Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2009 / iii / Paper 44 / 3

The interaction contains no time derivatives, so $\pi =\dot{\varphi }$. The Legendre transform in mechanics givesThusHere $H_0=\int {\mathcal{H}}_0$ is the free Hamiltonian operator of mass $m$, and $H_I=\int {\mathcal{H}}_I$ is the interaction Hamiltonian.

In the interaction picture, operators evolve with $H_0$ and the states with $H_I(t)=e^{i{H}_{0}t}{H}_I{e}^{-i{H}_{0}t}$. With $U_I(t_0,t_0)=I$, the state evolution satisfies $i{\partial }_t{U}_I(t,t_0)=H_I(t)U_I(t,t_0)$. Integrating once and iterating gives the Dyson seriesEquivalently it is the time ordering of the exponential. Taking the infinite-time scattering limit, with adiabatic switching understood, gives the scattering matrixThe 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, $|\mathbf{p}⟩=\sqrt{2E_{\mathbf{p}}}{a}^{†}(\mathbf{p})|0⟩$, so each external scalar contraction contributes its plane-wave phase without an extra $1/\sqrt{2E}$ factor. For the connected on-shell two-to-two scattering amplitude, the first Dyson series term is $-i\lambda \int d^{4}x{\varphi }_I(x{)}^4/4!$. The Wick theorem gives $4!$ ways to attach the two incoming and two outgoing external particles to the four fields, canceling the denominator. ConsequentlywhereThe 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.