Bilinear terms in QED lagrangian under charge conjugation

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on verifying the invariance of the Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) Lagrangian under charge conjugation. The Lagrangian is expressed as \(\mathcal{L}=-\frac{1}{4}F^{\alpha\beta}F_{\alpha\beta} + \bar\Psi(i\displaystyle{\not} D - m)\Psi\), where \(F^{\alpha\beta} = \partial^\alpha A^\beta - \partial^\beta A^\alpha\) and \(D^\mu = \partial^\mu - ieA^\mu\). The participant computes transformations of \(\bar\Psi\) and \(\Psi\) under charge conjugation, ultimately questioning the appearance of a negative sign in the bilinear term \(\bar\Psi \Psi\). The confusion arises from the application of the properties of gamma matrices and the implications of the fermionic anticommutation relations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) principles
  • Familiarity with Lagrangian mechanics in quantum field theory
  • Knowledge of gamma matrices and their properties
  • Concept of charge conjugation in quantum fields
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the properties of gamma matrices in detail, focusing on their anticommutation relations
  • Study the charge conjugation transformation in quantum field theory
  • Examine Peskin and Schroeder's treatment of fermionic fields and bilinear forms
  • Explore the implications of fermionic statistics on field theory calculations
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Students and researchers in theoretical physics, particularly those focusing on quantum field theory and the properties of fermionic fields in QED.

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Homework Statement


I want to check that the QED lagrangian \mathcal{L}=-\frac{1}{4}F^{\alpha\beta}F_{\alpha\beta} + \bar\Psi(i\displaystyle{\not} D - m)\Psi where F^{\alpha\beta} = \partial^\alpha A^\beta - \partial^\beta A^\alpha, \ D^\mu = \partial^\mu - ieA^\mu is invariant under charge conjugation which is given as A_\mu \rightarrow A'_\mu = -A_\mu, \ \Psi \rightarrow \Psi' = -i(\bar\Psi \gamma^0\gamma^2)^T.

Homework Equations


See above.

The Attempt at a Solution


I have computed \bar\Psi \rightarrow \bar\Psi' = \Psi'\gamma^0 = -i(\gamma^0\gamma^2\Psi)^T which I have then checked in Peskin and Schroeder.

Next I wanted to compute \bar\Psi \Psi \rightarrow \bar\Psi' \Psi' = -i(\gamma^0\gamma^2\Psi)^T(-i\bar\Psi \gamma^0\gamma^2)^T = -(\bar\Psi \gamma^0\gamma^2)(\gamma^0\gamma^2\Psi) = - \bar\Psi \Psi. Where I transpose the whole expression which I thought should be ok since the Lagrangian is 1x1 and use \gamma^0\gamma^2\gamma^0\gamma^2 = I. Checking this in P&S is not as fun since it's wrong, there should be no minus sign. What am I doing wrong?

I also don't quite understand the computation in P&S which is \bar\Psi \Psi \rightarrow \bar\Psi' \Psi' = -i(\gamma^0\gamma^2\Psi)^T(-i\bar\Psi \gamma^0\gamma^2)^T = -\gamma^0_{ab}\gamma^2_{bc}\Psi_c\bar\Psi_d\gamma^0_{de}\gamma^2_{ea} = \bar\Psi_d\gamma^0_{de}\gamma^2_{ea}\gamma^0_{ab}\gamma^2_{bc}\Psi_c = -\bar\Psi\gamma^2\gamma^0\gamma^0\gamma^2\Psi = \bar\Psi \Psi. What I don't understand is the step between the two expressions with indices, why does the sign change?
 
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I've kept studying and I think that the minus sign which appears is from \{\Psi_a(x),\Psi_b(y)\} = \delta(x-y)\delta_{ab}. What I don't understand is what happens at x=y with a=b? Don't I have to account for this as well since the sum is over all a and b and not limited in space?
 

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