Uncovering Feynman Rules from Paper

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around extracting Feynman rules from a specific paper related to quantum field theory (QFT). Participants are examining how to derive the propagator and vertex contributions from interaction terms without performing explicit calculations, and whether additional rules can be inferred beyond the vertex and propagator terms.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the process of "reading off" Feynman rules and question the assumptions behind the derivation of propagators and interaction terms. There are inquiries about manipulating terms related to sources and completing the square in the context of generating functionals.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with participants providing insights into the theoretical framework while also expressing uncertainty about specific manipulations and the implications of multiple interaction terms. Some guidance has been offered regarding the relationship between derivatives and propagators, but no consensus has been reached on the best approach to take.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem requires a background in QFT, and there is an acknowledgment of the complexity involved in deriving rules from the generating functional. The discussion reflects a mix of established knowledge and areas of confusion regarding the application of these concepts.

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Consider question 1 in this paper:

http://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/postgrad/mathiii/pastpapers/2002/Paper65.pdf

How do we "read off" the Feynman rules? I can see that the interaction terms give contributions \lambda_3 , \lambda_4 , \lambda_6 to the relevant 3,4 and 6 point vertices respectively.

How do we get the propagator out of this without doing any calculations?

Or indeed, if we were asked to do a calculation to find it, what would it be?

Am I correct in assuming that the only Feynman rules we can deduce from this is the vertex and propagator terms? Or are there other things we could write? Such as "integrate over undetermined loop momenta, etc..."

Thanks.
 
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You can only "read off" the Feynman rules by knowing the general procedure, which is discussed in any QFT textbook. These problems are apparently intended for someone who knows QFT, and are mostly "regurgitation" problems.
 
the propagator is given by the free part of the theory from the generating functional the higher order terms give the interactions. Look back through our notes at the generating functionals with sources
 
sgd37 said:
the propagator is given by the free part of the theory from the generating functional the higher order terms give the interactions. Look back through our notes at the generating functionals with sources

Sure. So take for example the xAx+bx example. There we have introduced a source b and then when we complete the square we we have to take of a A^{-1} term.

Therefore, when we take the derivatives, the A^{-1} drops down as the propagator.

So what we want to do is write the x's in the interaction terms as derivatives wrt the source right? But I don't see how we can manipulate this into the form of something we can complete the square of?

Thanks.
 
you only want to express the potential terms in terms of derivatives wrt the source the quadratic terms you keep and use them to complete the square

e.g for

S = \int dx \partial^{\mu} \phi \partial_{ \mu} \phi + m^2 \phi^2 + V( \phi)

e^{i S[ \phi] + J \phi} = e^{i \int dx V( \frac{\delta}{\delta J})} e^{i \int dx \phi \partial^{\mu} \partial_{ \mu} \phi + m^2 \phi^2 + J \phi}

which you can complete the square for
 
sgd37 said:
you only want to express the potential terms in terms of derivatives wrt the source the quadratic terms you keep and use them to complete the square

e.g for

S = \int dx \partial^{\mu} \phi \partial_{ \mu} \phi + m^2 \phi^2 + V( \phi)

e^{i S[ \phi] + J \phi} = e^{i \int dx V( \frac{\delta}{\delta J})} e^{i \int dx \phi \partial^{\mu} \partial_{ \mu} \phi + m^2 \phi^2 + J \phi}

which you can complete the square for

Right. It seems that I am able to do this for the case in the notes but I'm unsure here.

So we'd get \int [d \phi] e^{-i\int d^dx \lambda_3 (\frac{\delta}{\delta J_x})^3}e^{-i\int d^dx \lambda_4 (\frac{\delta}{\delta J_x})^4}e^{-i\int d^dx \lambda_6 (\frac{\delta}{\delta J_x})^6} e^{i\int d^dx -\frac{1}{2} \phi \Delta \phi +J \phi}|{J=0}
where \Delta=-\partial_\mu \partial^\mu +m^2
So then I complete the square right?
This gives
\int d^dx -1/2 \phi \Delta \phi + J \phi = \int d^dx - 1/2 \tilde{\phi} \Delta \tilde{\phi} + 1/2 J \int d^dx \Delta^{-1} J
where \tilde{\phi} = \phi - \int d^dx \Delta^{-1} J
I find

\frac{Z[J]}{Z_0[0]}= \int [d \phi] e^{-i \int d^dx \lambda_3 ( \frac{\delta}{\delta J})^3}e^{-i \int d^dx \lambda_4 ( \frac{\delta}{\delta J})^4}e^{-i \int d^dx \lambda_6 ( \frac{\delta}{\delta J})^6} e^{\frac{i}{2} \int d^dx \int d^dy J(x) \Delta^{-1} J(y)}|_{J=0}

Now usually what happens is we do the derivatives and THEN set the source to zero.
However, usually there is only one interaction term. Should I take the derivatives individually? Will this produce a different propagator depending on what interaction (vertex) it's associated to?

Thanks a lot!
 
you already have the propagator i.e. \Delta ^{-1} all the derivatives do is to connect different points with the propagator (here we only have vertices connected to each other).

Remember that ( \frac{ \delta}{ \delta J})^3 = \frac{ \delta^3}{ \delta J_1 \delta J_2 \delta J_3} and that \frac{ \delta J_x}{ \delta J_y} = \delta ^{(d)} (x - y )
 
sgd37 said:
you already have the propagator i.e. \Delta ^{-1} all the derivatives do is to connect different points with the propagator (here we only have vertices connected to each other).

Remember that ( \frac{ \delta}{ \delta J})^3 = \frac{ \delta^3}{ \delta J_1 \delta J_2 \delta J_3} and that \frac{ \delta J_x}{ \delta J_y} = \delta ^{(d)} (x - y )

but consider the cubed term

we'd have e^{\frac{\delta^3}{\delta J_1 \delta J_2 \delta J_3} e^{\int d^dxd^dy J(x) \Delta^{-1}(x,y) J(y)}|_{J=0} ignoring everything else.

now we have 3 derivatives wrt j and only 2 j's attached to the propagator (in the 2nd exponential). won't the first j derivative remove one of those j's then the 2nd j derivative will remove the 2nd j and then the third one will have no j's to act on?
 
well what is \frac{d^3}{dx^3} e^{ax^{2}} remembering that \frac{d}{dx} e^{x} = e^{x}
 

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