MSci EXAMINATION

PHY-415 (MSci 4242) Relativistic Waves and Quantum Fields

Time Allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes

Date: 4th May, 2011

Time: 14:30 - 17:00

Instructions: Answer THREE QUESTIONS only. Each question carries 20

marks. An indicative marking-scheme is shown in square brackets
[ ] after each part of a question. Course work comprises 10% of
the final mark.

Throughout the paper units are used such that ~ = c = 1 (Natural Units).
A FORMULA SHEET is provided at the end of the questions paper.

Numeric calculators are not permitted in this examination. Complete all rough workings in the
answer book and cross through any work which is not to be assessed.

Important Note: The academic regulations state that possession of unauthorised material
at any time when a student is under examination conditions is an assessment offence and can
lead to expulsion from the college. Please check now to ensure that you do not have any notes
in your possession. If you have any then please raise your hand and give them to an invigilator
immediately. Exam papers cannot be removed from the exam room

You are not permitted to read the contents of this question paper until instructed
to do so by an invigilator.

Examiners: Dr. A. Brandhuber (MO), Dr. R. Russo (DMO)

c Queen Mary, University of London 2011

 QUESTION 1: The Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations

(a) Give an informal derivation of the Dirac equation and motivate the form of its ansatz.
Derive the continuity equation of the Dirac equation and show that the probability density
is given by ρ = Ψ† Ψ. What is the main difference between the probability densities of
the Klein-Gordon equation and the Dirac equation? [7]

(b) Find all plane wave solutions of the Dirac equation for a particle at rest, i.e. ~p = 0. (Hint
use the explicit form of the Dirac matrices given in the formula sheet.) Give a physical
interpretation of the solutions. State two alternative methods to generate solutions with
arbitrary spatial momentum ~p. [4]

(c) Consider the covariant form of the Dirac equation. Assume that Ψ transforms under a
Lorentz transformation as Ψ(x) → Ψ′ (x′ ) = S(Λ)Ψ(x), with x′ = Λx and S(Λ) a four-
by-four matrix. Show that the Dirac equation is form invariant (and hence covariant)
if
S −1 (Λ)γ ν S(Λ) = Λν µ γ µ .
[6]

(d) Using the result from Q1(c) and the identity S −1 = γ 0 S † γ 0 find the transformation under
Lorentz transformation of ΨΨ and Ψγ µ Ψ. [3]

c Queen Mary, University of London 2011

Page 1 Please turn to next page
 QUESTION 2: Solutions of the Dirac equation

In the following use the chiral representation of the Dirac matrices

   i 
0 I i σ 0
β= , α = , i = 1, 2, 3 ,
I 0 0 −σ i

where the σ i denote the Pauli matrices.

(a) Define the helicity of a particle. Show that the helicity operator for a Dirac particle is

~  
p~ · Σ σi 0
h(~p) = with Σi = , i = 1, 2, 3
2|~p| 0 σi
[2]

(b) Describe (in words) how we have to modify the solutions of the Dirac equation to be able
to describe massless neutrinos and anti-neutrinos. [3]

(c) Consider the Dirac equation (using the above Dirac matrices)
 
φ(x)
Ψ= ,
χ(x)

where φ and χ denote two component column spinors with spacetime dependence. Derive
differential equations for φ and χ. [3]
Now consider the case m = 0 and find positive energy plane wave solutions for φ and χ
separately, i.e. setting

φ(x) = e−ip·x φ0 and χ(x) = e−ip·x χ0 ,

where φ0 and χ0 are constant two-component spinors. Find equations for φ0 and χ0 and,
hence, find the helicities of these spinors. Hence explain why “mass couples particles of
opposite helicities”.
[6]

(d) Consider the Dirac Hamiltonian Ĥ (using the above Dirac matrices), assuming that
Ĥ is acting on a plane wave solution so that the momentum operator can be replaced by
its eigenvalues. Calculate the commutator of this matrix with the spin operator matrix
1 i
2
Σ . For this you may use σ i σ j = δ ij + iǫijk σ k without proof. Hence find the unique
(up to an overall numerical factor) linear combination of the spin operators which does
commute with the Hamiltonian. [6]

c Queen Mary, University of London 2011

Page 2 Please turn to next page
 QUESTION 3: Symmetries and gauge fields

(a) State what is meant by covariance (form invariance) of a relativistic wave equation under
symmetry transformations. Symmetries of relativistic wave equations (and quantum field
theories) can be continuous global, continuous local or discrete; give one example of each
type. [4]

(b) Show that the electromagnetic field strength F µν = ∂ µ Aν − ∂ ν Aµ is invariant under the
gauge transformation Aµ → Aµ +∂ µ χ, with χ an arbitrary, real function of the space-time
coordinates. How must the complex field Φ transform under a gauge transformation, in
order that the combined transformation of Aµ and Φ preserves the scalar QED Lagrangian
(proof required)
1 1
LsQED = − F µν Fµν + (Dµ Φ)† D µ Φ ,
4 2
with Dµ Φ = ∂µ Φ − iqAµ Φ. [6]

(c) Consider the Lagrangian density LsQED from Q3(b) and find the Euler-Lagrange equa-
tions of motion for Aµ , Φ and Φ† . For the purpose of deriving the equations of motion
you may treat Φ and Φ† as independent quantities. Which gauge might you use for the
4-vector potential (gauge field) Aµ to simplify the equations of motion? The Lagrangian
contains a term of the form Aµ B µ which is linear in the gauge field Aµ . What is the
interpretation of B µ in field theory? [10]

c Queen Mary, University of London 2011

Page 3 Please turn to next page
 QUESTION 4: The neutral Klein-Gordon field

The quantised free, neutral Klein-Gordon field φ = φ† field may be expanded in the form
Z h i
d3 k ~k) e−ik·x + a† (~k) eik·x ,
φ(x) = a(
2E~k (2π)3
p
with E~k = + ~k 2 + m2 and k · x = E~k t − ~k · ~x. Wherever needed you may use the commutation
relations for the operators a(~k) and a† (~k) given on the FORMULA SHEET without proof.

