ran ban Basic Principles & Quantum Electrodynamics ROBERT D. KLAUBERSolutions to Problems for Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory Basic Principles and Quantum Electrodynamics Robert D. Klauber fQL 4 708259419 41-4419 17448 K 5282. Qo} al Solutions to Problems for Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory Basic Principles and Quantum Electrodynamics Copyright © of Robert D. Klauber WARNING! This book is in printed format only. ALL DIGITAL VERSIONS ARE UNAUTHORIZED. If you upload or download an ebook version of this work, you are causing hardship for the author and committing a crime. To obtain a hard copy, please go to the website shown opposite pg. 1-1, which lists legitimate sources for purchasing this book. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or translated into machine language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author, his heirs if he is no longer alive, or the publisher, except for i) parts of this book also found online at the web site for this book (and subject to copyright notice there), and ii) brief quotations embodied in research articles or reviews. Any permissible public use must cite this book, or the book website, as the source. Published November 2014 by Sandtrove Press Fairfield, lowa sandtrovepress @ gmail.com Library of Congress Control Number: 2014919475 ISBN: 978-0-9845 139-6-3 Printed in the United States of AmericaUsing This Booklet Finding Particular Problem Solutions without a Table of Contents For this booklet, a table of contents is superfluous, since each page of each section herein is numbered with the corresponding chapter number of the parent text Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory (SFQFT) followed by a dash and the page number within the section. For examples, the solutions for Chapter 8 of SFQFT are found in this booklet on the eighteen pages numbered 8-1 to 8-18; for Chapter 12, on the four pages numbered 12-1 to 12-4. Since problems in each chapter are numbered sequentially, one merely needs to use the page numbers herein to find the appropriate chapter’s solutions, then the problem numbers, to locate the particular solution sought. The Best Learning Experience You will generally learn better if you first try to solve the problems without looking at the solutions. If, after some time, you find you have ground to a halt and are having difficulty proceeding further, then referring to the solution can help. You may want to try looking only at the section of a given solution for the particular part of a problem that seems more difficult, and then see if you can solve the rest of it on your own. Why This Booklet? This booklet is a response to requests from readers of the text Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory for a compilation of solutions to the problems in that text. While there may be some advantages to not providing such solutions in order to force students to work them out thoroughly, there are other advantages in doing so (such as increasing efficiency in learning by saving student time and providing immediate feedback on whether the student has solved a given problem correctly). In mulling over the pros and cons, I found one fact decisive. In today’s internet age, students everywhere are now posting solutions for textbook problems online, for ready access by anyone. If solutions will be available to students anyway, then why not improve their accuracy by having them done by the text author, himself? And why not make them available in hard copy? And so this booklet came to be. Acknowledgments Holger Teutsch is my sine qua non for this booklet, and without question, a technical book editor of the highest order. He graciously volunteered to check over every problem solution herein, did so in a superb and precise manner, found numerous errata, and made many suggestions for improving solutions, problem statements, and related sections in the parent text. I lack the skill to express my gratitude to him in any fully satisfactory way and so, simply say “Thank you, my friend and colleague”. At an earlier stage, when the book was being written, Morgan Orcutt did all book problems, and checked my hand written solutions against his. Many corrections and valuable changes came out of that enterprise, and to him, I also offer a marginally adequate at best, but sincere, “Thank you”. Others who checked significantly sized subsets of solutions include Thomas Fowler, Christian Maennel, David Scharf, Jimmy Snyder, and Jon Tyrrell. They, too, have my heartfelt thanks and appreciation. With regard to accuracy, however, what I state in the parent text is also true here. Any errors or insufficiencies that may still remain are my responsibility, and mine alone. Robert D. Klauber November 2014The website for this booklet is the same as that of the parent text, www.quantumfieldtheory.info Please use it to find a list of corrections for this printing and to report any errors you might find herein.Chapter 1 Problem Solutions Problem 1. Draw a Feynman diagram