Dirac Delta Function in Cross Section Formula (Peskin Schroeder QFT)

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the appearance of the Dirac delta function in the cross section formula derived from Peskin and Schroeder's Quantum Field Theory (QFT) textbook. Specifically, in Eq 4.77, the delta function constrains the variable ##\bar{k}^z_A## to equal ##k^z_A##, leading to a unique solution in the context of the cross section calculation. The manipulation of the function ##F(\bar{k}^z_A)## reveals a quadratic equation with a second solution, denoted as ##K##, but the constraints ultimately dictate that only the solution ##\bar{k}^z_A = k^z_A## is valid. This highlights the importance of understanding the implications of the Dirac delta function in particle physics calculations.

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In Peskin and Schroeder's QFT book, while deriving the cross section formula for particles ##A## and ##B##, a Dirac delta appears in Eq 4.77:
\begin{align}
\nonumber
\int d\bar{k}^z_A \,
\left.
\delta ( F ( \bar{k}^z_A ) )
\right\vert_{\bar{k}^\perp_A = k^\perp_A, \, \bar{k}^\perp_B = k^\perp_B}
=
\frac{1}{\left\vert\frac{\bar{k}^z_A}{\bar{E}_A}-\frac{\bar{k}^z_B}{\bar{E}_B}\right\vert},
\end{align}
where
\begin{equation}
\nonumber
F ( \bar{k}^z_A ) =
\sqrt{(\bar{k}^\perp_A)^2+(\bar{k}^z_A)^2+m^2_A}
+ \sqrt{(\bar{k}^\perp_B)^2+(k^z_A+k^z_B - \bar{k}^z_A)^2+m^2_B}
\
-\sqrt{(k^\perp_A)^2+(k^z_A)^2+m^2_A}
-\sqrt{(k^\perp_B)^2+(k^z_B)^2+m^2_B}.
\end{equation}
Because of the delta function, this result comes together with the constraint
\begin{equation}
\nonumber
\bar{k}^z_A=k^z_A.
\end{equation}
In Eq 4.78 on the next page, this result is used to exchange the variables ##\bar{k}^z_A## and ##\bar{k}^z_B = k^z_A+k^z_B-\bar{k}^z_A## in terms of ##k^z_A##. For example,
\begin{equation}
\nonumber
\frac{1}{\sqrt{E_A\bar{E}_A}} \phi_A(\vec{k}_A) \phi^\star_A(\vec{\bar{k}}_A)
=
\frac{\vert\phi_A(\vec{k}_A)\vert^2}{E_A}.
\end{equation}
I know how to deal with a composition of Dirac delta with a function, and it is clear that ##F(\bar{k}^z_A)## has a zero at ##k^z_A##. However, by manipulating ##F(\bar{k}^z_A)##, we can get a quadratic equation of ##\bar{k}^z_A##, and there is one another solution. Let's denote the second solution by ##K##. Then, the first equation above should give
\begin{align}
\nonumber
\frac{1}{\left\vert\frac{\bar{k}^z_A}{\bar{E}_A}-\frac{k^z_A+k^z_B-\bar{k}^z_A}{\bar{E}_B}\right\vert} \times \left( \bar{k}^z_A = k^z_A\right)
+
\frac{1}{\left\vert\frac{\bar{k}^z_A}{\bar{E}_A}-\frac{k^z_A+k^z_B-\bar{k}^z_A}{\bar{E}_B}\right\vert}\times \left( \bar{k}^z_A =K \right).
\end{align}
That is, the constraints are not given as independent options. They are summed together so it is impossible to choose one of them as we want. But as you can see in Eq 4.78, they take only one solution ##\bar{k}^z_A = k^z_A##.

What am I misunderstanding?
 
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It's been a time since you posted the question. I met a derivation recently which I think is kind of similar to your question. As for ##F(\bar{k}_{A}^{z})## you wrote, if we have constraints ##\bar{k}_{A}^{\perp}=k_{A}^{\perp}## and ##\bar{k}_{B}^{\perp}=k_{B}^{\perp}##, I don't think there is any other solution than ##\bar{k}_{A}^{z}=k_{A}^{z}##.
 

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