WHOLENESS CHART 3-X: QED/FIELD THEORY OVERVIEW

Part 2. From Operators and Propagators to Feynman Rules

INTERACTING FIELDS
In theory, the non-linear coupled partial differential interaction fields equations of Part 1 can be
solved simultaneously to get interacting fields solutions and hence complete descriptions of all
interactions. In practice this has not been possible and the following perturbation scheme has
been developed. Note though that the treatment is exact until approximation is made in
“Dyson Expansion of S Operator” block below.
Interaction Picture Approach
Interaction d
Motion of states governed by H II : i α I (t ) = H II (t ) α I (t )
picture dt
H I = H 0I + H II dO I (t )
Motion of operators governed by H 0I = H 0 i = O I (t ), H 0
dt

φ, ψ, Aµ are operators, so depend on H0 only. Further, for them the above operator equation
reduces to the free field equations in the first block of Part 1 of this chart. See Heisenberg Eq
of Motion to Field Eq.
Results of Can use:
Interaction 1. free field operator solutions of Part 1 for interaction picture fields
Picture 2. free field number operators for interactions.
3. free field observables operators.
4. free field Feynman propagators
5. state equations of motion in H II to determine change in state in time (i.e., interactions)

H II Spatial integral of I
1/ 2,1
=− I
1/ 2,1
with operators taken as free field solutions = H II .
µ
e.g., for QED H II = d 3 x I
I
with I
I
= − eψ γ Aµψ

New Notation Use H I , I for H II , I I with free field solutions used in usual expressions for H II , I
I
. Drop
superscript “I” on states and other operators as well.
S Operator General scattered state: φ (t = ∞) = S φ (t = −∞) = S i
i = initial state, an eigenstate. f = a final eigenstate. (Eigenstates are often multiparticle.)

General final state (sum of final eigenstates) = φ (t = ∞) . S is non-zero for time of interaction
by adiabatic hypothesis.
S Matrix S fi = f S i = f | φ (t = ∞) so Φ (t = ∞) = f S fi
f

For given i , probability of finding eigenstate f is |Sfi |2.

Conservation of probability (not particles) is | S fi |2 = 1
f
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Dyson expansion Integrating state equation of motion (I.P. block near top): φ (t = ∞) = i + (−i ) ∞
dt ′H I (t ′) φ (t ′)
of S operator −∞

Cannot integrate in closed form, but via iteration

exact: ∞ ( −i ) n ∞ ∞ 4
S= ..... d x1 d 4 x2 ...d 4 xnT { ( x1 ) ( x2 )... ( xn )}
n=0 n ! −∞ −∞ I I I

To this point treatment is exact. Perturbation arises from using fewer than an infinite number
of terms in the above.
2nd order: ∞ 4 (−i ) 2 ∞ 4 4
S ≅ I + ( −i ) d x1 I ( x1 ) + d x1d x2T { ( x1 ) ( x2 )}
−∞ 2! −∞
I I

Contractions of Definition: AB = 0 T { AB} 0 = Feynman propagators if A and B are fields.

|_|
operators
φ ( x1 )φ † ( x2 ) = φ † ( x2 )φ ( x1 ) = i∆ F ( x1 − x2 )
|_______| |________|

Special cases: ψ a ( x1 )ψ β ( x2 ) = −ψ β ( x2 )ψ a ( x1 ) = iS Fαβ ( x1 − x2 )

|_________| |__________|

Aµ ( x1 ) Aν ( x2 ) = iDFµν ( x1 − x2 )
|_________|

Extended Wick’s
Theorem
{ } (
T : ( AB...) x ....... : ( AB...) xn = : ( AB...) x ....... : ( AB...) xn
1 1 )
+ : ( AB...) x1 ( AB...) x2 ...
|___________|

+ : ( AB...) x1 ( AB...) x2 ...

|_____________|

+ .............

+ : ...( A...Z ) xn−1 ( A...Z ) xn

|_____________|

+ ( AB...) x1 ( AB...) x2 ...

|_|_________| |
|___________|

+ (all other normal ordered non equal time double contractions)

+ (all normal ordered non equal time triple contractions)
+ etc.
I I =− I
1/ 2,1
= −e
l
: {ψ l Aµ γ µψ l } = − e
l
{
: (ψ l + + ψ l − )( A + + A − )(ψ l + + ψ l − ) }
where l = 1 for electrons (and positrons), 2 for muons, and 3 for tauons.
Dyson Expansion Using above in Dyson expansion of S operator and using extended Wick’s theorem to evaluate
the time ordered normal ordered integrand yields
∞
S= S (n ) = S (1) + S (2) + S (3) + ... (higher order terms)
n =0

For simplicity, only l = 1 (electrons and positrons) treated below.