for a muon and anti-muon annihilating one another to produce a virtual photon, which then produces an electron and a positron. Using simplified symbols to represent more complex mathematical quantities (that we haven’t studied yet), show how the probability of this interaction would be calculated. Ans. (first part). Time ut et > Ans. (second part). Note that your destruction operators must be different than the example in the chapter in that they now destroy a muon and antimuon instead of an electron and positron. The construction operators must also be different, for similar reasons. Transition amplitude = (e* e (HA, ve ) (ai Awe ) |" uw) : 4 x, Xy 7) | ' | Note that we have labeled the destruction and creation operators with superscript 4 and e to distinguish whether they create or destroy muon/anti-muons or electron/positrons, respectively. 0) transition amplitude = x e (WA, ve ) (A), & 2 I x | 0) e e). = (e* e|s 4 Hut eet = (eRe ve), Kk: =5 (e* & |K{K}K; e e) 4 just a number without operators. =(S,_ - ) (ev eller e") =S - (Supt eet Po x Meet SS i probability of interaction = (Sut oe ) (Suet pare ) = (Sururs ee ) 7 Problem 6. Using the corresponding Poisson bracket relation {X, px} = 1, we deduce, from first quantization postulate #2, that, quantum mechanically, [X, py] = ih . For this commutator acting on a function y, i.e., [X, py] w= ihy, determine what form p, must have. Is this an operator? Does it look like what you started with in elementary QM, and from which you then derived the commutator relation above? Can we go either way? Then, take the eigenvalue problem Ey=Hy, and use the same form of the Hamiltonian H as used in classical mechanics (i.e., p’/2m + V), with the operator form you found for p above. This last step is the other part of first quantization. . Did you get the time independent Schrédinger equation? (You should have. © ) Do you see how, by starting with the Poisson brackets and first quantization, you can derive the basic assumptions of NRQM, i.e., that dynamic variables become operators, the form of those operators, and even the time independent Schrédinger equation, itself? We won’t do it here, but from that point, one could deduce the time dependent Schrédinger equation, as well. 1-1Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory Ans. (first part) We ask what form p, must have to satisfy the commutation relation [X. ply =X ppv -peX y= ihy, (A) where we remind the reader that for us, X represents the Cartesian coordinate in the x direction If py were a constant, (A) would equal zero, so p, is not a constant. If p, were a function, represented here by f(X ), then [X.p.]y =[X. FOO ]y =x fOOw- F(X) Xy=0, SO px is not a function. d . Consider p, =C x , where C is a constant to be determined. Then, (A) becomes d d ; [X,p.]v =XC7 ow -CoeXx y=ihy : (B) =xcth cK y-cx%=- eX y=-cy 3 c=-in. dx dx ax dx Thus, a form for p, that solves (A) is d =-ih—, Cc Py = thy (C) and this p, is an operator (a differential one). d For any form such as p, =C f OX) the LHS of (A) is only true if C f (X )= — ih, ie., if f (X ) is not actually a function of X and thus p, has the same form as in (C). Additionally, any form having higher derivatives leaves the LHS of (A) equal to zero. Thus, it appears (C) is the only solution for p, that yields (A). This is the same operator one usually starts with in NROM to derive the commutator relation [X, py ] = if. Here we did it in reverse. Seems we can go either way Ans. (second part) Now consider the eigenvalue problem Ey=Hy and use the classical value for H, but substitute the operator value of (C) for py in H. ( 2.) 2 ~ih } 2.92 ox -i 0 ey=ny=(Zav\y= = +V v-( ™ wy. The RH and LH sides of this equation are the time independent Schrédinger equation. So we have shown that by starting with the commutator relation (A) (one postulate of first quantization), we can show that p, is an operator, and derive its form. Then, by assuming the quantum Hamiltonian has the same form as the classical Hamiltonian (the other postulate of first quantization), we deduced the time independent Schrédinger equation. 1-2Chapter 2 Problem Solutions Problem 1. Pretend you are scientist in the pre MKS system days, with knowledge of Newton’s laws. Units of meters for length, kilograms for mass, and seconds for time have been proposed. What units would force be measured in? Ans. (first part). kg: m/s. From (F= ma.) Would it be appropriate to give the units for force the shortcut name “newton”? Ans. (second part). Yes. (Since it comes from Newton’s ae law.) Could you have, alternatively, chosen units for other quantities than length, mass, and seconds as fundamental, and derived units for the remaining quantities? Ans. (third part). Yes. Could you have chosen the speed of sound as one of your basic units and selected it as equal to one and dimensionless? Ans. (fourth part). Yes. If so, and time in seconds was another basic unit, what units would length have? Ans. (fifth part). Seconds. (From speed of sound = 1 (dimensionless) = (length units)/seconds. Problem 2. The fine structure constant @ in the Gaussian system (cgs with electromagnetism) is e"lAniic, dimensionless, and approximately equal to 1/137. Without doing any calculations and without looking at Wholeness Chart 2-1, what are its algebraic expression, its dimensions, and its numerical value in natural units? Ans. (first part). e/4n, no dimensions, 1/137 Why can you find the dimensions and numerical value so easily? Ans. (second part). A dimensionless quantity in cgs will be dimensionless in natural units. This may be most easily seen by first noting that a given quantity with dimension like length has different numerical values in different systems of units. 