(a) A one particle state is given by |pi = a† (~p)|0i. Hence, calculate the expression h0|φ(x)|pi.
[3]

(b) Calculate the commutator of two field operators at general space-time points x and y

i∆(x − y) = [φ(x), φ(y)] .

Note that you do not have to perform the final three-momentum integral explicitly. Show
that the result is Lorentz invariant and vanishes for space like separations (x − y)2 < 0.
Discuss the physical significance of the latter property of [φ(x), φ(y)]. [6]

(c) Write down the equal time commutator (ETC) of Φ and Π where Π = φ̇ denotes the
momentum canonically conjugate to φ. Show that the ETC follows from result of Q4(b)
(after taking a suitable time derivative and performing the final three-momentum inte-
gral). [5]

(d) The normal ordered expression for the 4-momentum operator is

Z
d3 p
Pµ = pµ a† (~p)a(~p) .
2Ep~(2π)3

Hence show that

[Pµ , φ(x)] = −i∂µ φ(x) .
Explain the term normal ordering and discuss in words why it is used. [6]

c Queen Mary, University of London 2011

Page 4 Please turn to next page
 QUESTION 5: The S-matrix

(a) Assume that the Hamiltonian H of a quantum field is split up in a free and interacting
part as H = H0 + Hint . The interaction Hamiltonian in the interaction picture is given
as
HI ≡ eiH0 t (Hint )S e−iH0 t .
Show that a state |ψ(t)iI in the interaction picture obeys the Schrödinger equation

d|ψ(t)iI
i = HI (t)|ψ(t)iI .
dt

(Note that states and operators in the Schrödinger picture (subscript S) and in the
interaction picture (subscript I) are related as: |ψ(t)iI = eiH0 t |ψ(t)iS and OI (t) =
eiH0 t OS e−iH0 t .) [5]

(b) Write the solution of the Schrödinger equation in Question 5(a) as

|ψ(t)iI = U(t, t0 ) |ψ(t0 )iI ,

where U(t, t0 ) is the unitary time evolution operator with U(t1 , t2 )U(t2 , t3 ) = U(t1 , t3 ).
Hence, find a differential equation for U(t, t0 ) and from that the integral representation
of this equation imposing the condition U(t, t) = 1. Using the ansatz

U(t, t0 ) = 1 + f1 (t, t0 ) + f2 (t, t0 ) ,

solve the integral equation for U(t, t0 ) perturbatively up to second order in HI , where f1
is linear in HI and f2 is quadratic in HI . Without proof, write down Dyson’s formula for
U(t, t0 ). [11]

(c) State how the S-matrix (operator) S is related to the operator U(t, t0 ). Give a definition
of initial and final states in a scattering process and write S-matrix elements or scattering
amplitudes in terms of S, initial states and final states. Give a qualitative description
of how physical cross sections are obtained from a given S-matrix element or scattering
amplitude. [4]

c Queen Mary, University of London 2011

Page 5 Please turn to next page
 FORMULA SHEET (in units ~ = c = 1)

4-vector notation:
 
1 0 0 0
 0 −1 0 0 
a · b = aµ bµ = aµ bµ = aµ bν ηµν = aµ bν η µν with ηµν = η µν =
 0 0 −1 0 


0 0 0 −1
xµ = (t, ~x) , xµ = (t, −~x)
   
µ ∂ ∂ ~ ∂ ∂ ~
∂ = = , −∇ , ∂µ = µ = , ∇ , pbµ = i∂ µ , pbµ = i∂µ
∂xµ ∂t ∂x ∂t

p · pb + m2 )ψ = (∂µ ∂ µ + m2 )ψ = ( + m2 )ψ = 0
Klein-Gordon equation: (−b

∂
Free Dirac equation in Hamiltonian form: i ∂t α·b
Ψ = (~ p~ + βm)Ψ, or in covariant form:

(i∂/ − m)Ψ = (iγ µ ∂µ − m)Ψ = (b

/p − m)Ψ = (γ · pb − m)Ψ = (γ µ pbµ − m)Ψ = 0

Dirac and Gamma matrices:

(αi )2 = I4 , i = 1, 2, 3; β 2 = I4 ; αi αj + αj αi = 0 , i 6= j; αiβ + βαi = 0 , i 6= j;

γ 0 = β, γ i = βαi, {γ µ , γ ν } = 2η µν I4 ,
γ5 = iγ 0 γ 1 γ 2 γ 3

Dirac matrices:    
i 0 σi I2 0
α = , i = 1, 2, 3 , β = ,
σi 0 0 −I2
where the Pauli matrices are
     
1 0 1 2 0 −i 3 1 0
σ = , σ = , σ = .
1 0 i 0 0 −1

Note that αi , β and γ 0 are Hermitian, whereas the γ i are anti-Hermitian. Id represents a d × d
identity matrix.

Commutation relations of the raising/lowering operators of the neutral Klein-Gordon field:

h i h i h i p
a(k), a(k ) = a (k), a (k ) = 0, a(k), a (k ) = (2π)3 2E~k δ (3) (~k−~k ′ ) with E~k = + ~k 2 + m2 .
~ ~ ′ † ~ † ~′ ~ † ~′

c Queen Mary, University of London 2011: Dr. A. Brandhuber

Page 6 End of paper