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  • TBBT Physics Bowl - Analysis

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    sid_senadheera
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    The document analyzes the physics problem presented in an episode of The Big Bang Theory. It notes that the Feynman diagram shown is incorrect for the basic QED process described. It then walks through solving the integral stated in the problem, working through it in the center of mass frame. It finds that in the ultra-relativistic limit, with both particles in the same helicity state, the scattering matrix element simplifies to a four-scalar.

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    Tbbt Physics Bowl - Analysis

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    The document analyzes the physics problem presented in an episode of The Big Bang Theory. It notes that the Feynman diagram shown is incorrect for the basic QED process described. It then walks through solving the integral stated in the problem, working through it in the center of mass frame. It finds that in the ultra-relativistic limit, with both particles in the same helicity state, the scattering matrix element simplifies to a four-scalar.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    3K views1 page

    TBBT Physics Bowl - Analysis

    Uploaded by

    sid_senadheera
    The document analyzes the physics problem presented in an episode of The Big Bang Theory. It notes that the Feynman diagram shown is incorrect for the basic QED process described. It then walks through solving the integral stated in the problem, working through it in the center of mass frame. It finds that in the ultra-relativistic limit, with both particles in the same helicity state, the scattering matrix element simplifies to a four-scalar.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    TBBT Physics Bowl [ANALYSIS OF THE LAST QUESTION]

    In one of the episodes of The Big Bang Theory, the gang enters into the department physics bowl. Near the end, Sheldon was stunned by the following Feynman diagram problem:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZLwz1zMSzE&feature=related [THIS FEYNMAN DIAGRAM IS WRONG]

    Considering that this is one of the basic diagram for QED, it would be impossible for the character to not even recognize the problem. Anyway, the janitor then answered that the correct answer is . It is incorrect. Well, at least not without additional conditions not specified by the problem. The integral stated in the problem is: Integrating over delta function is easy by definition. We get the usual definition of scattering matrix element: after we dropped the delta function term It gets messy from this point on, since the Dirac wave functions are not simple and frame dependent. Let's go to the simplest frame possible: the center of mass frame. Here all the three momenta has the same magnitude, . In this frame, due to conservation of momentum, we also have .

    is the scattered angle of the particle. In the CM frame, one of the square bracket is: where can be e.g. the electron mass, CM frame energy. and are shorthand for incoming and outgoing three-momentum. therefore the angle between them. Assuming both particles are ulta-relativistic, the is

    , this expression simplify to:

    If both electron and muon are in the same (positive) helicity state, then both square bracket gives the same answer in the ultra-relativistic limit. So, we have the four-scalar:

    Substituting back into the scattering matrix element:

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