3 meters is 300 cm. But a dimensionless ratio like (3 meters)/(2 meters) = 1.5 dimensionless in MKS expressed in cgs, is (300 cm)/(200 cm) = 1.5 dimensionless, i.e., the same numerical value and still dimensionless. In natural units, this quantity would be still be length/length = dimensionless (where length has M ~ ' dimensions), and since the numerator and denominator in cgs units would each be multiplied by the same constant to get to natural units, the numerical value of the ratio would be the same, as well. The same logic applies to any dimensionless quantity in cgs converted to natural units. (Take care, however, that it doesn’t always work in reverse. c is dimensionless and equal to one in natural units, but not dimensionless and equal to one in cgs.) Does charge have dimensions in natural units? Ans. (third part). No. (Because lan has no dimensions.) Without looking up the electron charge in Gaussian units, calculate the charge on the electron in natural units. Ans. (fourth part). 0.303. (Solve 1/137 = e7/4n for e.) Problem 3. Suppose we have a term in the Lagrangian density of form n°, where m has dimensions of mass. What is the dimension M, in natural units, of the field ¢? Ans. M. (£ has dimensions M 4 so only this choice gives mg? the dimension M 4) of : a . . : : Problem 4. a) Derive x =g “xg. [Hint: Use (2-5) and (2-6), or alternatively, use the matrix form of the contravariant metric tensor along with column vectors in terms of Cartesian coordinates] Note that this relation and (2-5) hold in general for any 4D vector, not just the position vector. Ans. (part a)). op 2 Algebraically, x%= g?xg= gh 8px = OF xv =x* QED. wes n~ (2-5) (2-6) 2-1Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory Alternatively, via matrix multiplication, e] fe 10 0 O]fx 0 0 of +] fry] |* X 1 ; X, |? 0-1 0 0 0-1 0 O||-x Xx y x%= 7 =|! jag? x, = 7 |. ya[“112[* Jax" QED. 7 X, 0 0 -1 Oj/m!] {0 O -1 O}T-xX,] | X,] |x x? X; 0 0 O ~I]} x, 0 0 0 -I}|-xX; X; 3 | 3 b) Express a dy in terms of i) contravariant and covariant 4D components, and ii) in terms of time ¢ and Cartesian coordinates X; . Ans. (part b)). i) 049, = 8°, +0", +370, +32, She es he ii) a9 99 9 CK 0 99 2 # _ a _ 2 “dt ot AX, 0X, AX, 0X, OX,0X; ar? aX, aX,’ aX,’ where superscript “2” on 0, t, and X in ii) represents second derivative. (Superscript “2” had a different meaning in i).) Note that 0” 6, is called the d’Alembertian operator and is the 4D Minkowski coordinates analogoue of the 3D Laplacian operator 0;0;=0 0. c) Then find a dy (x7 xq), where physical length of the interval of x7 is Vx%%e , 1) by expressing all terms in ¢ and X;, and ii) solely using 4D component notation. (For the last part, note, from a), that dx? / xg = gv and from (2-5), ax, / ax? = Bap) Ans. (part c)). 2 2 x 7 i) 23g tag) =| Sp eR Ze |e 7 (aa) (ay) a2 29 24220 I 2 2 ii) 00, (x*x,)=0" (25). +x" (2s) = (Six. +278 q,) =" (%1 +%y) OX) , Ox, AX OX; = 20x, = 2) —? ++ +2 + 3 |= 2(4) =8. “a (Fees S | Problem 5. Obtain your answers to the following question by inspection of the final equation in Box 2-2, and then ask yourself whether or not your conclusion feels right intuitively. If ¢” were a sinusoid, how would the physical momentum density of a short wavelength wave compare to that of a longer one? se . 2 . . . Ans. Greater. (Because the derivative with respect to x' of @" = sin——x=sinkx = sin? xhas greater amplitude for a 1 A h g iP. short wavelength than a long one. So, (B2-2.3) would have a higher magnitude for A ) THE FOLLOWING PART OF THE QUESTION WAS DELETED IN EDITIONS AFTER THE FIRST, AS THE ANSWER DEPENDS ON KNOWLEDGE NOT PRESENTED AT THIS POINT IN THE TEXT. If conjugate momentum density, in some way, measures the rate at which a field changes its values, how does physical momentum density depend on the speed at which a field changes? Ans. (deleted part). One would expect the answer to be ‘it makes it higher for higher rate of change’, but it will turn out that the normalization factors used effectively cancel the effect, and time variation (think of a field moving back and forth, up and down) has no impact on physical momentum (density or total), which is related to motion in the direction of travel (which is not simply back and forth, but translates.) 