Scalar decay to one-loop in Yukawa interaction

In summary, the author is trying to calculate the amplitude for a decay ##\phi \to e^+e^-## under a Yukawa interaction ##\mathcal{L}_I = -g\phi \bar{\psi}\psi## to one-loop order (with massless fermions for simplicity). The author has no problem calculating the integrals and using counterterms to cancel the infinities that arise, but is not sure if the conditions they use for renormalization are correct.
  • #1
Gaussian97
Homework Helper
683
412
TL;DR Summary
One-loop correction for $\phi \to e^+e^-$ under a Yukawa interaction seems to vanish trivially.
I am trying to calculate the amplitude for a decay ##\phi \to e^+e^-## under a Yukawa interaction ##\mathcal{L}_I = -g\phi \bar{\psi}\psi## to one-loop order (with massless fermions for simplicity).

If I'm not wrong, there are 4 diagrams that contribute to 1 loop, three diagrams involving self-energy corrections (i.e. inserting a loop into the external lines) and an extra diagram with vertex correction (a ##\phi## field exchanged by ##e^+## and ##e^-##).

I have no problem calculating the integrals and using counterterms to cancel the infinities that arise, but I'm not sure if the conditions I use for renormalization are correct. Following the example of QED, to apply on-shell renormalization I used the following conditions;

The scalar propagator in the limit ##p^2 \to M^2## should be ##\frac{i}{p^2-M^2}##

The fermion propagator in the limit ##\not{\!p} \to 0## should be ##\frac{i}{\not{p}}##

The vertex function in the limit ##p^2 \to M^2## should be ##-ig##. (##p## is the momentum of the scalar particle.)

Now, because the self-energy diagrams are all in external legs, the first two corrections mean that those diagrams vanish.
But the third condition tells that the vertex correction must also vanish when the scalar particle is on-shell (as in my diagram). Therefore all the diagrams here vanish trivially due to renormalization conditions.

Is this analysis correct? Or did I make some mistake in the renormalization part?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Gaussian97 said:
Yukawa interaction,,,with massless fermions
By doing so, didn't you just set the coupling to zero?
 
  • #3
Vanadium 50 said:
By doing so, didn't you just set the coupling to zero?
Mmm... Not sure I follow you, maybe I'm saying something stupid. But how is the coupling constant ##g## in ##\mathcal{L}_I = -g\phi \bar{\psi}\psi## related to the mass of the fermions?
 
  • #4
I'm sorry. I saw "Yukawa" and my brain immediately jumped to "Higgs Yukawa".
 
  • #5
Oh, okay I understand now the confusion.
I'm doing this simply to practice (most textbooks deal with $\phi^4$ and QED), so I thought that Yukawa was a simple enough example to try to do it by myself.
There is no intention of this being applicable in the Standard Model or anything like that, just to have fun.
 

1. What is scalar decay to one-loop in Yukawa interaction?

Scalar decay to one-loop in Yukawa interaction refers to a process in particle physics where a scalar particle (such as the Higgs boson) decays into other particles through the interaction with a Yukawa coupling. This process involves the exchange of virtual particles, resulting in a one-loop Feynman diagram.

2. Why is scalar decay to one-loop in Yukawa interaction important?

This process is important because it allows us to study the properties of the scalar particle and its interactions with other particles. It also plays a crucial role in understanding the dynamics of the Standard Model of particle physics and can provide insights into physics beyond the Standard Model.

3. How is scalar decay to one-loop in Yukawa interaction calculated?

The calculation of scalar decay to one-loop in Yukawa interaction involves using Feynman diagrams and applying perturbation theory. This allows us to calculate the probability of the decay process and determine the branching ratios for different decay channels.

4. What is the significance of the Yukawa coupling in scalar decay to one-loop?

The Yukawa coupling is a dimensionless parameter that determines the strength of the interaction between the scalar particle and the fermions. It plays a crucial role in the calculation of scalar decay to one-loop and can provide information about the masses and couplings of the particles involved.

5. Can scalar decay to one-loop in Yukawa interaction be observed in experiments?

Yes, scalar decay to one-loop in Yukawa interaction has been observed in experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and other particle accelerators. By studying the decay products, scientists can confirm the existence of the scalar particle and its interactions with other particles.

Similar threads

  • Quantum Physics
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
4
Views
871
Replies
1
Views
916
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
958
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
930
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
1
Views
494
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
4
Views
2K
Back
Top