Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

Homework 4 Solutions
4.1 - Weyl or Chiral representation for γ-matrices
4.1.1: Anti-commutation relations
We can write out the γ µ matrices as
 
µ 0 σµ
γ =
σ̄ µ 0

where

σ µ = (1, σ), σ̄ µ = (12 , − σ)

The anticommutator is
     
µ ν 0 σµ 0 σν 0 σν 0 σµ
{γ , γ } = +
σ̄ µ 0 σ̄ ν 0 σ̄ ν 0 σ̄ µ 0
 µ ν   ν µ 
σ σ̄ 0 σ σ̄ 0
= µ ν + ν µ
0 σ̄ σ 0 σ̄ σ
 µ ν ν µ

σ σ̄ + σ σ̄ 0
=
0 σ̄ µ σ ν + σ̄ ν σ µ

Consider the upper-left component, σ µ σ̄ ν + σ ν σ̄ µ . For µ = ν = 0,

σ 0 σ̄ 0 + σ 0 σ̄ 0 = 2 × 12

For µ = 0 and ν 6= 0,

σ 0 σ̄ i + σ i σ̄ 0 = 0

For µ 6= 0 and ν 6= 0, we get

σ i σ̄ j + σ j σ̄ i = −σ i σ j − σ j σ i = − σ i , σ j = −2δ ij


Putting all of these together, we get

σ µ σ̄ ν + σ ν σ̄ µ = 2g µν × 12

In exactly the same way,

σ̄ µ σ ν + σ̄ ν σ µ = 2g µν × 12

so

{γ µ , γ ν } = 2g µν × 14

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Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

4.1.2: Boost and rotation generators

We can write
i i i
S µν = [γ µ , γ ν ] = ({γ µ , γ ν } − 2γ ν γ µ ) = (g µν − γ ν γ µ ) (1)
4 4 2
And,
  
ν µ 0 σν 0 σµ
γ γ =
σ̄ ν 0 σ̄ µ 0
 ν µ 
σ σ̄ 0
=
0 σ̄ ν σ µ

 
µν i g µν − σ ν σ̄ µ 0
S = (2)
2 0 g µν − σ̄ ν σ µ

Then,
 
i i −σ i 0
0i
K =S = (3)
2 0 σi

1
J k = ijk S ij (4)
2  
1 ijk i g ij − σ j σ̄ i 0
=  (5)
2 2 0 g ij − σ̄ j σ i
 j i 
i σ σ 0
= ijk j i (6)
4 0 σ σ
 j i 
i ijk [σ , σ ] 0
=  (7)
8 0 [σ j , σ i ]
 jimσm 
i ijk 2i 0
=  (8)
8 0 2ijim σ m
 
1 σk 0
= (9)
2 0 σk

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Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