2-2Chapter 2 Problem Solutions Problem 6. Consider a classical, non-relativistic field of dust particles in outer space that are so diluted they do not exert any measurable pressure on one another. There is no gravitational, or other, potential density, i.e., V(x') = 0. The density of particles is p (x), which for our purposes we can consider constant in time. The displacement of the field (movement of each dust particle at each point) from its initial position is designated by the field value g(x). r= 1,2,3, here, as there is a component of displacement, measured in length units, in each of the 3 spatial directions. ¢” and x’ are : : r : : : both measures of length, but the x are fixed locations in space, whereas the g are displacements of the particles, in 3 spatial directions, relative to their initial positions. What is the kinetic energy density in terms of the field displacement ¢” (actually, it is in terms of the time derivatives of +\2 24\2 «y\2 +4\2 eae ¢” and ¢,)? Ans. (first part). +p(9) =tp((¢) + (e) + (#) ) =1p(¢" e ) with r’a summed dummy variable. 22 +)2 What is the Lagrangian density for the field? Ans. (second part). £= 7 -V =4p(9) -0= 4p(4) Use (2-13) to find the differential equation of motion for the displacement 9”. a(t o(d) a(t o(d)” Ans. (third pat), 9 2 [24 | 92.9 ,2- algotoy) Abel") ax“| ag", } ag” ax | ag", ag" 0 = 0 except when w=0 i.e. 00" is in denom 2 [Aldol"o)) | aloe") _ gro ~ ax? ae" “a Is this just Newton’s second law for a continuous medium with no internal or external force? _ Ans. (4th part). Yes. Problem 7. Without looking back in the chapter, write down the Euler-Lagrange equation for fields. This is a good thing to memorize. Ans. See (2-13). Problem 8. In a 3D Cartesian coordinate system, the metric gyy = Suv , the Kronecker delta, where “u,v take on only values 1,2,3. In that case, it is better expressed as gj = 6j. Show that, in such a system, x' = x; , velocity v= y;, and 3- momentum p' = p;. = I = ei) = yi = ii = ui} onl X; = ByX x, = 65x xXEKx V; = BY >, = Gy 7 Vy,=V Ans. Pi = BP’ > P= 9; P’ > DP, = P’ Problem 9. Why are the Hamiltonian and the Hamiltonian density not Lorentz scalars? If they are to represent energy and energy density, respectively, does this make sense? (Does the energy of an object or a system have the same value for all observers? Do you measure the same kinetic energy for a plane passing overhead as someone on board the plane would?) Energy is the zeroth component of the four momentum p,. Does one component of a four vector have the same value for everyone? Ans. From a simple physical example of a moving free particle (no potential V involved), we know H = T= 2 mv. But to an observer moving with relative velocity to us, the velocity she measures v’ is different from the v we measure. Hence the energy (Hamiltonian) she measures for the particle is different from what we measure. It is not Lorentz invariant (same for all observers.) From a mathematical standpoint, energy is the o* component of the 4-momentum p“. Any given component of a 4- vector is not Lorentz invariant, so the energy (Hamiltonian) cannot be Lorentz invariant. For energy density, it is the 0" component of the 4-momentum density 4, and thus it is not Lorentz invariant either. 2-3Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory Problem 10. (Do this problem only if you have extra time and want to understand relativity better.) Construct a column like those shown in Wholeness Chart 2-2 for the Relativistic Particle case, but do the entire summary in terms of relativistically covariant relationships. (That is, start with world (proper) time 7 and fill in the boxes using 4D momentum, etc.) Keep it simple by treating only a free particle (no potential involved.) Ans. Relativistic Particle (Free particle case only) Independent variable Tt Coordinates =x4(r), w=0,1,2,3 Lagrangian density not applicable for particle dt! Lagrangian L(x" ju” ,t)=4mu,u" where u“ =——, mu,u“ =mc? grang ( )=ymu, ae a! aI Action S=|Ldt Euler- Lagrange equation <( OL )-S-0 (From & = 0.) dt\ ou" ) ax! Equations of motion d {OL aL d . —| — j= —-— — Os — mh, = for chosen coordinates dt\ du" } axt dt * Conjugate momentum wa ; Py= = mu density ; total OF out x Physical momentum : n/a ; =conjugate momentum density ; total pe Alternative formulation L= L(x", py.) Hamiltonian density; total n/a; H=p,u"-L#T+V Note p,u" =mu,u" = mc? (constant) Hamiltonian’s Equations 3 __ 0H a, _ oH Satie 57 PH ae ae “Op, for conjugate variables Poisson Brackets, definition same as Non-relativistic Particle, but different meaning for p; Equations of motion in terms of Poisson brackets i) any variable ii) conjugate variables Poisson Brackets for conjugate variables form of Non-relativistic Particle form of Non-relativistic Particle 2-4Chapter 2 Problem Solutions Problem 11. Consider the unitary operator U = e! M1" where H is the Hamiltonian, and a non-energy eigenstate ket, |v) =C,|ve,)+Cy|we,) . What is Uy)? Ans. U|y) =e! |y) = ec, |W; ) +e MC, |y, \=Ce™ |v, ) +6" ly, ) Problem 12. Consider the unitary operator U =e Hl) ana lve) =| Ae il Eo- P-x)) , an energy eigenstate at time fo, What is U lye)? Ans. (first