Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-advanced-quantum-field-theory-for-particle-physics-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2018/3/a/iii/solution
Past exam of the advanced quantum field theory for particle physics course of the University of Oxford 2018 3 a iii Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
The scalar kinetic and potential terms depend only on the rotation-invariant combinations and . They are unchanged by the constant SO(2) rotation. The Yukawa term is invariant by ii. Finally, anticommutation gives , soNo derivative of appears because the parameter is global. Thus the entire classical Lagrangian density has the combined chiral symmetry.
An explicit Dirac mass term instead changes asIt is not invariant for arbitrary unless . For the concrete choice , the original mass term reverses sign. The invariant Yukawa term can nevertheless generate a mass after a vacuum is selected, because the scalar field transforms along with the fermions; this is spontaneous rather than explicit breaking.
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