High Energy Physics (PHYS 557): solution to HW3 1/26/17

Exercises:

• Show that γ 5 = iγ 0 γ 1 γ 2 γ 3 is hermitian and anticommutes with all the γ µ . Show that
in the Dirac-Pauli representation it takes the form (in 2 × 2 block notation)
 
5 0 1
γ = .
1 0
Show that, in the limit m → 0, the solutions of the Dirac equation with definite
helicity
   ~σ·~p 
p χ± p
E +m
χ∓
u(p)± = Ep + m σ ·~
~ p and v(p)± = Ep + m p
χ
Ep +m ± χ∓

are eigenvectors of γ 5 and show that the eigenvalues (which are called their “chirali-
ties”) have the same signs as their helicities for particles, and the opposite signs for
antiparticles. Recall that the helicity spin-1/2 wavefuctions satisfy (note that p̂ and
not p~ appears on the left-hand side)
~σ · p̂ χ± = ±χ± .
We recall that γ 0 is hermitian while ~γ is antihermitian. Thus
γ 5† = −i(−γ 3 )(−γ 2 )(−γ 1 )(γ 0 )
= +iγ 3 γ 2 γ 1 γ 0
= −iγ 2 γ 1 γ 0 γ 3
= −iγ 1 γ 0 γ 2 γ 3
= +iγ 0 γ 1 γ 2 γ 3 = γ 5
The explicit form is
    
5 1 0 0 σ1 0 σ2 0 σ3
γ =i
0 −1 −σ1 0 −σ2 0 −σ3 0
   
1 0 −iσ3 0 0 σ3
=i
0 −1 0 −iσ3 −σ3 0
    
1 0 0 1 0 1
= = .
0 −1 −1 0 1 0
In the limit m → 0, the spinors become
   
p χ± p ∓χ∓
u(p)± = Ep and v(p)± = Ep .
±χ± χ∓

These are manifestly eigenvectors of γ 5 with chiralities ±1 for u(p)± and ∓1 for v(p)± .

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Problems:

1. Helicity spin-1/2 wavefunctions. The defining equation for these wavefunctions is

~σ · p̂ χ(p̂)± = ±χ(p̂)± , (1)
where now it has been made explicit that these wavefunctions depend on p̂. We know
that (making conventional choices of overall phases)
   
1 0
χ(ẑ)+ = and χ(ẑ)− = .
0 1
(a) Show that
χ(p̂)± = Rz (φ)Ry (θ)χ(ẑ)± , (2)
satisfy the helicity equation (1). Here the rotation matrix about an axis n̂ by
angle δ is
Rn (δ) = exp(−iδn̂ · ~σ /2) = cos(δ/2)1 − i sin(δ/2)n̂ · ~σ .
Here θ and φ are, respectively, the polar and azimuthal angles of p̂ relative to
the coordinate axes. You can do this by explicit evaluation or using some of the
rotation methodology you learned in graduate QM.
Method 1: using spinology. The key ingredient is the transformation of
spin-1/2 operators transform under rotations:
~σ · p̂ = Rz (φ)Ry (θ)~σ · ẑRy (−θ)Rz (−φ) .
See, for example, Sakurai, Modern QM, Eq. (3.2.47). Applying this χ(p̂)± as
given in Eq. (2), we find
~σ · p̂χ(p̂)± = Rz (φ)Ry (θ)~σ · ẑRy (−θ)Rz (−φ)Rz (−φ)Ry (−θ)χ(ẑ)±
= Rz (−phi)Ry (θ)~σ · ẑχ(ẑ)±
= ±Rz (φ)Ry (θ)χ(ẑ)±
= ±χ(p̂)± .

Method 2: direct evaluation. First we write out the claimed form in detail
 −iφ/2  
e 0 c̄θ −s̄θ
χ(p̂)± = χ(ẑ)±
0 eiφ/2 s̄θ c̄θ
where c̄θ ≡ cos(θ/2) and s̄θ ≡ sin(θ/2). Evaluating the matrix products we find
 −iφ/2   −iφ 
e c̄θ iφ/2 e
χ(p̂)+ = = e c̄θ (3)
eiφ/2 s̄θ t̄θ
 −iφ/2   −iφ 
−e s̄θ iφ/2 e
χ(p̂)− = iφ/2 = −e s̄θ , (4)
e c̄θ −1/t̄θ

