Quantum Field Theory I

Prof. Dr. M. Czakon

Sheet 10 Winter Term 2018/2019 Issue: December 12 Submission: December 18 Points: 30

Exercise: Jonas Klappert (klappert@physik.rwth-aachen.de),

Benjamin Summ (benjamin.summ@rwth-aachen.de)

Exercise 1. 10 P.
Compton scattering is a scattering of a photon by an electron defined as

γ(k, ) e− (p, s) → γ(k 0 , ∗ ) e− (p0 , s0 )

1. Calculate the unpolarized square matrix element for this process i.e. sum (or average)
over electron and photon polarization states. For simplicity neglect the mass of the
electron.
Hint: Use the following prescription to sum over photon polarization vectors
X
∗µ ν −→ −gµν .
polarization

2. Simplify the obtained expression by introducing the Mandelstam variables.

3. How does the spin-averaged interference term between the two Feynman diagrams for
Compton scattering look like ?
4. Using crossing symmetry write down the result for the square matrix element for the
related process, namely the pair annihilation into photons, e+ e− → γγ.
Hint: To go from γe− → γe− to e+ e− → γγ one should simply “cross” the ingoing
photon with the outgoing electron, while the initial electron and outgoing photon are
unaltered.
5. Express the obtained result via the Mandelstam variables.
6. Draw the lowest order Feynman diagrams for the pair annihilation process.
7. Calculate the cross-section for both Compton scattering and pair annihilation.

Exercise 2. 10 P.
Derive the LSZ reduction formula for fermion anti-particles (in-going and out-going).
Exercise 3. 10 P.
The Feynman parameter representation is very useful in evaluating Feynman diagrams con-
taining numerous propagators. For n propagators it states that

Γ(α1 + · · · + αn ) ∞
δ(1 − x1 − · · · − xn )xα1 1 −1 . . . xαnn −1
Z
1
α1 α
= dx1 . . . dxn ,
A1 . . . Ann Γ(α1 ) . . . Γ(αn ) 0 (A1 x1 + · · · + An xn )α1 +···+αn

where Γ is the Euler Gamma function

Z ∞
Γ(α) = dt tα−1 e−t .
0

a) Prove that the relation is fulfilled for n = 2 and arbitrary powers of α and β

Γ(α + β) ∞ xα−1 (1 − x)β−1

Z
1
= dx ,
Aα1 Aβ2 Γ(α)Γ(β) 0 (A1 x + A2 (1 − x))α+β

by moving the Gamma functions from the denominator to the left to obtain an equality be-
tween two double integrals. Afterwards use a variable transformation to bring both sides
into the same form.
b) Prove the general formula for an arbitrary number of denominators with the help of in-
duction.