Why do Feynman rules have minus signs?

In summary, the conversation discusses equation 5.46 in the notes on quantum field theory by Tong. The first question asks about the presence of the term with i \epsilon and the (p-p')^2-\mu^2 term, while the second question asks about the difference in sign between the two terms. The response includes an explanation of how to recognize when the minus sign is needed based on the crossing of fermionic legs in the diagrams. The conversation ends with a request for an easier way to identify when the minus sign is needed.
  • #1
latentcorpse
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Consider equation 5.46 in these notes:
damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/tong/qft/qft.pdf

(i) why does only one term have the [itex]i \epsilon[/itex] in it? I thought this was because the [itex](p-p')^2-\mu^2[/itex] term can never vanish but this doesn't make sense since the [itex]\phi[/itex] particle will have momentum [itex]p-p'[/itex] and since momentum squares to mass squared [itex]\mu^2[/itex], surely we will actually have [itex](p-p')^2-\mu^2=0[/itex] always?

(ii)why is one term plus and the other minus? he talks earlier about how we pick up extra minus signs for fermionic diagrams from statistics but doesn't explicitly tell us how to recognise when they are needed (well he does in the calculation on p120 but quite a common exam question is to write down the amplitude from feynman rules - you aren't going to have time to reproduce p120 every time you need to check a minus sign!)
looking at diagrams 25 and 26 it seems to be that whenever two fermionic legs cross we get a minus sign (this is why one of the terms in figure 25 gets a minus sign but none in figure 26 do since the external legs are bosonic there) but then in (5.46) which corresponds to figure 27, why does that s channel diagram get a minus sign? No external legs get crossed there? There must be an easy way of recognising when we need the minus sign?

Thanks.
 
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1. What are "Minus Signs" in Feynman Rules?

"Minus Signs" in Feynman Rules refer to the negative signs that appear in certain terms of the mathematical equations used to calculate particle interactions in quantum field theory. These negative signs are a result of the complex nature of the equations and do not have any physical significance.

2. Why do "Minus Signs" appear in Feynman Rules?

"Minus Signs" appear in Feynman Rules due to the use of complex numbers in quantum field theory calculations. These negative signs arise from the need to account for the different directions of particle interactions and ensure that the equations accurately represent the laws of physics.

3. How do "Minus Signs" affect the results of Feynman Rules?

The "Minus Signs" in Feynman Rules do not affect the final results of the calculations. They are simply a mathematical convention used to accurately represent the laws of physics. The negative signs cancel out in the final calculations and do not have any physical significance.

4. Can "Minus Signs" be eliminated from Feynman Rules?

No, "Minus Signs" cannot be eliminated from Feynman Rules as they are an essential part of the mathematical equations used to calculate particle interactions in quantum field theory. Attempting to remove them would result in inaccurate and invalid calculations.

5. Do all Feynman Rules contain "Minus Signs"?

No, not all Feynman Rules contain "Minus Signs". The presence of "Minus Signs" depends on the specific equations being used and the types of interactions being studied. Some equations may have more "Minus Signs" than others, but all follow the same mathematical conventions and do not affect the final results of the calculations.

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