How Do You Derive Feynman Rules for Scalar QED Using Functional Methods?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion centers around deriving Feynman rules for scalar quantum electrodynamics (QED) using functional methods. The original poster presents a Lagrangian that includes a scalar complex field, a gauge field, and their interactions, seeking to understand how to extract vertex terms from the generating functional.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to split the Lagrangian into free and interaction parts, derive the generating function for the free theory, and substitute fields with functional derivatives to find vertex terms. They express confusion about how to interpret the resulting expressions in terms of Feynman rules and the flow of momenta at vertices.

Discussion Status

Some participants suggest that understanding the perturbation expansion for correlation functions may clarify the extraction of Feynman rules. Others express difficulty with the problem and seek assistance, indicating a lack of consensus on the approach to take.

Contextual Notes

The original poster notes the complexity of mixing position and momentum space in the generating functional, which contributes to their confusion regarding the formal derivation of Feynman rules.

otaniyul
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Homework Statement


Hello all, thanks for reading...
I was assigned to calculate feynman rules for the scalar QED theory via functional methods.
The fields are a scalar complex field \phi, \phi^* and gauge field A_\mu, and the lagrangean is

\mathfrak{L} = (D_\mu \phi)^* (D^\mu \phi) - m^2 \phi \phi^* - (1/4)F_{\mu,\nu}F^{\mu\nu}

where D_\mu = \partial_\mu + ieA_\mu is the covariant derivative, and F_{\mu\nu} = \partial_\mu A_\nu - \partial_\nu A_\mu is the maxwell tensor.

For the fonts J (complex scalar) and j (4-vector), the generating function will then be

Z[J,j] = \int \mathfrak{D}\phi\mathfrak{D}\phi^*\mathfrak{D}A \exp(i\int\mathfrak{L} + J^*\phi + J\phi^* + j^\mu A_\mu)


---------------------------

Homework Equations


to simplify notation, we will use
the klein gordon operator: K = \partial^2 - m^2,
its propagator: \Delta(x) = \int \frac{d^4k}{(2\pi)^4} \frac{e^{-ikx}}{k^2-m^2+i\epsilon}
the massless operator (feynman gauge): P^{\mu\nu} = \eta^{\mu\nu} \partial^2,
and its propagator: D_{\mu\nu}(x) = \int \frac{d^4k}{(2\pi)^4} \frac{-\eta_{\mu\nu}e^{-ikx}}{k^2}

We have
K\Delta(x) = \delta(x)
P^{\mu\nu} D_{\nu\rho}(x) = \delta^\mu_\rho \delta(x)


----------------------------------------

The Attempt at a Solution


Ok, I have then split the Lagrangean in the free-theory part and interaction part:

\mathfrak{L}_0 = (\partial_\mu \phi)^* (\partial^\mu \phi) - m^2 \phi \phi^* - (1/4)F_{\mu,\nu}F^{\mu\nu},
\mathfrak{L}_{int} = eA^\mu (\phi i\partial_\mu \phi* - \phi* i\partial_\mu \phi) + e^2 A^\mu A_\mu \phi^* \phi

First we derive the free theory generating function. We add the Gauge Fixing term to the Lagrangean, with Feynman gauge ((-1/2)(\partial_\mu A^\mu)^2. The lagrangean integral can be made to the form

\int dx \mathfrak{L}_0 = -\int \phi K \phi^* + (1/2) A\mu P^{\mu\nu} A_\nu

and the generating functional will then be
Z_0 = N \exp \big( -i \int dx dy J^*(x) \Delta(x-y) J(y) + (1/2) j^\mu(x) D_{\mu\nu}(x-y) j^\nu(y) \big) = N e^{-i \int J^* \Delta J + (1/2) j D j^}


soo, to my question. I have the scalar and photon propagatos, those i / k^2 - m^2 from the propagators, but how do i get the vertex terms?

The generating function for the interaction theory will be

Z[J,j] = N \exp( -i \int \mathfrak{L}_{int} ) Z_0[J,j]

where in L_int we substitute the fields for functional derivatives of the sources. so in first order, i did this:

\int dx (ie\eta^{\mu\nu}) A_\mu(x) (\phi(x) \partial_\nu\phi^*(x) - \phi^*(x) \partial_\nu\phi(x))

goes to

\int dx dz \delta(x-z) (ie\eta^{\mu\nu}) A_\mu(x) \frac{\partial}{\partial z^\nu}(\phi(x) \phi^*(z) - \phi^*(x) \phi(z))

where i used a dirac delta to let the derivative act only where it is needed. then, passing to functional derivatives, we should get

\int dx dz \delta(x-z) (ie \eta^{\mu\nu}) \frac{\delta}{i\delta j^\mu(x)} \frac{\partial}{\partial z^\nu} \left( \frac{\delta}{i\delta J^*(x)}\frac{\delta}{i\delta J(z)} - \frac{\delta}{i\delta J(x)} \frac{\delta}{i\delta J^*(z)} \right)

then aplying to the free generating function, using the explicit form of the propagators, after some work... we get the first order term:

e \int dx dy dz \frac{dp}{(2\pi)^4}\frac{dk}{(2\pi)^4}\frac{dkp}{(2\pi)^4} (2\pi)^4\delta(p+k+k') j^\mu(x) \left( -\frac{e^{ipx}\eta_{\mu\nu}} {p^2} \right) (k+k')^\nu J(y)\frac{e^{iky}}{k^2-m^2} J^*(z)\frac{e^{ik'z}}{k'^2-m^2}


so... after all calculations, how do i read out the feynman rule? I mean, from the interaction lagrangean i know it must be something like
ie(k+k')^\mu
but why, formally? the generation funtion is mixed up with positions and momentum spaces, so its hard for me to see... where are the momenta goint, entering or exiting the vertex and all those stuff... any help!?

and gosh, there is also the second order!

thank you a lot, i write too much...
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Feynman's rules are better understood writing down the perturbation expansion for correlation's function...
 
man I've been trying to do this question

I can't do it, can someone do it?
 
hamiltonian density (interaction part)

\mathscr{H}_{int}=eA^\mu j_\mu

two point function

<0| T(\phi_1\phi_2) |0> =<0| \phi_1 \phi_2 \text{exp} \left[-i \int d^4 x \mathscr{H}_{int} \right] |0>_{connected}

four point function

<0|T(\phi_1\phi_2 \phi_3 \phi_4) |0>=<0| \phi_1 \phi_2 \phi_3 \phi_4 exp[-i \int d^4 x \mathscr{H}_{int} ] |0>_connected

expanding the exponent you find what you want order by order...
 

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