Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2015/iii/paper-55/2/b/i/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 55 2 b i Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
For a centred Gaussian random field, Wick theorem expresses each even correlation function as a sum over all pairings of two-point functions; odd moments vanish. For example,For six fields there are pairings. In a tree-level connected three-point calculation with one cubic vertex, each of the three external fields must contract with a different vertex field. This gives connected Wick contractions. Pairings connecting two external fields instead are disconnected tadpole contributions, omitted from the primordial bispectrum.
Put . Using and , the integrated interaction Hamiltonian becomesThe unequal-time Wick contraction required by the displayed operator order isThe conjugate is essential: the equal-time power spectrum alone does not specify the erroneous unstarred replacement printed in the target expression. The in-in bispectrum conjugation rule fixes the vacuum convergence and final sign.
Fourier transforming the vertex gives with three measures . The six pairings supply the product of three external-vertex delta functions, each carrying . Integrating all three internal momenta leaves one overall . Thus the normalized connected contraction formula isThis spells out what the printed permutations and delta functions must represent: all six permutations, full Fourier normalization, and conjugated vertex modes. Three cyclic permutations alone would miss a factor of two.
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