part). U | a) _ ei (t-ty) Going from the LHS of the second equal sign to the RHS of it can be considered simply by interpreting H as an operator that yields the energy eigenvalue when operating on an eigenstate. (Along with an understanding of the Ae ito a) = HElt-t) a Ae Ht) AE a) | ae teres) bottom part of Box 2-3, pg. 27.) If one needs to think of H as a differential operator, i.e, as H =—i s , then see the footnote!. Does U here act as a translator of the state in time? That is, does it have the effect of moving the state that was fixed in time forward in time, and turning it into a dynamic entity rather than a static one? Ans. (second part). Yes. If we operate on this new dynamic state with u', would we turn it back into a static state? Ans, (third part). Yes. ut acter pn) = etiH(t-t0) Ae ilEt- ps) = etiBltt0) acteps)) =|aetiPole Er prt) | 4er(Et Ps) =|ve). Or simply U* ciet-p) =U'U|We) =|Wz)- Is that not what we do when we operate on a Schrédinger picture state to turn it into a (static) Heisenberg picture state? (Earlier in the chapter we took fo = 0 to make things simpler.) Ans. (fourth part). Yes. 0 ' One might consider that -i— —i(Et)— pex : . . . re Ae {Etp—P ) equals zero, since the ket is a function of fp, while the derivative is with respect to t. However, consider, by way of analogy, that we wish to know the derivative of a function f(x) at Xo, i.e., the slope d d f of the curve at f(xo). We do not take —f(%)= 0. We take — f(x) =f (x). That is, we take the derivative first dx dx x= XO of f(x) with respect to x, then we evaluate that derivative at x = Xo. Similarly, the H operation is a (partial) derivative with respect to t of a function (the ket) of t, evaluated at t = fo. That is, what we are doing in the first line of the answer to Prob. 12 in x) ~i( Et- p« going between the LHS and RHS of the second equal sign is {5 Ae (Bp "yh . t=h 2-5Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory Problem 13. (Problem added in revision of 2™ edition). Express the components po of 4-momentum for a photon. Assume it is traveling in the x! direction. Use natural units where speed of light c =1. (Hint: Use energy expressed in terms of frequency f and 3-momentum in terms of wave length 4.) Then show that even though pt #0, (py = po Pu= 0. (Hint: Use speed of light expressed in terms of frequency and wave length.) Does this make sense in light of (2-55), given what we know about the photon mass? Then express ph A/2z. (= 1 in natural units). Ans. (first part). E hf : h/a pi=|P |= 0 0 0 0 Ans. (second part). h/a h/a For c=fa=1 > p4= 0 > 0 . : 2 Yes, it makes sense, since (p)” = m’, and m,=0. Ans. (third part) ho hf 2x | |ho a h/Aa hk hk pt= =|—|= 0 2a 0 0 0 0 2-6 in terms of @ =2af and wave number k = 22/A where fi = h/a -A/A Ay (hy = re |e ch poly | > ore(5) GJ -° 0 Qo natural - k units “10 0Chapter 3 Problem Solutions Problem 1. Substitute (3-9) into the non-relativistic Schrédinger equation (3-1), and also the relativistic Klein-Gordon equation (3-8), to prove to yourself that only terms with exponential form —i(E,t — pn°x)/h solve the Schrédinger equation, but all terms in (3-9) solve the Klein-Gordon equation. Do you see that the single time derivative in the former equation, and the second order time derivative in the latter, are responsible for this? Ans. (first part). (3-9), where we streamline notation by using primes on the RHS, is ( pe teem, plen-o)) = pee HEP lb Po ») a9) el - x V2VE, /h = The non-relativistic Schrodinger equation (3-1) is a waa a waa ih—o=H. where H =-—-—-——+V so ih—@=|-—-—-—+V @. 3-1 , a” e 2m dx! ax’ ‘ a ( 2m dx! ax! ¢ G1) Plugging one A,’ term in the RHS of (3-9) into the RHS of (3-1), we have Et Pat 2 Et py (Bt pp i (Bt py ind are nt PD) _f WD 8 sy | ge alt Poe) wee alte * {eal wv |e pet eo) or 2m dx! ax! 2m which is true since E,, equals the quantity in brackets on the RHS above. Repeating the procedure for one of the Bt terms on the RHS of (3-9), we have : 2 i ine-B 4a ili Pax) {£22 vaca a > -E, Bre HF ae (eat wv age let Pa") or 2m ax! ax! 2m which is not true since the sign is wrong in front of E,, on the RHS above. The relativistic Klein-Gordon equation, where we use (3-7), the non-natural units version of (3-8), is nh? 0 (- 290 oo m "| ->— =| -h* — : (3-8 c ar? 9= ax! axe 2 , Plugging one A,’ term in the RHS of (3-9) into (3-8), we have 2 9 Ext Dy'X (E,t- Pax Eo med xt *) -(-P 2S me ae A ) c or ax’ ax! 2 E,t~ Pn Ext Py eX fn Ae a cee) =(P; +m’c ?) Are 5 2 where E? = p2c?+m°c4, Prog so that term solves the K-G equation. Repeating for one Bt ’ term on the RHS of (3-9), (3-8) becomes Pe a preheat fn 7 oO oO m lace (Ent Py) cor” ox! a 4 where E2= = pic? +mc4, E? oe Ent — Pa eX Ext Pn® A — Bre il % = (pi +m°c?) By “gal *) e and we see that both forms of solution in (3-9) solve the K-G equation. Ans. (second part). You should realize that the second order derivative makes the signs come out correctly (a minus times a minus is a plus), whereas in the non-relativistic Schrédinger equation, the first order time derivative means only the A,’ terms in (3-9) are solutions.Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory Problem 2. Prove that the orthonormality conditions (3-15) of states $4.4 also apply to states 9 ,+. Ans. (3-15) for states %, pt is Sod pike yit’x 93, 1p kx 93y = J 9 9 Me yd rey Je e*d x7 fe dx= bg: Problem 3. Repeat steps (3-24) and (3-27) using the terms with coefficients B in (3-12) instead of those with Ay. You should find total probability of negative unity. Ans. (3-24) for only the Bi terms is tat bets ear er) In foa®x, all terms with k’#k cancel, so 2QV 2a,V 2Vv where we actually need to assume the sum of absolute values is normalized to equal one. The point is, probability is negative (which is impossible.) foa'x=I¥ [ate ti ay ll +1 PW = “Dia Pe- Problem 4, Express the Klein-Gordon equations (3-35) and their discrete solutions (3-36) in cgs units (i.e., with c and hit # 1) and plug the latter into the former to show that we =m c7/h?. Ans. (3-35) is 2 oo (esp, (2,0"+47)o=0 Sonal, (- ae *) El HEH art aE Pe *}|- c 24,2 ar ax! ax! rel = { E 1 E(Eyt= Dyk) og (Eat Pro) yI- I Peay? [.; Ave h +Bieh =0 el hn oh The first bracket above must equal zero for each n, so 2 2 24 2,2 2 22 E, m'c’+pic 2 n__ Pn 2 22 2 Pr, Pr _me w= -—t for E; =mc* +picee > = en r ie cn rn nr Problem 5. Prove that the continuous solutions (3-37) solve the Klein-Gordon equations. Ans. We only do (3-37)(a), as showing (b) solves K-G comprises virtually the same steps. ax) (peaa ames Jp oye (a) (3-37) T) y ba 2 3 3 (2,04 +4?) o=0 = (2-33 line a(k)e# + (oe bt (k)e* | =0 \2(2)° a ax! ax! 3-2Chapter 3 Problem Solutions 7 3 = a(k)e + {(—(o()) +k? +p?) bi (k)e* =0 2(21)° a \2(2) a 2 Since, relativistically, (@(k)) =u +k? (see prior problem with natural units) this holds. f((ot)? +k? +2) Problem 6. Show that the 3 term in (3-155) of the Appendix equals — in Ox. Ans. (3-155) is io at (x,t)=[27 ( a" (xt), farx’'{ an +V'9' -Vo+9'9}] (3-155) or function =0in ofx commutator functions of x’ The 3 term is =f @x[z* (x,t), 429" (x’,1)0(x.1) ]= f ax (z * (x,1) 126" (x2) 0(x, 1-6 (w.1)olaa)a (xt) ) commute =P fa (a! (x)! (x2) 9" (wf. (x0) ) (x0) = iu?) [2*(x1) '(x'1) | -160-»’) Problem 7. Derive the commutators for the continuous solutions to the Klein-Gordon field equation from the second postulate of 2m quantization. (Warning: This problem may not be worth the significant investment in time needed.) Ans. The 2™ quantization postulate of (3-40) is [9(x.t),z(y,2) | =id(x-y). (3-40) The field solution (3-37) (see Problem 5) is ; 3 ; eke 5 (__4R pt (k) elt (3-37) J2(22)° a, Tiana, So a(y,t)=6"(y,t)= ce eal re = 7 ews =if SEM (4 k’)e* — (ke), Taman *(W)e — ofk’)e®) So (3-40) becomes ak’ aK ay {La( a(k),a° (k’ Je —ikx gik’y -[a(k) b(k’) Jeet [9(x,2),2(y,2)] =) rae! boon) ay. a i (A) +[6" (k),a" (k’) Jee -[ 6" (k),b(k’) Jee} tee ee Term #3 Term #4 From (3-40), the above (A) equals =id(x-y)=—— (a oO) (B) Gal So, all the terms on the RHS of (A) must equal the term on the RHS of (B). 3-3Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory For k # k’, terms | and 4 on the RHS of (A) have a time dependence factor of form etlame yt , and thus must equal zero, since the RHS of (B) has no time dependence. Terms 2 and 3 will always have an exponential with time dependence, no matter what values k and k’ have, so they must always equal zero. Thus, Term#1 — [a(k),a'(k’)]=0 fork#k’ —Term#4 — [b*(k),b(k’)]=0 fork #k’ (C) Term #2 > [a(k),o(k’)] =0 anykandk’ Term#3 > [o" (k),a* (k’) | =0 anyk andk’. So the only non-zero terms in (A) are #1 and #4, only for k = k’. Let’s guess at the commutators in those terms and see if the result gives us (B). We guess [a(k),a* (k’)] = [5*(k),o(k’)]= 30k —K’). (D) Using (D), along with (C), in (A), we find (A) becomes ase {ok —k eH ky 4 5k - weet} aed [o).a(y.1)] “aan ; Sed 1 en ik-( (x-y elk o(x- y))q 3k = i 5 fe ak =15(x-y). x)? each term yields same (27 y result over integral Thus, our guess (D) was correct. Hence, (D) and the 2"! line of (C) constitute our commutation relations for the continuous solutions to the Klein-Gordon field equation. Problem 8. Starting with the mass term in (3-48), derive (3-53). Ans, The mass term cited is fu-o'oa?x , part of (3-48) which, upon substitution of the field relations, is 2 1 ek 4g i ~ik’x , é ax 3 =H ay +a" (k)e welleeat Ke 0" (kel Nas “Ey Ly aaa {b(k) e ik ek 4 b( kot (ket otk (A) +a’ (k)a(k’)e ek 4 at (kot (kee JaPx, Due to the exponentials integrated over x, all terms in (A) equal zero except when k = k’ or k = — k’. (See note above (3-51), pg. 53.) In cases like e7!