Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the preservation of symmetries of the Lagrangian in Feynman diagrams within perturbative quantum field theory (QFT). Participants explore the implications of symmetries, anomalies, and identities such as the Ward and Slavnov-Taylor identities in this context.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- Some participants inquire whether the symmetries of the Lagrangian are preserved in each Feynman diagram, referencing the Ward Identity as a potential basis for this consideration.
- There is a suggestion that the creation and annihilation of particles and antiparticles in pairs may imply that Feynman diagrams preserve the unitary symmetries of the Lagrangian.
- One participant notes that symmetries in the path integral formalism exist at the level of the effective action or matrix elements, emphasizing the importance of quantum corrections and the path integral measure.
- Concerns are raised about the possibility of lifting classical symmetries to quantum symmetries, with the breakdown of classical symmetry during quantization referred to as an anomaly, exemplified by the chiral anomaly.
- Clarifications are sought regarding the meaning of "PI measure" and its role in the context of symmetries and anomalies.
- There is a discussion about whether anomalies exist in the context of the Ward and Slavnov identities, with some participants questioning the implications of anomalies on these identities at the quantum level.
- One participant asserts that there is an anomaly in all UA(1) symmetries in the Standard Model, leading to a violation of the Ward identity for the axial current.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express uncertainty regarding the preservation of symmetries in Feynman diagrams, with some suggesting that anomalies may affect this preservation. The discussion remains unresolved, with multiple competing views on the implications of symmetries and anomalies.
Contextual Notes
Participants highlight the dependence of the discussion on specific symmetries being investigated, as well as the unresolved nature of certain mathematical steps related to anomalies and their implications for quantum symmetries.