Question about interacting fields

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter creepypasta13
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Fields
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the interpretation of the S-matrix and the time evolution operator U(t, t_{0}) as derived by David Tong in his lecture notes on Quantum Field Theory. The equations 3.20 and 3.23 define U(t, t_{0}) using the interaction Hamiltonian H_{I} from Yukawa theory, specifically H_{I} = g * ∫[d^{3}x * ψ† ψ φ]. The user questions the meaning of 'S-1' in equation 3.46, concluding that it refers to excluding the first-order term in the series expansion of the S-matrix rather than the numerical value '1'. This clarification is essential for understanding the perturbative expansion in quantum field theory.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Quantum Field Theory concepts, particularly the S-matrix and time evolution operators.
  • Familiarity with perturbation theory and series expansions in quantum mechanics.
  • Knowledge of Yukawa theory and its Hamiltonian formulation.
  • Ability to interpret mathematical notation used in theoretical physics, such as integrals and operator notation.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the S-matrix in Quantum Field Theory, focusing on perturbative expansions.
  • Learn about the implications of the interaction Hamiltonian in Yukawa theory.
  • Explore the mathematical techniques for evaluating integrals in quantum mechanics, particularly in the context of field operators.
  • Review David Tong's lecture notes on Quantum Field Theory for deeper insights into the time evolution operator and its applications.
USEFUL FOR

The discussion is beneficial for theoretical physicists, graduate students in physics, and researchers focusing on Quantum Field Theory, particularly those interested in the S-matrix and perturbative methods.

creepypasta13
Messages
370
Reaction score
0
I had some questions about the equations that David Tong derives in his lecture notes here:
http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/tong/qft/three.pdf

He gets defines the time evolution operator according to equations 3.20 and 3.23 as
U(t, t[itex]_{0}[/itex]) = T*exp(-i* [itex]\int[/itex][H[itex]_{I}[/itex](t') * dt']) = 1 - i*[itex]\int[/itex][dt' * H[itex]_{I}[/itex](t')] + ...

According to eq 3.26, in the limit as t approaches +/- infinity, U is the same as the S-matrix:

lim <f|U(t[itex]_{+}[/itex], t[itex]_{-}[/itex])|i> = <f|S|i>

but according to eq3.25, the Hamiltonian for the Yukawa theory is:
H[itex]_{I}[/itex] = g * [itex]\int[/itex][d[itex]^{3}[/itex]x * [itex]\psi^{dagger}[/itex] [itex]\psi[/itex] [itex]\varphi[/itex]]

But according to the series expansion formula for U above, and plugging in the Hamiltonian into it, the series expansion for U should be:

U(t, t[itex]_{O}[/itex]) = 1 - i*[itex]\int[/itex][d[itex]^{4}[/itex]x * g*[itex]\psi^{dagger}[/itex] [itex]\psi[/itex] [itex]\varphi[/itex]] + ...

I see that the leading term in g just has the [itex]\psi^{dagger}[/itex] [itex]\psi[/itex] [itex]\varphi[/itex] in it. But in eq 3.46, he calculates <f| S-1| i>, which is SECOND order in g^2. Now it contains two terms each of [itex]\psi^{dagger}[/itex] [itex]\psi[/itex] [itex]\varphi[/itex]

My question is, when he says 'S-1', does he mean "S without the 1st order term" ? Or do he mean "S without the number '1' "? If the former, that would make sense. But the latter makes no sense at all
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
I figured it out. We have the -1 because it corresponds to when |i> = |f>, which gives <i|f>=1, which we want to exclude
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K