*eik* and otk ik with k = k’, we get otk gik’x =1 and ete ikx — 1; and with k = — k’ these terms integrate to zero. In cases like eo tke g ik and efkt gik’x with k = k’, both these terms integrate to zero; and with k = — k’, we get othe g~ik’x =1 and elkx gik’x =]. Thus, (A) becomes “0S x ay (otk a(-k)e "4! +b(k)b" (Ik) +a" (k)a(k) +a" (kk)b* (ke T= (3-53). k 3-4Chapter 3 Problem Solutions Problem 9. Find the VEV (vacuum expectation value) of the free field scalar Hamiltonian. Ans. (Ore AEA sen Since », oe s a . (10) =(olSoa4 (4+ si-Satis- Za. Problem 10. Show that a'(k) creates an a type particle with 3-momentum k, b(k) destroys a b type particle with 3- momentum k, and b'(k) creates a b type particle with 3-momentum k. Follow steps similar to those in (3-71) to (3-74). Ans. If, below, we know nx, what is my? a" (k)|) =|) ? K)]7mc) = Na (Ke)a" (Ik)|m.) =a" (Ik) a(k)a"(k) |r) mM, a) use commutator =a" (k)(a* (k)a(k)+1)|m) =a" ( (k) Ha (k) )+1)|m) =a" ( k) Na (k) Irie) +a" (|) (i) mc | mj.) +4" (Kk) | 4.) = (mj, + 1)" (Kk) |r.) = (rm + 1) m4.) = rm, |.) Thus, the number operator acting on |m,,) has an eigenvalue of my = ny + 1, ie., it is a state with nj, + 1 particles having k 3-momentum. Hence, from the first line above, a *(k) acting on a state increases the number of particles of k 3-momentum by one. It creates a particle. For b type particles, we merely repeat (3-71) to (3-74), and the above process, with a replaced by b everywhere. Problem 11. Show a(k)|n,,) =/ny |m, —1) . Does it follow in a heart beat that b(k)|7,,) = Jy |, -1)? Ans. (first part) , We seek to find the number A’ in a(k)|n,)= A’|mj —1). (A) From the above, (A’|re -1))" =(a()]rme))" = (ru Ja” (i) = (rm (rm |a” (kk) a(K)] m4) = (m4 ~ 1] 4 ~1)= AA, — 1] mM 1) = ATA’ ree ' 1 en a (m|Na(K)}%) = (medal) =m mei) =e + Thus, from (A), A’= mq > ak) |) = Ym m4 -1) Ans. (second part) To find the similar relationship for b type particles, just replace a with b in the above steps. So, the answer is yes. 3-5Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory Problem 12. Substitute the free field solutions (3-36) to the Klein-Gordon equation into the probability density operator relation (3-89) and then insert that into (3-90) to find the effective probability density operator expressed in terms of number operators (3-91). It will help you in doing so to note that for any term where k # k’, the destruction and creation operators will cause the ket to be different from (orthogonal to) the bra, so the resulting term in the expectation value > will be zero. Hence, those terms can be ignored in determining an effective p. Note that the result you get is restricted to situations where all particles (in the ket) are in k eigenstates, which is almost invariably the case in QFT problems and applications. With particles in general (non k eigen) states, p becomes more complicated. Ans. The probability density operator (3-89) is + p=? -( 30 oe } (3-89) Substituting (3-36) into (3-89), yields oi Ft latije ot es) a5 Brae Om et +a "(K)e%*)| _ (= ro (b(k’)enit a’ we") [E Farag (alien +0! wwe) -2 x wy afar (atk) oe] [a(k tk ‘+ + (all terms that similarly = 0) (ee eee mee (a) o(k’) + (0) we , (k) ja(kk)+1 bi (k)b(k’)H1 In the summation for the last term above we can exchange dummy variables k + k’ without changing the result, so the above becomes rE B aracae | | where the terms with “+1” drop out. Using (A) to find the expectation value = (Ar |Aidr---) (B) will give zero for all cases where k # k’, since a(k) will destroy one particle in the ket, but a’ (k’) will create a K’)ale)+1)erei* —(25"(ko(he)+tJeMe* J, cay different particle in the ket. So the bra and ket will not be equal and their inner product will = 0. Ditto for b type particles. So, in finding (B), we can ignore all terms in (A) where k # k’. That gives a streamlined (effective) (A) as p=) vat a’ (k’)a(k)e° 0° (k’)b(k)e® }= z {Ma (k)—N, (k)}. 3-6Chapter 3 Problem Solutions Problem 13. Using (3-100), the expression for 3-momentum in terms of the fields and their conjugate momenta, and the Klein-Gordon field equation solutions, prove (3-101), the number operator form of the 3-momentum operator. Ans, (3-100) is p= J HP ca-|a eon fl oe 2636 |e L=Lp here (3-100) From (3-33), pg. 49, aL 24 _ gt BL 2G) _ so (A) ag og a¢* ad’ pi =-[(9"6., +00) Jax. ®) From (3-36), pg. 50, O(2)=Y (alee +o" (ke) (x)= EL (o(qye* +a (ke), 80 3-36) k k Va, 2Va, é-> ~My (a(k’)ent* _pt (k’)e**) e->. 1M, (b(k)e -a' (k)e*) K Va K (C) => il 7M N 1 3 a a a om ay L & ») & - & at * SS fs I ™M 3 ~ QI .m > = Kr nr ad = 1 a a pes aw = w, = ce where in (C) we have used primed dummy indices in some places to help in what is to come. Using (C) in (B), we have | (# ai, Fite bee" we) ly Fae (aire 0 wpe) (5 Fete lawyers —o mes eg ewe -a' (We) —ikx elk @) After multiplying out all the terms in (D), we get terms with factors like e ike, only certain cases where k = k’ and k = — k’ are terms non-zero. Carrying out the multiplication in (D), but dropping all and eek Tn the integration, the terms where Ik # Ik’I, we get pap ady (-b(k)a(-k)+a(-k)b(k)) eo? + (similar zero terms) * [a{-k).o(k)]=0 + a’ (k)a(k) + a(k)a®(k) + b(k)o'(k) + b* (k)b(k)} a*(k)a(k)+1 — b*(k)b(k}41 “Ee (Ne (k) ++ 5 Np (k)+ 5). For every k’ in the summation there is an opposite direction 3-momentum of - k’, so the % terms cancel out. Converting from index notation to bold 3-vector notation, we have (3-101). P=/, fd’x=3k(Na (k) +N, (k)). (3-101) 3-7Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory Problem 14. For the state |24, 34, A .) , determine