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 where t̄θ = tan(θ/2). Now we need to express t̄θ and e−iφ in terms of the
components of p̂. First we use
1 − cθ 1 − p̂3 p212 (1 − p̂3 )2
cθ = p̂3 ⇒ t̄2θ = = = = ,
1 + cθ 1 + p̂3 (1 + p̂3 )2 p212
where p212 = p̂21 + p̂22 = 1 − p̂23 . Since 0 ≤ θ/2 ≤ π/2 we know that t̄θ ≥ 0 so we
should take the positive square root
p12 1 − p̂3
t̄θ = = .
1 + p̂3 p12
From the definition of φ we have
p̂1 p̂2 p̂1 − ip̂2
e−iφ = cos φ − i sin φ = −i = .
p12 p12 p12
Combining all the above we find that
   
p̂1 − ip̂2 p̂1 − ip̂2
χ(p̂)+ ∝ and χ(p̂)− ∝ .
1 − p̂3 −(1 + p̂3 )

Finally we write out ~σ · p̂ explicitly

 
p̂3 p̂1 − ip̂2
~σ · p̂ = ,
p̂1 + ip̂2 −p̂3

from which it is easy to check that the eigenvalues of χ(p̂)± are ±1.
(b) Evaluate
χ(p̂)†± χ(ẑ)±0
for each of the four possible choices of helicities. Using the results (3) and (4)
from above, plus the forms of χ(ẑ)± , we find

χ(p̂)†+ χ(ẑ)+ = eiφ/2 c̄θ ,

χ(p̂)†− χ(ẑ)+ = −eiφ/2 s̄θ ,
χ(p̂)†+ χ(ẑ)− = e−iφ/2 s̄θ ,
χ(p̂)†− χ(ẑ)− = e−iφ/2 c̄θ .

These results were used to calculate the Yukawa scattering matrix elements in
class.
(c) Show that the spin-averaged outer products of spinor solutions satisfy
 
Uαβ ≡ u(p)+,α ū(p)+,β + u(p)−,α ū(p)−,β = p/ + m αβ
 
Vαβ ≡ v(p)+,α v̄(p)+,β + v(p)−,α v̄(p)−,β = p/ − m αβ .

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 Here α and β are spinor indices that run from 1 − 4. These results are used in
evaluating spin-averaged cross sections. Recall that
! !
|~
p|
p χ(p̂)± p ∓ Ep +m χ(p̂)∓
u(p)± = Ep + m and v(p)± = Ep + m .
± Ep|~p+m
|
χ(p̂)± χ(p̂)∓

Evaluating the outer product for particle spinors, and recalling that ū = u† γ 0 ,
we find !
(Ep + m)M+ −|~p|M−
U= 2 , (5)
|~p|M− − (Epp~+m) M+
where the spin-wavefunction outer products are
M± = χ(p̂)+ χ(p̂)†+ ± χ(p̂)− χ(p̂)†− .
We evaluate M+ using Eq. (2) together with
χ(p̂)†± = χ(ẑ)†± Ry (−θ)Rz (−φ)
and
χ(ẑ)+ χ(ẑ)†+ + χ(ẑ)− χ(ẑ)†− = 1 ,
finding
M+ = Rz (−φ)Ry (−θ)1Ry (θ)Rz (φ) = 1 .
To evaluate M− we use
~σ · p̂M− = M+ = 1 ⇒ M− = ~σ · p̂ ,
since (~σ · p̂)2 = 1. Inserting the results for M± into Eq. (5) we find
 
Ep + m −~σ · p~
U= = p/ + m .
~σ · p~ −Ep + m
Now we repeat the exercise for the antiparticle spinors. Using their explicit form
we find
 
(Ep − m)M+ −|~p|M−
V=
|~p|M− −(Ep + m)M+
 
Ep − m −~σ · p~
=
~σ · p~ −Ep − m
= p/ − m .

2. Dirac traceology. In class we showed, using only the defining anticommutation prop-
erties of gamma matrices and the properties of γ 5 , that the trace of any odd number
of gamma matrices vanishes and that
tr(p//q) = 4p · q .
Here we extend these results.

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(a) Show that
n0
n1
n2
n3 
γ0 γ1 γ2 γ3

tr
vanishes unless the positive integers n0 , n1 , n2 and n3 are all even. Note that
this is a stronger than the result quoted above that the trace of an odd number of
gamma matrices must vanish. It must be that the power of each of the gamma
matrices separately must be even. Furthermore, since the different gamma ma-
trices anticommute, this statement holds independent of the order of various
gamma matrices.
Since (γ µ )2 = ±1, we need only consider the cases nµ = 0 or 1. Since the trace
of any odd number of gamma matrices vanishes, this leaves only the following
cases to consider

tr(γ µ γ ν ) [with µ 6= ν] and tr(γ 0 γ 1 γ 2 γ 3 ) ∝ tr(γ 5 ) .

The former vanishes using the cyclicity of the trace and the defining property
of gamma matrices
1
tr(γ µ γ ν ) = tr(γ ν γ µ ) = tr [γ µ , γ ν ]+ = 4g µν = 0 for µ 6= ν .


