What are the issues with the covariant partners in this amplitude calculation?

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The discussion focuses on the amplitude calculation for pair production in quantum field theory, specifically addressing issues with covariant partners in the context of Feynman diagrams. The user expresses concerns about the lack of contravariant partners for the covariant indices \mu and \nu in the amplitude expression, particularly when the propagator is not a photon. Additionally, questions arise regarding the labeling of particles in the diagram, the integration process yielding terms for momentum conservation, and the correct notation for spinors. The importance of distinguishing between particles and antiparticles using the appropriate spinors is also emphasized.

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jono90one
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Hi,
I have a question regarding pair production, regarding the amplitude that I am trying to understand.

I have attached a photograph of the feynmann diagram, which I believe to be correct - although I don't like the vertex/propogator combination as shown below: (I have split up integral so it fits onto more than 1 line)
-iM = \int u(p_{3},s_{3}) (-ie\gamma_{\mu}) \epsilon(k_{1},\lambda_{1})

(i\frac{q_{\mu}\gamma^{mu}+m}{q^{2}-m^{2}})

\bar{u}(p_{4},s_{4}) (-ie\gamma_{\mu}) \epsilon(k_{2},\lambda_{2}) (2\pi)^{4} \delta^{4}(q-p_{3}-{k1}) (2\pi)^{4} \delta^{4}(q-p_{3}-{k1}) \frac{d^{4}q}{(2\pi)^4}

(p = mmt, s = spin, k = 4-mmt, lambda = polorisation, integrated over all mmt space q.)

My questions are:
- The bit I don't like is the fact the \mu and \nu covariants don't have contravariant partners (just \gamma_{\mu} \gamma_{\nu}). If the propagator was a photon, these would nicely have partners. Isn't the idea it should be invariant, so isn't this an issue?

-Labels, I am doing the 1, 2, 3, 4 based on the order it happens in (this makes sense given time axis goes horizontally) - Are these correct?

- When I integrate this, will I get two terms, e.g. one for when q = p_{3} + p_{1} - I guess these just add to give an overall amplitude?

-On notation, should it be u(p_{3}, s_{3}) or \bar{u}(p_{3}, s_{3}) - i.e. Am I saying, oh it's a positron, so I should make that known, or do I follow the feynmann digram and say it's an electron going backwards in time. I'm sure the former is true.

Many thanks for you help
 

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jono90one said:
he bit I don't like is the fact the \mu and \nu covariants don't have contravariant partners (just \gamma_{\mu} \gamma_{\nu}). If the propagator was a photon, these would nicely have partners. Isn't the idea it should be invariant, so isn't this an issue?

What are the \epsilons you have written?

jono90one said:
-Labels, I am doing the 1, 2, 3, 4 based on the order it happens in (this makes sense given time axis goes horizontally) - Are these correct?

I don't get this... also are you sure about your delta functions? you have given the same expression for both, while (I think) you wanted to apply the conservation of energy/momentum in each vertex... eg one of the deltas should have k2 and p4 in the argument.

jono90one said:
- When I integrate this, will I get two terms, e.g. one for when q=p3+p1q = p_{3} + p_{1} - I guess these just add to give an overall amplitude?

add up?

jono90one said:
-On notation, should it be u(p_{3}, s_{3}) or u¯(p3,s3)\bar{u}(p_{3}, s_{3}) - i.e. Am I saying, oh it's a positron, so I should make that known, or do I follow the feynmann digram and say it's an electron going backwards in time. I'm sure the former is true.

The 4spinors are u,v the u is for particles and v for antiparticles.
 

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