as E22 = (s + P12 + P22 ) we have

(2π)−2 P12 √
Z q q
σ= √ |Mf i |2 δ( s − m21 + P12 + P22 − m22 + P12 + P22 )dP1 dΩ (111)
4Pi∗ s 4E1 E2

To solve this integral we will use the properties of the Dirac delta-function, for this the equation
111 will be written in the form
(2π)−2
Z
σ= √ |Mf i |2 g(P1 )δ(f (P1 ))dP1 dΩ (112)
4Pi∗ s

where
P12
g(P1 ) = (113)
4E1 E2
and
√ q q
f (P1 ) = s − m1 + P1 + P2 − m22 + P12 + P22
2 2 2
(114)
The Dirac delta-function imposes energy conservation and is only zero when P1 = Pf∗ , where
Pf∗ is a solution of f (Pf∗ ) = 0. Using the properties of the Dirac delta we have that the integral
over dP1 in 112 is
Z  −1
∗  df 
2 2
 
|Mf i | g(P1 )δ(f (P1 ))dP1 dΩ = |Mf i | g(Pf )  (115)
dP1 P ∗
f

to calculate df /dP1 we use 114 with this 115 becomes

−1 !
Pf∗2 Pf∗

∗  df  E1 E2
2
  2
|Mf i | g(Pf )  = |Mfi | ∗
= |Mf i |2 √
dP1  ∗Pf 4E1 E2 Pf E1 + E2 4 s

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 5 QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS

and we have
Pf∗
Z
1
σ= √ · √ |Mf i |2 dΩ
16π 2 Pi∗ s 4 s
finally the cross section for any tow − body → tow − bod process is

1 Pf∗
Z
σ= 2 ∗
|Mf i |2 dΩ∗ (116)
64π s Pi

the * on the solid angle element is to emphasise that it refers to the center-of-mass frame.

5 Quantum electrodynamics
For the QED, the LI matrix element for a scalar interaction consist of three parts, the strength
of the interacting particles at each vertices,hψ1 |V |ψ2 i and hψ3 |V |ψ4 i, and the exchange virtual
particle propagator with mas md
1
M = hψ1 |V |ψ2 i hψ3 |V |ψ4 i (117)
q 2 − m2d

to obtain the form of the matrix element from a scattering process e− e− → µ− µ− , we need the
corresponding expression of the interaction vertex. The polarization of the photon has to be
taking in to account, there for, the photon field Aµ can be written in terms of plane weave and
four-vectors ελ for a polarization state λ

Aµ = ελµ ei(p.x−Et)

For any real photon, the polarization four-vector is always transverse to the direction of motion,
so for example, a photon moving in the direction z has tow polarization vectors

ε(1) = (0, 1, 0, 0), ε(2) = (0, 0, 1, 0)

The fundamental interaction between fermion which charge q in a four-vector scalar potential
Aµ = (φ, A) is obtained by substituting

∂ν → ∂ν + iqAµ

where Aµ = (φ, −A) and ∂ν = (∂/∂t, ∇). Using these in the free particle Dirac equation we
have
(γ µ ∂µ + iqγ µ Aµ + im)ψ = 0 (118)
to obtain the desired potential energy operator (V), we mas first obtain the Hamiltonian. For
these we multiply 118 by iγ 0 , these gives
∂ψ
i + iγ 0 γ.∇ψ − qγ 0 γ µ Aµ ψ − mγ 0 ψ = 0 (119)
∂t
rewriting 119
∂ψ
(−iγ 0 γ.∇ + qγ 0 γ µ Aµ + mγ 0 )ψ = i
∂t
thus the Hamiltonian is

H = (−iγ 0 γ.∇ + mγ 0 ) + qγ 0 γ µ Aµ

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 6 ELECTRON- POSITRON ANNIHILATION

the terms in parenthesis is the free particle Hamiltonian, thus the potential operator is
VD = qγ 0 γ µ Aµ (120)
with these we are ready to calculate the matrix elements for the QED fundamental interaction.
Fallowing the example propose in the beginning, e− e− → µ− µ− , and using the corresponding
Dirac spinors for each vertex
1
M = hu(P3 )|V |u(P1 )i 2 hu(P4 )|V |u(P2 )i
q − m2d
for the photon mD = 0 so
1
M = hu(P3 )|V |u(P1 )i hu(P4 )|V |u(P2 )i (121)
q2
developing the expression hu(P3 )|V |u(P1 )i
hu(P3 )|V |u(P1 )i = u(P3 )† qγ 0 γ µ Aµ u(P1 )

