Problem on calculating decay rates/lifetimes

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the decay rate of a particle \(\Phi\) decaying into two particles \(\phi\) using the interaction term from the Lagrangian \(\mathcal{L}=\frac{1}{2} ( \partial_{\mu} \Phi)^2-\frac{1}{2}M^2 \Phi ^2 + \frac{1}{2} ( \partial_{\mu} \phi)^2-\frac{1}{2}M^2 \phi ^2-\mu \Phi \phi \phi\). The transition amplitude is derived using the S-matrix to lowest order in the coupling constant \(\mu\). Participants discuss the implications of commuting creation and annihilation operators, leading to the conclusion that higher-order terms in the Dyson expansion may need consideration to resolve the issue of obtaining a non-zero amplitude.

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Homework Statement


Given the Lagrangian

\mathcal{L}=\frac{1}{2} ( \partial_{\mu} \Phi)^2-\frac{1}{2}M^2 \Phi ^2 + \frac{1}{2} ( \partial_{\mu} \phi)^2-\frac{1}{2}M^2 \phi ^2-\mu \Phi \phi \phi,

[The last term, the interaction term allows a \Phi particle to decay into 2 \phi particles, assuming of course that M>2m.] Calculate the decay rate of that process to lowest order in \mu

Homework Equations



Dyson expansion, etc.

The Attempt at a Solution


OK, so I'm stuck on computing the transition amplitude here. Following Aitchison and Hey, the transition amplitude is (letting the initial momentum be pi and the final momenta be p1 and p2):

<f|S|i>=<p_1, p_2|S|p_i>

To the lowest order in \mu, the S-matrix is

S=-i\mu \int d^4 x \mathcal{H}_{interaction}=-i\mu \int d^4 x \Phi \phi \phi

so to lowest order, the transition amplitude is

<p_1, p_2|S|p_i>=-i\mu<0|a_{\phi}(p_1) a_{\phi}(p_2) \sqrt(2E_1) \sqrt(2E_2) \int d^4 x \Phi \phi \phi \sqrt(2E_i) a_{\Phi}^{\dagger}(p_i) |0>
Considering just the last bit, namely
\phi \phi \sqrt(2E_i) a_{\Phi}^{\dagger}(p_i) |0>
We can expand the \phi in terms of creation and annihilation operators, right? For the annihilation operator, it'll commute with the a_{\Phi}^{\dagger}(p_i) so that term will give 0. For the other\phi, we get the same thing. So you're going to get something like

\int a_{\phi}^{\dagger}(p_i) a_{\phi}^{\dagger}(p_i) a_{\Phi}^{\dagger}(p_i) |0>

Can't you just commute a_{\Phi}^{\dagger}(p_i) to the left? When bracketed with the final state which has no \Phi particles, this'll give 0. Did I make a mistake? Or do I just have to consider a higher order term in the Dyson expansion?
 
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AuraCrystal said:
Can't you just commute a_{\Phi}^{\dagger}(p_i) to the left? When bracketed with the final state which has no \Phi particles, this'll give 0. Did I make a mistake? Or do I just have to consider a higher order term in the Dyson expansion?

When moving a_{\Phi}^{\dagger}(p_i) to the left, wouldn't you need to consider what happens when moving it past \Phi?
 
^Yeah, I forgot about that! Thanks! :)
 

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