2
The latter vanishes using the fact that γ 5 anticommutes with all the γ µ :

tr(γ 5 ) = tr(γ 0 γ 0 γ 5 ) = −tr(γ 0 γ 5 γ 0 ) = −tr(γ 5 ) = 0 .

(b) Evaluate (providing explanation for your work)

tr(p/1 p/2 p/3 p/4 ) and tr(γ 5 p/1 p/2 p/3 p/4 ) .

To evaluate the first trace we move the p/1 through the trace until we return to
the initial position. We need

p/1 p/2 = −p/2 p/1 + 2p1 · p2 1 ,

which follows from the defining anticommutation relation of gamma matrices.

Thus we have

tr(p/1 p/2 p/3 p/4 ) = −tr(p/2 p/1 p/3 p/4 ) + 8p1 · p2 p3 · p4

= tr(p/2 p/3 p/1 p/4 ) + 8p1 · p2 p3 · p4 − 8p1 · p3 p2 · p4
= −tr(p/1 p/2 p/3 p/4 ) + 8p1 · p2 p3 · p4 − 8p1 · p3 p2 · p4 + 8p1 · p4 p2 · p3 .

Here at each stage we have used tr(p/1 p/2 ) = 4p1 · p2 . Now we have the same trace
on both sides, but with opposite signs, so we can recombine these terms and
divede by two leading to

tr(p/1 p/2 p/3 p/4 ) = 4p1 · p2 p3 · p4 − 4p1 · p3 p2 · p4 + 4p1 · p4 p2 · p3 .

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 Now we turn to
tr(γ 5 p/1 p/2 p/3 p/4 ) = tr(γ 5 γ µ γ ν γ ρ γ σ )p1,µ p2,ν p3,ρ p4,σ .
Since γ 5 = iiγ 0 γ 1 γ 2 γ 3 we know from the result of the first part of this problem
that the trace is nonzero only when the indices µ, ν, ρ and σ are all different. If
{µ, ν, ρ, σ} = {0, 1, 2, 3} then the trace is −4i, since tr(γ 5 2 ) = 4. If we permute
the indices, then the anticommutation property of the gamma matrices will lead
to a sign corresponding to the signature of the permutation, e.g. {1, 0, 2, 3}
has signature −1. This totally antisymmetric property is represented by the
four-index  tensor. Thus we find
tr(γ 5 p/1 p/2 p/3 p/4 ) = −4iµνρσ p1,µ p2,ν p3,ρ p4,σ ,
where we are using the convention
0123 = +1 .

3. In lecture, we discussed leading-order e− µ− → e− µ− scattering in QED, finding the

result
dσ 1 e4
= 2 2
|ū3 γ µ u1 ū4 γµ u2 |2 .
dΩ 64π s t
In this problem we evaluate the spinor matrix elements explicitly using the helicity
basis. We work in the CM frame.
(a) Using the form of the helicity-basis spinor solutions given above, evaluate the
spinor currents
ū(p3 )+ γ µ u(p1 )+ , ū(p3 )+ γ µ u(p1 )− , ū(p3 )− γ µ u(p1 )+ , and ū(p3 )− γ µ u(p1 )− .
You should take p̂1 = (0, 0, 1) and p̂3 = (sθ cφ , sθ sφ , cθ ), where cφ = cos φ, etc..
For definiteness, let’s begin with ū(p3 )+ γ µ u(p1 )+ , which we’ll abbreviate to
ū3+ γ µ u1+ . Using the form for the spinors given above we find (using E3 =
E1 = Ee and |~p1 | = |~p3 | = p∗ )
ū3+ γ 0 u1+ = u†3+ u1+ = 2Ee χ(p̂3 )† χ(p̂1 )
ū3+~γ u1+ = u†3+ γ 0~γ u1+ = 2p∗ χ(p̂3 )†~σ χ(p̂1 ) .
Using Eqs. (3) and (4) we then obtain
ū3+ γ µ u1+ = 2 Ee eiφ/2 c̄θ , p∗ e−iφ/2 s̄θ , ip∗ e−iφ/2 s̄θ , p∗ eiφ/2 c̄θ .

