Identification of particle and antiparticle in lagrangian

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the representation of particle and antiparticle fields within Lagrangians, specifically highlighting complex scalar bosons and Dirac fermions. In the case of a complex scalar boson, the Lagrangian is expressed as a function of ##\phi^{*}\phi##, while for Dirac fermions, it is represented as ##\bar{\psi}\psi##. This formulation obscures the identification of fermions and antifermions. The discussion concludes that these fields do not strictly represent particle and antiparticle fields and emphasizes the importance of gauge invariance in Lagrangian formulations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Lagrangian mechanics
  • Familiarity with complex scalar fields and Dirac fermions
  • Knowledge of gauge transformations in quantum field theory
  • Basic concepts of particle-antiparticle creation and annihilation operators
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the properties of complex scalar fields in quantum field theory
  • Explore the formulation of Dirac equations and their implications for fermions
  • Research gauge invariance and its role in particle physics
  • Examine Yukawa couplings and their interactions with Higgs doublets
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The discussion is beneficial for theoretical physicists, quantum field theorists, and students studying particle physics, particularly those interested in the nuances of Lagrangian formulations and particle-antiparticle dynamics.

spaghetti3451
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Lagrangians that include a particle field and its corresponding antiparticle field always have the particle field and the antiparticle field in the same terms.

For example, in the theory of a complex scalar boson ##\phi##, the Lagrangian is a function of ##\phi^{*}\phi##, and not of ##\phi## and ##\phi^{*}## separately.

Also, in the theory of a Dirac fermion ##\psi##, the Lagrangian is a function of ##\bar{\psi}\psi##, and not of ##\psi## and ##\bar{\psi}## separately.

This makes it difficult to see if the fermion is ##\psi## and the antifermion is ##\bar{\psi}## or if, the fermion is ##\bar{\psi}## and the antifermion is ##\psi##.

Is there a way to solve this problem?
 
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First of all, those are not particle and antiparticle fields. The field ##\phi## contains the creation operator of an antiparticle and the destruction operator of a particle and vice versa.

Second, it is not necessary that they always appear like that - as long as you have other fields in the term that ensure invariance under gauge transformations. Compare with the Yukawa couplings with a Higgs doublet, which couples different fields.
 

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