hu(P3 )|V |u(P1 )i = qu(P3 )† γ 0 γ µ Aµ u(P1 ) (122)

u(P3 )† γ 0 = ū(P3 )
thus, 122 becomes
hu(P3 )|V |u(P1 )i = ū(P3 )γ µ Aµ u(P1 )
writing Aµ
hu(P3 )|V |u(P1 )i = ū(P3 )Qe eγ µ ελν u(P1 )
where QE is the electrons charge. Doing the same for hu(P4 )|V |u(P2 )i and taking in to account
the different polarizations of the photon, the equation 121 takes the form
X 1
M= [ū(P3 )Qe eγ µ u(P1 )]ελµ 2 ελ∗ µ
ν [ū(P2 )Qµ eγ u(P2 )] (123)
λ
q
The sum over the polarization of a virtual photon can be taken as
X
ελµ ελ ∗ν = −gµν
λ

thus the final form of the matrix element is

gµν
M = [ū(P3 )Qe eγ µ u(P1 )] [ū(P2 )Qµ eγ µ u(P2 )] (124)
q2
These is true for any QED interaction, in other words, the matrix element shown here is true
for a process of annihilation

6 Electron- positron annihilation

To obtain the complete cross section or transition rate, we must consider all the possible Feyn-
man diagrams for the process (e+ e− → µ+ µ− ). The diagram known as the lowest order (LO)
Feynman diagram is the one that only has tow interaction vertices, each of which contributes
by ieγ µ to the matrix element. All the other possible Feynman diagrams with more than 2
interaction vertices are known as next to leading order(NLO) diagrams, but since |M|2 ∝ α
e2
where α is the dimensionless fine structure constant, which is equal to α = 4π .
Since all the other NLO are suppressed bay a factor of α relative to the LO, then |M| converges
rapidly with the LO term being the dominant one, which means the we can ignore the other
NLO terms

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6.1 Electron Positron innahilation 6 ELECTRON- POSITRON ANNIHILATION

Figure 1: Lowest order (LO) Feynman diagram for the process (e+ e− −→ µ+ µ− )

6.1 Electron Positron innahilation

As shown before, the matrix element corresponding to the QED interaction is

−e2
M = 2 gµν [v̄(P2 )γ µ u(P1 )][ū(P3 )γ ν v(P4 )] (125)
q
where the four-vector probability currents for the electron and muon are

jeµ = v̄(P2 )γ µ u(P1 )

jµν = ū(P3 )γ ν v(P4 )

thus reducing equation 125 to the compact form

−e2
M= gµν jeµ .jµν (126)
q2
The four-momentum of the virtual photon is given by the conservation of energy, q = p1 + p2 =
p3 + p4 , therefor q 2 = (p1 + p2 )2 = s, where s is the center of mass energy squared. Hence 126
can be rewritten as
−e2 µ ν
M= j .j (127)
s e µ
The matrix element has to take in to account the spin states of the particles interacting
(e+ e− −→ µ+ µ− ). Since each particle can be in one of two helicity states (↑ (rigt), ↓ (lef t)),
there are four possible initial states and four possible final states, giving a total of sixteen
possible orthogonal helicity configuration and each has to be taken in to account to obtain the
total cross section. For example, for one particular case where the electron and positron have
both right anded helicity, the cross section is given by the sum of all the four possible |M|2
terms
X X
|MRR |2 = |MRR→RR |2 + |MRR→RR |2 + |MRL→RR |2 + |MLR→LL |2 (128)

this has to be done for every initial helicity configuration. With equation 128, the spin-averaged
matrix element squared is defined as
1X
|Mij |2 = |M|2 (129)
4 spin

this means that there are sixteen matrix elements that need to be calculated. For these, first
the helicity amplitudes have to be calculated.

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6.2 Helicity amplitudes 6 ELECTRON- POSITRON ANNIHILATION

6.2 Helicity amplitudes

In the ultra-relativistic limit where the masses of the particles can be ignore,s  mµ , the
four-momenta vector for each particle, as shown in figure 2 can be written as
P1 = (E, 0, 0, E) (130)

P2 = (E, 0, 0, −E) (131)

P3 = (E, E sin θ, 0, E cos(θ)) (132)

P4 = (E, −E sin θ, 0, −E cos(θ)) (133)

where, for convenience, the z-axis is parallel to the direction of the electrons, and the frame of
reference is in the center of mass.