4.2 - General representation of γ-matrices

4.2.1: Lorentz group algebra
In order to have a compact notation, let us evaluate the following,
[S µν , S ρσ ] (10)
We look at this because the Lorentz generators are made out of S µν ,and their commutation
will follow from the quantity above. We can write
i i i
S µν = [γ µ , γ ν ] = ({γ µ , γ ν } − 2γ ν γ µ ) = (g µν − γ ν γ µ ) (11)
4 4 2
Now, since g µν is implicitly multiplied with the identity spinor space, the commutator we
are after is
[S µν , S ρσ ] = − 41 [g µν − γ ν γ µ , g ρσ − γ σ γ ρ ] = 14 [γ σ γ ρ , γ ν γ µ ]
The strategy to evaluate this commutator is roughly as follows. We keep anti-commuting
the γ-matrices in the first term, till we get the second term. Each anti-commutation gives
us something in the form g µν γ ρ γ σ . We collect all these terms in the end, and rewrite them
in terms of S µν . Carrying out the calculation,
[S µν , S ρσ ] = 1
4
(γ σ γ ρ γ ν γ µ − γ ν γ µ γ σ γ ρ )
= 1
4
((2g σρ − γ ρ γ σ )γ ν γ µ − γ ν γ µ γ σ γ ρ )
= 1
4
(2g σρ γ ν γ µ − γ ρ γ σ γ ν γ µ − γ ν γ µ γ σ γ ρ )
= 1
4
(2g σρ γ ν γ µ − γ ρ (2g σν − γ ν γ σ )γ µ − γ ν γ µ γ σ γ ρ )
= 1
4
(2g σρ γ ν γ µ − 2g σν γ ρ γ µ + γ ρ γ ν γ σ γ µ − γ ν γ µ γ σ γ ρ )
= 1
4
(2g σρ γ ν γ µ − 2g σν γ ρ γ µ + γ ρ γ ν (2g σµ − γ µ γ σ ) − γ ν γ µ γ σ γ ρ )
= 1
4
(2g σρ γ ν γ µ − 2g σν γ ρ γ µ + 2g σµ γ ρ γ ν − γ ρ γ ν γ µ γ σ − γ ν γ µ γ σ γ ρ )
= 1
4
(2g σρ γ ν γ µ − 2g σν γ ρ γ µ + 2g σµ γ ρ γ ν − (2g ρν − γ ν γ ρ )γ µ γ σ − γ ν γ µ γ σ γ ρ )
= 1
4
(2g σρ γ ν γ µ − 2g σν γ ρ γ µ + 2g σµ γ ρ γ ν − 2g ρν γ µ γ σ + γ ν γ ρ γ µ γ σ − γ ν γ µ γ σ γ ρ )
= 1
4
(2g σρ γ ν γ µ − 2g σν γ ρ γ µ + 2g σµ γ ρ γ ν − 2g ρν γ µ γ σ
ν ρµ µ ρ σ ν µ σ ρ
+ γ (2g − γ γ )γ − γ γ γ γ )
= 1
4
(2g σρ γ ν γ µ
− 2g γ γ + 2g γ γ − 2g ρν γ µ γ σ + 2g ρµ γ ν γ σ
σν ρ µ σµ ρ ν

− γ ν γ µγ ργ σ − γ ν γ µγ σ γ ρ)
= 41 (2g σρ γ ν γ µ − 2g σν γ ρ γ µ + 2g σµ γ ρ γ ν − 2g ρν γ µ γ σ + 2g ρµ γ ν γ σ
− γ ν γ µ (2g ρσ − γ σ γ ρ ) − γ ν γ µ γ σ γ ρ )
= 41 (2g σρ γ ν γ µ − 2g σν γ ρ γ µ + 2g σµ γ ρ γ ν − 2g ρν γ µ γ σ + 2g ρµ γ ν γ σ − 2g ρσ γ ν γ µ
+ γ ν γ µγ σ γ ρ − γ ν γ µγ σ γ ρ)
= − 12 (g νσ γ ρ γ µ − g µσ γ ρ γ ν + g νρ γ µ γ σ − g µρ γ ν γ σ )
Now we can add g νσ g ρµ − g µρ g σν and g νρ g σµ − g µσ g νρ :
[S µν , S ρσ ] = i[− 2i (g µρ − γ ρ γ µ )g νσ + 2i (g νρ − γ ρ γ ν )g µσ
− 2i (g σµ − γ µ γ σ )g νρ + 2i (g σν − γ ν γ σ )g µρ ]

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Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

Using the above and the fact that S µν is antisymmetric, we get

[S µν , S ρσ ] = i(g νρ S µσ − g µρ S νσ − g νσ S µρ + g µσ S νρ )

In principle, we are done already, because one can show that this is the same commutation
relation that the J µν matrices (defined in Problem 4.2.2) satisfy, and hence S µν satisfies the
same commutation relation as Lorentz transformation generator.
However, let us calculate the commutators explicitly in terms of J i , K i etc.
1
[J i , J j ] = mni pqj [S mn , S pq ] (12)
4
i
= mni pqj (g np S mq − g mp S nq − g nq S mp + g mq S np ) (13)
4
= −imni pqj g mp S nq (14)
mni mqj nq
= i  S (15)
= i (δnq δij − δjn δiq ) S nq (16)
= −i δjn δiq S nq (17)
i
= − (δjn δiq − δjq δin )S nq (18)
2
i ijk nqk nq
=   S (19)
2
= iijk J k (20)

where we have used the -tensor contraction identity

ijk imn = δjm δkn − δjn δkm (21)

and the anti-symmetry of S µν in the above derivation.

The other two commutation relations follow from similar manipulations.

