The Goldstone Boson Equivalence Theorem

Jay Solanki

M2 High Energy Physics, Ecole Polytechnique.

February 9, 2024

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Table of content

1 The theorem statement

2 Proof of the theorem

3 Top quark decay

4 Electron-positron annihilation to W bosons

5 Conclusion

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The theorem statement

Figure: The Goldstone Boson Equivalence Theorem

Theorem : At high energy, the amplitude for emission or absorption of a

longitudinally polarized massive gauge boson becomes equal to the amplitude for
emission or absorption of the Goldstone boson that was eaten by the gauge boson.

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Proof of the theorem (for the special case)

Figure: The Ward identity

The relation linking the gauge current and the Goldstone boson :

⟨0| J µ |π(k)⟩ = −iF k µ (1)

Gauge boson mass :

m = gF (2)

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proof continued...

Ward identity :
i
kµ Γµ (k) + kµ (igF k µ ) Γ(k) = 0 (3)
k2
=⇒ kµ Γµ (k) = Γ(k) (4)
In the limit of large gauge boson momentum,

ϵLµ Γµ (k) = mΓ(k) (5)

with an error of order m2 /k 2 .

=⇒ In the high energy limit, the couplings of longitudinal gauge bosons become
precisely those of their associated Goldstone bosons.

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Top quark decay

Figure: Decay of a t quark into W + + b

The first guess of the top quark width

g2
Γ∼ mt (6)
4π
 2
mt
Correct expression is enhanced by the factor of mW .

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The amplitude for the decay : (we set CKM = 1)

ig 1 − γ5
iM = √ ū(q)γ µ ( )u(p)ϵ∗µ (k) (7)
2 2

In the Feynman gauge, squaring the amplitude and summing over spins gives

g2 µ ν
 
1 X kµ kν
|M|2 = [q p + q ν pµ − g µν q · p] −gµν + 2
2 2 mW
spins
(8)
g2
 
(k · q)(k · p)
= q·p+2 .
2 m2W

Considering mb = 0 and multiplying by phase space gives

2 
g 2 m3t m2 m2W
 
Γ= 1− W 1+2 2 (9)
64π m2W m2t mt

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The prediction of Goldstone boson equivalent theorem

Figure: Decay of a t quark into Goldstone boson and a b quark

∆L = λt b̄L ϕ+ tR (10)
1 + γ5
 
iM = iλt ū(q) u(p) (11)
2
1 X λ2 g 2 m3t
|M|2 = λ2t q · p =⇒ Γ = t mt = (12)
2 32π 64π m2W
spins

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Electron-positron annihilation to W bosons

Figure: Electron-positron annihilation to (a) charged scalar bosons (b) W bosons

dσ
πα2
e + e − → ϕ+ ϕ− = (13)
d cos θ 4s
2
dσ
πα 2
e+ e− → W + W − ∼ · |ϵ (k+ ) · ϵ (k− )| (14)
d cos θ 4s
k+ · k− s
ϵ (k+ ) · ϵ (k− ) → → (15)
m2W 4m2W
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Violation of the Unitarity ?!

Solution : Cancellation between Feynman diagrams behaving badly

Seems impossible but required by the Goldstone boson equivalence theorem

Cancellations are directed by Ward identities

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Conclusion

A rapidly moving longitudinally polarized massive gauge boson betrays its

origin as a Goldstone boson.
The only theories of massive vector bosons that do not have violent
high-energy behavior are those that result from spontaneously broken
gauge theories.
Proved systematically by Cornwall, Levin and Tiktopoulos.

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