Ward-Takahashi identities at tree level in scalar QED

In summary, the conversation discusses the use of Feynman's rule at tree level to verify the Ward-Takahashi identities in scalar QED. The identities involve the three-point vertex \Gamma^\mu and four-point vertex \Gamma^{\mu\nu}, with q^\mu representing the photon momentum and D_F^{-1}(p) being the inverse of the scalar propagator. The conversation also mentions the Feynman rules for the values of these vertices in various particle interactions and the definition of \Gamma^\mu, which is given as -ie(p^\mu+q^\mu). The conversation ends with a discussion about using Ward's identity to solve for the matrix element in a diagram involving scalar propagators. Additionally, it is
  • #1
leo.
96
5

Homework Statement


Let [itex]\Gamma^\mu[/itex] be the three-point vertex in scalar QED and [itex]\Gamma^{\mu\nu}[/itex] be the four-point vertex. Use Feynman's rule at tree level and verify that the Ward-Takahashi identities are satisfied:
[tex]q^\mu \Gamma_\mu(p_1,p_2)=e[D_F^{-1}(p_1)-D_F^{-1}(p_2)],\\ q^{\mu}\Gamma_{\mu\nu}(q,k,p_1,p_2)=e[\Gamma_\nu(p_1+q,p_2)-\Gamma_\nu(p_1,p_2-k)][/tex]
where [itex]D_F^{-1}(p)[/itex] is the inverse of the scalar propagator and [itex]q[/itex] is the photon momentum.

Finaly show that [itex]p_\mu \Pi^{\mu\nu}=0[/itex] being [itex]\Pi^{\mu\nu}[/itex] the sum of the vacuum polarization diagrams.

Homework Equations


I believe the Feynman rules for the value of such vertices and the definition of those gammas, which I'm unsure. Based on the book I'm reading (Quantum Field Theory and the Standard Model by Matthew Schwartz) the three point vertex has 4 possible values: for particle scattering it is [itex]ie(-p_1^\mu-p_2^\mu)[/itex], for antiparticle scattering it is [itex]ie(p_1^\mu+p_2^\mu)[/itex], for pair annihilation it is [itex]ie(-p_1^\mu+p_2^\mu)[/itex] and for pair creation it is [itex]ie(-p_1^\mu+p_2^\mu)[/itex]. The four-point vertex gives [itex]2ie^2 g_{\mu\nu}[/itex].

He summarizes this as "[itex]-ie[/itex] times the sum of the momentum of particles whose particle-flow arrows point to the right minus the momentum of the particles whose arrows point to the left". I believe this means that [itex]\Gamma^\mu(p,q)=-ie(p^\mu+q^\mu)[/itex] where [itex]p^\mu[/itex] is the total momentum of the particles entering the vertex and [itex]q^\mu[/itex] is the total momentum of the antiparticles going out of the vertex, but I'm unsure if this captures it all. For the four-point vertex I thought [itex]\Gamma^{\mu\nu}=2ie^2g_{\mu\nu}[/itex] but this is certainly wrong because the notation of the problem implies this [itex]\Gamma[/itex] depends on the momenta entering and exiting the vertex.

The Attempt at a Solution


My first issue is that I don't know what these [itex]\Gamma[/itex]'s actually are. The problem says they are the vertices, and I thought this meant the value such vertex gives in a Feynman diagram. But we see that this isn't working properly here because the four-point vertex in diagrams gives a contribution that doesn't depend on momentum at all.

At first I thought I needed to consider the diagram with just the three external legs and the single vertex. But the Feynman rule for such diagram is trivial, it is just the value of the vertex times the polarization of the external photon. Plus it doesn't involve any scalar propagator.

My second guess was that I needed to use the s,t,u chanels diagrams because those have scalar propagators into them. But the issue is that if I calculate one such diagram, I'll end up with one equation involving the matrix element, which I have nothing else to eliminate. I thought on using Ward's identity, but I'm unsure.

Also when trying to build this up it got quite strange, because I've considered [itex]\phi\gamma\to \phi\gamma[/itex] and one internal particle. But since there is no antiparticle anywhere in my reasoning the definition I thought was true for [itex]\Gamma^\mu[/itex] doesn't help much because it will have zero in the second entry. So it is certainly wrong.

How can I get started with this?
 
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  • #2
Edit: For the last part of the question, I think it's a bit easier because \Pi^{\mu\nu} is just the sum of the vacuum polarization diagrams which are just the diagrams with 4 external legs. So we can just use the Feynman rule for this diagrams and then take the divergence of both sides.
 

FAQ: Ward-Takahashi identities at tree level in scalar QED

What are Ward-Takahashi identities?

Ward-Takahashi identities are a set of equations that relate the correlation functions of a quantum field theory to the symmetries of that theory. They are derived from the Noether theorem, which states that every continuous symmetry of a physical system corresponds to a conserved quantity.

What is the significance of Ward-Takahashi identities at tree level in scalar QED?

At tree level, the Ward-Takahashi identities in scalar QED are particularly important because they provide a powerful method for calculating scattering amplitudes. They allow us to express the amplitudes in terms of the conserved charges of the theory, which simplifies the calculations significantly.

How are Ward-Takahashi identities related to gauge invariance?

Ward-Takahashi identities are closely related to gauge invariance, which is a fundamental symmetry of many physical theories. In fact, the Ward-Takahashi identities are a direct consequence of the gauge symmetry of a theory, and they are often referred to as the "Ward identity" or the "Ward-Takahashi gauge identity."

Why are Ward-Takahashi identities important in quantum field theory?

Ward-Takahashi identities are important in quantum field theory because they provide a rigorous way to test the validity of a theory. If a theory satisfies the Ward-Takahashi identities, then it is considered to be consistent with the symmetries and principles of quantum field theory. They also play a crucial role in the development of new theories and in the calculation of physical observables.

Can Ward-Takahashi identities be extended to other quantum field theories?

Yes, Ward-Takahashi identities can be extended to other quantum field theories beyond scalar QED. They have been successfully applied in other theories such as quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and the electroweak theory. However, the specific form of the identities may differ depending on the symmetries and equations of motion of the particular theory.

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