[K i , K j ] = [S 0i , S 0j ] = −iS ij = −iijk J k (22)

1
[K i , J j ] = mnj [S 0i , S mn ] (23)
2
i
= mnj (g im S 0n − g in S 0m ) (24)
2
= −iinj S 0n (25)
= iijk J k (26)

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Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

4.2.2: Meaning of µ index on γ µ

We have the commutator
i
[γ µ , S ρσ ] = [γ µ , g ρσ − γ σ γ ρ ]
2
i
= − [γ µ , γ σ γ ρ ]
2
i
= − γ σ [γ µ , γ ρ ] + [γ µ , γ σ ]γ ρ
2
= −i{γ σ (g µρ − γ ρ γ µ ) + (g µσ − γ σ γ µ )γ ρ }
= −ig µρ γ σ − ig µσ γ ρ + iγ σ γ ρ γ µ + iγ σ γ µ γ ρ
= −ig µρ γ σ − ig µσ γ ρ + 2ig µρ γ σ − iγ σ γ µ γ ρ + iγ σ γ µ γ ρ
= ig µρ γ σ − ig µσ γ ρ

We can write the right-hand side down in the same form by substituting the explicit repre-
sentation of (J ρσ )µν :

(J ρσ )µν γ ν = ig µα (δαρ δνσ − δασ δνρ )γ ν

= ig µα δαρ δνσ γ ν − ig µα δασ δνρ γ ν
= ig µρ γ σ − ig µσ γ ρ

Thus,

[γ µ , S ρσ ] = (J ρσ )µν γ ν

4.2.3: Chirality projection operator

Following the steps in Problem 4.2.1, we can write,
i
S µν = (g µν − γ µ γ ν ) (27)
2
Note that γ 5 anti-commutes with all the γ µ .

{γ 5 , γ µ } = i(γ 0 γ 1 γ 2 γ 3 γ µ + γ µ γ 0 γ 1 γ 2 γ 3 ) (28)

For a given value of µ, we can anti-commute the γ µ in each term all the way to the corre-
sponding γ in γ 5 . In each anti-commutation, we pick up a negative sign. There are even
anti-commutations in one term, and odd in the other, and thus they always cancel. Let us
do the steps for µ = 1.

{γ 5 , γ 1 } = i(γ 0 γ 1 γ 2 γ 3 γ 1 + γ 1 γ 0 γ 1 γ 2 γ 3 ) (29)
= i((−1)2 γ 0 γ 1 γ 1 γ 2 γ 3 + (−1)γ 0 γ 1 γ 1 γ 2 γ 3 ) (30)
=0 (31)

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Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

Therefore,
i
[γ 5 , S µν ] = [γ 5 , (g µν − γ µ γ ν )] (32)
2
i
= − [γ 5 , γ µ γ ν ] (33)
2
i
= − [γ 5 , γ µ ]γ ν + γ µ [γ 5 , γ ν ] (34)
2
i
= − [γ 5 , γ µ ]γ ν + γ µ [γ 5 , γ ν ] (35)
2
= −i(γ 5 γ µ γ ν + γ µ γ 5 γ ν ) (36)
= −i(γ 5 γ µ γ ν − γ 5 γ µ γ ν ) = 0 (37)

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Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

4.3 - Lorentz Transformations

4.3.1: Modified spinor (Ex 4.6 Lahiri and Pal)
Please ignore the text above the line in the scan.

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Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

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Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

4.3.2: Bilinears
Part (i) Ex 4.5 Lahiri and Pal

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Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

Part (ii)
We have that

ψ † → ψ † Λ†1
2

In infinitesimal form, this reads

ψ † → ψ † 1 + 2i ωµν (S µν )†
 

If we define

ψ̄ := ψ † γ 0

we have the transformation

ψ̄ → ψ † 1 + 2i ωµν (S µν )† γ 0
 

Since S ij is given by
 
1 ijk σ k 0
ij
S = 
2 0 σk

we have (S ij )† = (S ij ). Also,
    k  
0 ij 1 ijk 0 1 σk 0 σ 0 0 1
[γ , S ] =  −
2 1 0 0 σk 0 σk 1 0
   
