Interference term in Bhabha scattering

In summary, the conversation is about calculating the cross section for Bhabha scattering and encountering a term involving trace of 8 gamma matrices. The other person suggests using a contraction identity to simplify the term and provides the simplified form of the term.
  • #1
karangovil
1
0
Hi guys...I am trying the problem 5.2 from Peskin to calculate cross section for Bhabha scattering. In the interference (cross) term, I'm getting a term involving trace of 8 gamma matrices and I am having some trouble in evaluating it. So can anyone help?

The term is Tr[[tex]\displaystyle{\not}p'\gamma^{\nu}\displaystyle{\not}k'\gamma^{\mu}\displaystyle{\not}k\gamma_{\nu}\displaystyle{\not}p\gamma_{\mu}[/tex]]
(here first two momenta are p' and k')
 
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  • #2
Hi...
You can use some contraction identity (Peskin p. 805):
[tex]\gamma^{\mu}\gamma^{\nu}\gamma^{\rho}\gamma^{\sigma}\gamma_{\mu}=
-2\gamma^{\sigma}\gamma^{\rho}\gamma^{\nu} [/tex]
[tex]\gamma^{\mu}\gamma^{\nu}\gamma^{\rho}\gamma_{\mu}=
4 g^{\nu \rho} [/tex].
Your term is:
[tex]Tr[ \gamma^{\delta}\gamma^{\nu}\gamma^{\alpha}\gamma^{\mu}\gamma^{\beta} \gamma_{\nu}\gamma^{\gamma}\gamma_{\mu}k'_{\alpha}k_{\beta}p_{\gamma}p'_{\delta}
]=-2Tr[ \gamma^{\delta}\gamma^{\beta}\gamma^{\mu}\gamma^{\alpha} \gamma^{\gamma}\gamma_{\mu}k'_{\alpha}k_{\beta}p_{\gamma}p'_{\delta}]
=[/tex]
[tex]=-8Tr[ \gamma^{\delta}\gamma^{\beta}k_{\beta}p'_{\delta}(k' \cdot p)
] =-32(k'\cdot p) (k\cdot p') [/tex]
 

FAQ: Interference term in Bhabha scattering

What is the interference term in Bhabha scattering?

The interference term in Bhabha scattering refers to the contribution of both the exchange and annihilation processes in the scattering of electrons and positrons. It is an interference between the two processes that leads to the observed scattering cross-section.

How is the interference term calculated in Bhabha scattering?

The interference term is calculated by considering the interference between the exchange and annihilation diagrams in the scattering process. This can be done mathematically by taking the square of the sum of the amplitudes for each process, and then subtracting the squares of the individual amplitudes.

What is the significance of the interference term in Bhabha scattering?

The interference term is important because it provides information about the nature of the scattering process and the underlying interactions between particles. It also allows for the determination of fundamental properties of particles, such as their mass and charge.

How does the interference term affect the scattering cross-section in Bhabha scattering?

The interference term can lead to an increase or decrease in the overall scattering cross-section, depending on the energy and angle of the scattered particles. At certain energies and angles, the interference term can cancel out the contributions from the individual processes, resulting in a decrease in the cross-section.

Are there any ongoing research efforts related to the interference term in Bhabha scattering?

Yes, there are ongoing research efforts to study the interference term in Bhabha scattering in order to further understand the underlying physics and to improve the precision of measurements. This includes theoretical calculations, experimental studies, and Monte Carlo simulations.

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