the expectation value of P, the 3-momentum operator. Ans, 2A 38h) = (Na (k)+ Np (I))] 204, 30h, Ay ) = (2k + 3k +k ) = (Sky +K), so (24, 3, Ie |P|24., 134, 4.) = (24,34, Ke (sk: +k) 20, Se) = (Sky +2 )(2¢4, 34, Be, [2th 3A, Pe) = 5k +o - Problem 15. Show that for real (not complex) scalar fields, in order for 7 to be equal to ¢ , the constant K in the scalar Lagrangian density (3-30) must be ¥. In general, in QFT, for real fields, we take K='. Ans. The Lagrangian density considered for ¢ = ¢* (real field) is Ly = K (49-0; 92; 6-17 99) . (3-30) From (3-30), we have ol == K2 a ae o From this, we can see that for z'to be equal to ¢ , we must have K = 2. Problem 16. Show that if instead of the 2™ quantization, postulate #2 of commutator relations (3-40), we had anti- commutators between the field and its conjugate momentum, i.e., [ 9” (x.t).m,(y.t)] = 0", + 2,9" =i5",5(x-y) (3-165) then the coefficient commutators would be anti-commutator relations, i.e., [a(k),a" (k’)], =[6(k).b' (k’)], = Fac - (3-166) (Hint: Just use opposite signs in (3-43) 2" row and then in last two rows inside the bracket just before the last equal sign. Then, all commutators in (3-45) to (3-47) become anti-commutators. Ans. In (3-43), pg. 52, simply use opposite signs in 2™ row and then in last two rows inside bracket just before last equal sign. Then all commutators in (3-45) to (3-47) become anti-commutators. Problem 17. Find the transition amplitude operating on the vacuum when a virtual anti-particle is propagated as shown in Fig. 3-3b. Use symbols for numeric factors resulting from creation and destruction operators acting on the vacuum and other states. Ans. For Fig. 3-3b, Pe. 71, T{o(x )@" (y)} i, for 1, =| hf -1 -1 -1 1 -1||-1 -1 1|}1 -1 1 1 : =) | “food -1 “| 4 =r 1 -1 1 i 1 ~-i| |1 9 . 9 . +! -i 1 i 1 = > = 7p =PrP 4 4 i -1}|-i -1 a, if i i 1 - -i =" =i 43Student Friendly Quantum Field Theory Problem 4. Use the form (4-14) of the Dirac equation (reproduced below), insert the Dirac gamma matrices (4-10), and show each term in the summation over 4z. Write the whole thing as a matrix equation (which should be a sum of matrices where that sum is post-multiplied by the column matrix |y)). Note that a different derivative is taken on the whole vector (column matrix) |y) for each Dirac gamma matrix. Note also that the resulting matrix equation has four rows, and thus, may be considered as four separate scalar equations, one for each index « Each such equation has all four components of ly in it (although each equation will have one component equal to zero.). > [3516 2y-mdn Jv),=0 x=1,2,3,4 (4-14) n=l \u=0 Ans. (718 + Yen? + Yen + Yen = mn IV), =0 sumon repeated 7 1 1 -i 1 1 ”% 1 1 i -t 1 i ap +i ati. | an ti a,-m Yo -1 -1 i -1 1 Vs -1 -1 =i 1 1| Ilva do tim 0 03 0, -id, |\|\% _ 0 Ootim 0d, +id2 -03 Wr 7 Tl = Sheth Sets OO lhAyee -0, -idy 03 0 dy tim | Jl wy which can be re-written as four coupled scalar differential equations in unknown functions Yi, WH, Y, W- (Qo+im)y+ 0 + O3¥3 + (2-102) yy =0 0 + (A +im)y, + (0, +i02)y¥3 + (-03)y4=0 (-03)y, +(-0, +102 )W_ +(-dg tim)y, + 0 =0 (0, -id,)yy + 03 + 0 +(-do +im)y, =0 This is the Dirac equation. Note that this is the same as the bottom row of (4-19) (though here we have both sides of (4-19) multiplied by —i and the mass terms moved to the LHS.) Problem 5. Show via substitution that the solutions (4-20) satisfy the Dirac equation (4-15). Ans. The end of Prob. 4 above is simply (4-19), which is (4-15). To prove the first solution of (4-20) solves the Dirac equation (which is really four scalar equations), we substitute ty into the above, where the four components of lw") are wi, W2, W3, Wa. The coefficients ¥(E+m)/2m cancel everywhere. 4-4Chapter 4 Problem Solutions (Ogtim)e™ + 0 0 + (dy +im)(0) -0,e"" +(-0, +i0, )(0) (-3,-ia,)e"" + a,(0) 3 Taking derivatives in the above where px = Pax = Et- pix! - pre- px , we have -iE +im + 0 + THE tim i -(E?-m?) E+m 0 + 0 + ~ip® + 0 + (-ip'+p?) + 0 + Tp + eZ ae" + p tip (0, -id, )e”* =0 E+m E+m 3 1,9 + (a, +10, )e™ PrP acm —=0 +m E+m 3 . +—2_(-0, time" + 0 =0 E+m Lae + 0 +24? (a, +im)e"”* =0 E+m 3 12 ae pt+ip (4 2 i + ip + =0 E+ lp E+m (ip P ) i(ot)+i(p?) +p'p?-p?o! E+m 3 lta +l 2 ptip.s ip - —_ =0 Een? a ) E+m 7 P ——(iE+im) + 0 =0 E+m lpi 0 PAP (iE+im) =0 E+m In the first scalar equation of the above, we cancel the denominator (E + m) factor, and use the relativistic relation E -p’ =m’ to get ~ iE? +im® +i(p?) +i(p!) +i(p2)’ + p!p? - p2p! =-i( 2 -m? —p?) =-i(m? im -m*)=0. The last three scalar equations can be seen, fairly readily, to be zero, so we have proven that the first relation by ?y of (4-20) does indeed solve the Dirac equation. Showing any of the solutions yy, ly, or ly) solve the Dirac equation follow similar steps. Problem 6. Find the inner products of at least two of v3 (p)4,(p), v3 (p) v2 (p), and v; (p)v, (p). Ans. 3 (p) uz (p) = Bem p' +ip? =p? } 2m E+m E+m 0 1 E+m 4-5 pi-ip? |_E+m(,, p? _|_E+m fend ep) £ 2m | (E+m)?) 2m | (E+m)? m om (Etmy ) ™ see (4-21, second line) = above 2 fen WE 2m \(E+m) a