1 0 σk 0 σk
= ijk −
2 σk 0 σk 0
=0

In terms with µ or ν zero, we have

 
0i

i σi 0
S =− ,
2 0 −σ i
 
0i †

i σi 0 0i


S = = − S
2 0 −σ i
Now consider the anti-commutator,
    i  
 0 0i i 0 1 σi 0 σ 0 0 1
γ ,S =− +
2 1 0 0 −σ i 0 −σ i 1 0
   
i 0 −σ i 0 σi
= i +
2 σ 0 −σ i 0
=0

Therefore,

(S µν )† γ 0 = γ 0 (S µν )

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Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

and the transformation for ψ̄ becomes

ψ † γ 0 → ψ † γ 0 1 + 2i ωµν (S µν )
 

For finite rotations, this is just

ψ̄ → ψ̄Λ−1
1
2

From this relationship, we immediately see that

ψ̄ψ → ψ̄Λ−1
1 Λ1 ψ
2 2

so
ψ̄ψ → ψ̄ψ

that is, ψ̄ψ transforms like a Lorentz scalar.

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Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

4.4 - Gordon identity

We begin with the following two equations,

(p/ − m)u(p) = 0 (38)

0 0
ū(p )(p/ − m) = 0 (39)

Multiplying with appropriate spinors and adding these two together,

ū(p0 )γ µ (p/ − m)u(p) + ū(p0 )(p/0 − m)γ µ u(p) = 0 (40)

0 µ α
⇒ ū(p )(γ γ pα + γ α γ µ p0α )u(p) 0 µ
− 2mū(p )γ u(p) = 0 (41)

We can write the first term as,

1 1
ū(p0 )(γ µ γ α ((pα + p0α ) + (pα − p0α )) + γ α γ µ ((pα + p0α ) − (pα − p0α )))u(p) (42)
2 2
1 1
= (pα + pα )ū(p )({γ , γ })u(p) + (pα − p0α )ū(p0 )[γ µ , γ α ]u(p)
0 0 µ α
(43)
2 2
= (pµ + p0µ )ū(p0 )u(p) − iσ µα (pα − p0α )ū(p0 )u(p) (44)

Therefore, Gordon identity,

ū(p0 ) (pµ + p0µ ) − iσ µα (pα − p0α ) u(p) − 2mū(p0 )γ µ u(p) = 0

 
(45)

Since the equation for the v spinor looks exactly like the u spinor case except for a relative
negative sign on the mass parameter m, it is simple to write down the Gordon identity for
v.

ū(p0 ) (pµ + p0µ ) − iσ µα (pα − p0α ) u(p) + 2mū(p0 )γ µ u(p) = 0

 
(46)

4.5 - Completeness of spinors

Part (i) Ex 4.8 Lahiri and Pal
This is a special case of the Gordon identity. For completeness’ sake, we do the calculation
fully. We are given the following equations,

(p/ − m)u(p) = 0 (47)

ū(p)(p/ − m) = 0 (48)

Proceeding as suggested in the problem,

ū(p)γ µ (p/ − m)u(p) + ū(p)(p/ − m)γ µ u(p) = 0 (49)

µ α α µ µ
⇒ pα ū(p)(γ γ + γ γ )u(p) − 2mū(p)γ u(p) = 0 (50)
⇒ pµ ū(p)u(p) − m ū(p)γ µ u(p) = 0 (51)

The same calculation with the v spinors yields,

pµ v̄(p)v(p) + m v̄(p)γ µ v(p) = 0 (52)

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Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

If we put µ = 0 in the u equation, we get,

p0 ūs (p)ur (p) − m ūs (p)γ 0 ur (p) = 0 (53)

⇒ E ūs (p)ur (p) − m u†s (p)γ 0 γ 0 ur (p) =0 (54)
⇒ E ūs (p)ur (p) − m u†s (p)ur (p) = 0 (55)
⇒ E ūs (p)ur (p) − 2m E δrs = 0 (56)
⇒ ūs (p)ur (p) = 2m δrs (57)

p0 v̄(p)v(p) + m v̄(p)γ 0 v(p) = 0 (58)

⇒ v̄s (p)vr (p) = −2m δrs (59)

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Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

Part (ii) Ex 4.10 Lahiri and Pal

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Phys624 Dirac Equation Homework 4

4.6 - Helicity and chirality projection operators

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