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Operator Matrix Elements

(0)
S =I fi = f S
S (0) (0)
i
no transition of particles f = i typical process: e − , γ → e− , γ

no virtual particles, no 4 momentum change

{ }x1
(1)
S = (−i ) d 4 x1 : −eψ l Aµ γ µψ l Typical non-physical process:
e-
= 8 terms but these processes are not real
physical processes.
e+
(2)
S
SA(2)
=
−e 2
2! {
d 4 x1d 4 x2 : (ψ Aψ ) x (ψ Aψ ) x
1 2
} Two processes like S(1) above going on
independently.
No real physical processes.

SB(2) −e 2
(2)
S Bfi = f S B (2) i
= d 4 x1d 4 x2 : (ψ Aψ ) x1 (ψ Aψ ) x2
2! |________|

+ : (ψ Aψ ) x1 (ψ Aψ ) x2 typical process (Compton scattering):

|____________________|

i = e − , γ → f = e− , γ
= −e 2
d x1d x2 : (ψ Aψ ) x1 (ψ Aψ ) x2
4 4
|________| with virtual electron mediating scatter.
= terms describing Compton scattering of
electrons and positrons by photons, electron-
positron creation and annihilation, and a x2 ()
number of non-physical processes e- e-
() x1
= all two external lepton, two external photon
interaction terms.

SC(2) −e 2
(2)
SCfi = f SC (2) i
= d 4 x1d 4 x2 : (ψ Aψ ) x1 (ψ Aψ ) x2
2! |______________|
typical process (Bhabbha scattering):
= all four external lepton interaction terms
e − , e+ → e − , e+

e- e-
x2 x1
() ()

e+ e+
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SD(2) (2)
S Dfi = f S D (2) i
= −e 2
d x1d x2 : (ψ Aψ ) x1 (ψ Aψ ) x2
4 4
| |________| | electron and positron self energy
|_____________|

= 2 physical processes
x2 x1
() ()

SE(2) (2)
S Efi = f S E (2) i
−e 2
= d 4 x1d 4 x2 : (ψ Aψ ) x1 (ψ Aψ ) x2
2! | |________| | photon self energy
|__________________|

x2 x1

SF(2) (2)
S Ffi = f S F (2) i
−e 2
= d 4 x1d 4 x2 : (ψ Aψ ) x1 (ψ Aψ ) x2 vacuum bubble
2! | | |________| | |
| |_____________| |
|__________________|
x2 x1

S(3), S(4), etc. Higher order terms. Ignored for now.

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Sample Compton scattering, two ways:

probability
determination

x2 () x2 ()
e- e- e- e-
() x1 () x1

S B(2)
1 S B(2)2

See Box 3-1 for derivation of the following

f S i Comp
= f S B1(2) + S B 2 (2) i
1/ 2 1/ 2 1/ 2 1/ 2
m m 1 1
= (2π ) δ 2 (4)
( p′ + k ′ − p − k )
VE p VE p′ 2V ωk 2V ωk ′
{M B1 + M B 2 }

where
M B1 = − e 2us′,α (p′)ε rµ′ (k ′)γ µαβ iS F βδ (q = p + k )ε νr (k )γνδη us ,η (p )

M B 2 = − e2us′,α (p′)ε rµ′ (k )γ µαβ iS F βδ (q = p − k )ε νr (k ′)γνδη us ,η (p)

2
Probability of Compton scattering = f S i Comp

Assumption: Particles are plane waves in a box where V = volume of box.

Adding When two or more diagrams have the same external particles in and out, add amplitudes for
amplitudes each contributing diagram, then square the absolute value of result to get probability.
For probability that any of two or more outcomes (different external particles out) may occur
from the same external particles in, square absolute value of individual amplitudes first
and then add.
2 ways to
1) go through tedious derivation like Box 3-1 for each interaction
calculate
2) use short cut of Feynman rules (listed in Appendix ?)
probability
All three lepton types treated below.
Mixed lepton S Each ψ Aψ term in S expression above for single lepton type replaced by ψ l Aψ l term.
operator l

(ψ ) (ψ
∞ (ie) n ∞
)x
∞ 4 3 3
S= ..... d x1 ...d 4 xn .... T : l1 Aψ l1 x ... : Aψ l
n=0 n !
−∞ −∞ l =1 l =1
ln n n
1 n 1
-
= terms like previous blocks for e , e+ +
“ “ “ “ “ muons +
“ “ “ “ “ tauons +
terms mixing lepton types.
Typical
e− + e+ → µ − + µ + (with photon mediating.)
interaction
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Mixed lepton 1) Draw all relevant Feynman diagrams which conserve N(e), N(µ), N(τ) at each vertex.
summary 2) Write Feynman amplitude for each diagram directly (from Feynman rules.)

Part 3: Scattering and Decay

To be included in the future.
Part 4: Renormalizaton
To be included in the future.