@
µ−
P3

P1
e− / o ∠θ
e+
P2

P4
µ+

Figure 2: e+ e− −→ µ+ µ− annihilation process

In the ultra-relativistic limit, the helicity eigenstates can be approximated by

       
c −s s c
√ seiφ  √  iφ  √  iφ  √  iφ 
u↑ = E   , u↓ = E  ce  , v↑ = E −ce  , v↓ = E se  (134)
 c   s   −s   c 
iφ iφ iφ
se −ce ce seiφ

Where c = cos 2θ and s = sin 2θ . Utilizing equations 130-133 in 134, first fore the e− and e+ .
For e− θ = 0 and taking the angle φ = 0 since e− is the positive z-direction
   
1 0
√ 0 √ 1
u↑ (P1 ) = E  1 , u↓ (P1 ) = E  0 
   (135)
0 −1
now for e+ θ = π and φ = π, the corresponding spinors are
   
1 0
√ 0 √ −1
v↑ (P2 ) = E 
−1 , v↓ (P2 ) = E  0 
   (136)
0 −1
for simplicity, in the case of the µ+ and µ− the azimuthal angles are φ = π φ = 0 respectably.
The corresponding spinors for µ− are
   
c −s
√ s √  c 
u↑ (P3 ) = E 
c , u↓ (P3 ) = E  s 
   (137)
s −c

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6.3 Probability currents 6 ELECTRON- POSITRON ANNIHILATION

for µ+ c and s have to be rewrite as fallows

π−θ θ
c = cos = sin
2 2
π−θ θ
s = sin = cos
2 2
and the spinors are
   
c s
√ s √ −c
v↑ (P4 ) = E 
−c , v↓ (P4 ) = E  s 
   (138)
−s −c
From these, what fallows is calculating the corresponding four-vector probability currents,
making clever use of the properties of the γ-matrices.

6.3 Probability currents

To obtain equation 127 we must firs calculate the for possible probability currents corresponding
to the helicity states. For that we will make use of the Dirac-Pauli representation of the γ-
matrices, which states that for any tow spinors ψ Φ the relation ψ̄γ µ Φ ≡ ψ † γ 0 γ µ Φ

ψ † γ 0 Φ = ψ̄γ 0 γ 0 Φ (139)

we know that the product γ 0 γ 0 is equal to the identity matrix 1

    
1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0  0
  1 0 0  0
  1 0 0

0 0 −1 0  0 = 
0 −1 0  0 0 1 0
0 0 0 −1 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0 1

thus, equation 139 is the sum between product of the components of ψ and Φ

ψ † γ 0 Φ = ψ̄γ 0 γ 0 Φ = ψ1∗ Φ1 + ψ2∗ Φ2 + ψ3∗ Φ3 + ψ4∗ Φ4 (140)

now for the relation

ψ̄γ 1 Φ = ψ † γ 0 γ 1 Φ
again the product γ 0 γ 1 is
    
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
0 1 0 0  0
  0 1 0 0
  0 1 0

0 0 −1 0   0 −1 0 = 
0 0 1 0 0
0 0 0 −1 −1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
substituting γ 0 γ 1  ∗   
ψ1 0 0 0 1 Φ1
ψ2∗  0 0 1 0
 Φ2 
 
 ∗ 
ψ3  0 1 0 0 Φ3 
ψ4∗ 1 0 0 0 Φ4
which results in
ψ † γ 1 Φ = ψ̄γ 0 γ 1 Φ = ψ1∗ Φ4 + ψ2∗ Φ3 + ψ3∗ Φ2 + ψ4∗ Φ2 (141)

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6.3 Probability currents 6 ELECTRON- POSITRON ANNIHILATION

fallowing the same steps for γ 2 and γ 3 , we obtain

ψ † γ 2 Φ = ψ̄γ 0 γ 2 Φ = −i(ψ1∗ Φ4 − ψ2∗ Φ3 + ψ3∗ Φ2 − ψ4∗ Φ2 ) (142)

ψ † γ 3 Φ = ψ̄γ 0 γ 3 Φ = ψ1∗ Φ3 − ψ2∗ Φ4 + ψ3∗ Φ1 − ψ4∗ Φ2 (143)

