Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2009/iii/paper-44/3/solution

The interaction contains no time derivatives, so . The Legendre transform in mechanics gives
Thus
Here is the free Hamiltonian operator of mass , and is the interaction Hamiltonian.
In the interaction picture, operators evolve with and the states with . With , the state evolution satisfies . Integrating once and iterating gives the Dyson series
Equivalently it is the time ordering of the exponential. Taking the infinite-time scattering limit, with adiabatic switching understood, gives the scattering matrix
The field in the interaction is the free interaction-picture field, which is essential for applying the free-field contractions.
Use relativistic normalization of a one-particle state, , so each external scalar contraction contributes its plane-wave phase without an extra factor. For the connected on-shell two-to-two scattering amplitude, the first Dyson series term is . The Wick theorem gives ways to attach the two incoming and two outgoing external particles to the four fields, canceling the denominator. Consequently
where
The delta function expresses four-momentum conservation. The connected scattering convention removes spectator, vacuum and external self-energy contributions; equivalently at this order one can normal-order the interaction and keep the physical external mass fixed. These contributions should not be mistaken for additional connected four-point diagrams.

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