[Aside: One way to check this result is to see whether current conservation holds,
i.e. whether (p3 − p1 )µ ū3 γ µ u1 = 0. Well,
1
p
2 3,µ
(ū3+ γ µ u1+ ) = Ee2 eiφ/2 c̄θ − p∗2 e−iφ/2 s̄θ sθ (cφ + isφ ) − p∗2 eiφ/2 cθ c̄θ
= m2e eiφ/2 c̄θ + p∗2 eiφ/2 c̄θ (1 − cθ ) − 2s̄2θ c̄θ = m2e eiφ/2 c̄θ ,
 

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 which agrees with
1
p
2 1,µ
(ū3+ γ µ u1+ ) = Ee2 eiφ/2 c̄θ − p∗2 eiφ/2 c̄θ = m2e eiφ/2 c̄θ .]
By similar manipulations, one finds
ū3+ γ µ u1− = 2 me e−iφ/2 s̄θ , 0 , 0 , 0 ,

ū3− γ µ u1+ = 2 −me eiφ/2 s̄θ , 0 , 0 , 0 ,

ū3− γ µ u1− = 2 Ee e−iφ/2 c̄θ , p∗ eiφ/2 s̄θ , −ip∗ eiφ/2 s̄θ , p∗ e−iφ/2 c̄θ .

(b) Using a parity transformation, or otherwise, determine the corresponding four

spinor currents of the form ū4 γ µ u2 .
Parity flips 3-momenta and thus leads to p~3 ↔ p~4 and p~1 ↔ p~2 in the CM frame.
Spins are unaffected by parity, so helicities are flipped. Recalling that parity
acts on spinors with γ 0 , it follows that
u4± = γ 0 u3∓ and u2± = γ 0 u1∓ .
Using
γ 0 γ µ γ 0 = γµ ,
(so that the spatial components are flipped in sign) we then find that
ū4− γ µ u2− = 2 Eµ eiφ/2 c̄θ , −p∗ e−iφ/2 s̄θ , −ip∗ e−iφ/2 s̄θ , −p∗ eiφ/2 c̄θ ,

ū4− γ µ u2+ = 2 mµ e−iφ/2 s̄θ , 0 , 0 , 0 ,

ū4+ γ µ u2− = 2 −mµ eiφ/2 s̄θ , 0 , 0 , 0 ,

ū4+ γ µ u2+ = 2 Eµ e−iφ/2 c̄θ , −p∗ eiφ/2 s̄θ , +ip∗ eiφ/2 s̄θ , −p∗ e−iφ/2 c̄θ .

Here we have also replaced Ee with Eµ and me with mµ .

(c) Taking the limit me , mµ → 0, determine the quantity
|ū3 γ µ u1 ū4 γµ u2 |2
for all helicity choices for which it does not vanish. Can you understand these
results in terms of conservation of angular momentum?
In the massless limit (where Ee = Eµ = E), helicity is conserved at each vertex
(as discussed in lectures). So there are only four nonvanishing spinor amplitudes:
ū3+ γ µ u1+ ū4+ γµ u2+ = 4E 2 (c̄2θ + s̄2θ + s̄2θ + c̄2θ ) = 8E 2 = ū3− γ µ u1− ū4− γµ u2−
ū3+ γ µ u1+ ū4− γµ u2− = 8E 2 eiφ c̄2θ = ū3− γ µ u1− ū4+ γµ u2+ .
Squaring these gives
|ū3+ γ µ u1+ ū4+ γµ u2+ |2 = 64E 4 = |ū3− γ µ u1− ū4− γµ u2− |2
|ū3+ γ µ u1+ ū4− γµ u2− |2 = 16E 4 (1 + cθ )2 = |ū3− γ µ u1− ū4+ γµ u2+ |2 .

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 If the two incoming helicities are equal, then the projection of angular momen-
tum along p~1 vanishes, as does the projection of the final angular momentum
along p~3 . Thus neither forward nor backward scattering is favored, and we might
expect a uniform (θ-independent) angular distribution.
If the incoming helicities are opposite, then the projection along p~1 is either ±1.
Since helicity is conserved at the vertices, the same projection holds along p~3 in
the final state. Thus forward scattering is favored, consistent with the 1 + cos θ
angular distribution.
(d) Using the results obtained above, determine the differential cross section after
summing over final helicities and averaging over initial helicities. The result
should agree with that obtained in class.
The result obtained in class for the spin sum/average was (lecture notes page
6.13) X
1
4
|ū3 γ µ u1 ū4 γµ u2 |2 = 2(s2 + u2 ) (me = mµ = 0) . (6)
helicities

The helicity-basis calculation has four nonzero contributions, leading to

X
1
|ū3 γ µ u1 ū4 γµ u2 |2 = 41 64E 4 + 64E 4 + 16E 4 (1 + cθ )2 + 16E 4 (1 + cθ )2
 
4
helicities
= 32E 4 + 8E 4 (1 + cθ )2
= 2s2 + 2u2 ,

where we have used the results (for the massless limit)

s = 4E 2 and u = 2p1 · p4 = 2E 2 (1 + cos θ) .

Thus we obtain
dσ 1 e4 2
= 2(s + u2 ) ,
dΩ 64π 2 s t2
in agreement with the lecture notes.