Using these relation it is relatively easy to calculate the probability currents for the initial and
final state of every helicity configuration. Starting whit the electron currents
0
je,RR = v̄(P2 ) ↑ γ 0 u(P1 ) ↑= v(P2 )† ↑ γ 0 γ 0 u(P1 ) ↑

substituting v̄(P2 ) ↑ and u(P1 ) ↑

       
1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1
0
 0  0 1 0 0  0
  1 0 0 0  0  0
jeRR =E 
−1 0 0 −1 0  0
  = E    = 0
0 −1 0  1 −1 1
0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
1
for je,RR
1
je,RR = v̄(P2 ) ↑ γ 0 u(P1 ) ↑= v(P2 )† ↑ γ 0 γ 1 u(P1 ) ↑
using relation 141
1
je,RR = (1)(0) + (0)(1) + (−1)(0) + (0)(1) = 0
now for the rest of jeRR components

2
je,RR =0
3
je,RR =0
thus
je,RR = (0, 0, 0, 0) (144)
following the same steps, the rest of the probability currents corresponding to the possible
initial helicity states are
jeLL = (0, 0, 0, 0)
jeRL = 2E(0, −1, −i, 0)
jeLR = 2E(0, −1, i, 0)
The muon currents for the deferents helicity configuration corresponding to the final state are

jµ,RR = (0, 0, 0, 0)

jµ,LL = (0, 0, 0, 0)
jµ,LR = 2E(0, − cos(θ), −i, sin(θ))
jµ,RL = 2E(0, − cos(θ), i, sin(θ))

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6.4 Cross section 6 ELECTRON- POSITRON ANNIHILATION

6.4 Cross section

Once we have obtained the probability current for every possible outcome, we are left with only
4 possible annihilation processes out of the sixteen ones possible. From equation 127 we can
calculate the matrix elements, starting with the MRL→RL

e2
MRL→RL = [2E(0, −1, −i, 0)][2E(0, − cos(θ), i, sin(θ))]
s

e2
MRL→RL = (1 + cos(θ)) (145)
s
doing the same for the other 3 matrix elements remaining we obtain

e2
MRL→RL = MLR→LR = (1 + cos(θ))
s
e2
MRL→LR = MLR→RL = (1 + cos(θ))
s
thus equation 129 can be written
1
h|Mij |2 i = |MRL→RL |2 + |MRL→LR |2 + |MLR→RL |2 + |MLR→LR |2 (146)
4
substituting the corresponding Mi|

e2
[2(1 + cos(θ))2 + 2(1 − cos(θ))2 ]
s4

e2
h|Mij |2 i = (1 + cos2 (θ)) (147)
s

6.5 Trace techniques

The result computed before is only useful when the masses of the fermions are ignored, that
is, E  m. To calculate the complete form of the cross section the previous method is an
option, but this means that the 16 possible spin combinations must be calculated instead of the
4 calculated previously and this is far to complicated to do bay hand, so for this an analytic
approach will yield better results with the calculations. For this the completeness relations for
Dirac spinors and the trace of matrices will be what we use.

6.5.1 completeness relations

The completeness relation for the Dirac spinors lets us sum over the spin states of initial- and
final-state particles and is defined as
2
X
us (p)ūs (p) (148)
s=1

in here the sum is over two orthogonal spin states. The sum will be done using the helicity
basis for simplicity, but the u1 and u2 spinors can be use to. So we have
2 √
X X  P · σφs  √ √
√

us (p)ūs (p) = s P · σ̄φs† , P · σφs†
s=1 s
P · σ̄φ

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6.5 Trace techniques 6 ELECTRON- POSITRON ANNIHILATION

where    
1 1 2 0
φ = and φ =
0 1
and using the fact that
2
φs φs† = 1
X

s=1

where 1 is the identity matrix, we end up with

2 √ √ √ √ 
X P · σ P · σ̄ P · σ P · σ
us (p)ūs (p) = √ √ √ √
s=1
P · σ̄ P · σ̄ P · σ̄ P ·σ

Applying the identity

(P · σ)(P · σ̄) = P 2 = m2
results in
2  
X m P ·σ
us (p)ūs (p) =
P · σ̄ m
s=1

finally, this can be written as

2
us (p)ūs (p) = γ µ · P + m1 =6 p + m
X
(149)
s=1

where 6 P = γ µ P . In the same way

2
X
vs (p)v̄s (p) =6 p + m (150)
s=1

gsfgfgdfgdfgdfgfdgdfgf

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