Past exam of the quantum field theory course of the University of Oxford / 2021 / 1 / b

The original tree-level Feynman diagrams below use solid arrowed fermion lines and dashed scalar field lines. The labelled internal momenta run in the indicated directions; $g$ and $\lambda$ label the corresponding interaction vertices.

Label the external four-momenta by $\Psi (p_1)+\chi (p_2)\to \Psi (p_3)+\chi (p_4)$. The only tree-level Feynman diagram exchanges a scalar field particle between the transitions $\Psi (p_1)\to \chi (p_4)$ and $\chi (p_2)\to \Psi (p_3)$. Its internal four-momentum is $q=p_1-p_4=p_3-p_2$. Thus its scattering amplitude, with a consistent external-state ordering, isIt is the crossed, or $u$-channel, exchange with these labels. A direct $t$-channel scalar field exchange would need a flavour-preserving Yukawa coupling, which the Lagrangian density does not contain. There is no annihilation Feynman diagram for two incoming fermions.

For $\Psi (p_1)+\varphi (k_1)\to \Psi (p_2)+\varphi (k_2)$, there are two tree-level Feynman diagrams, both with an internal $\chi$ fermion. Their internal four-momenta are $p_1+k_1$ and $p_1-k_2$. The scattering amplitude isThese are the two possible absorption/emission orderings along the fermion flow. There is no third tree-level Feynman diagram using the cubic scalar field interaction vertex, since attaching its remaining scalar field line to the external $\Psi$ line would require a forbidden $\varphi \bar{\Psi }\Psi$ interaction vertex.

For $\Psi (p_1)\to \chi (p_2)+\varphi (p_3)$, the sole tree-level Feynman diagram is a single flavour-changing Yukawa coupling interaction vertex, with $p_1=p_2+p_3$. Its invariant decay amplitude isThe solid arrow passes from the incoming $\Psi$ to the outgoing $\chi$; the dashed outgoing line carries $p_3$.

For $\Psi (p_1)\to \chi (p_2)+\varphi (k_1)+\varphi (k_2)$, the sole tree-level Feynman diagram has a Yukawa coupling interaction vertex producing an off-shell scalar field particle of four-momentum $q=p_1-p_2=k_1+k_2$, followed by its cubic scalar field interaction vertex. Its invariant decay amplitude isTwo successive Yukawa coupling interaction vertices would change the fermion species twice and leave a $\Psi$, so they cannot produce this final state. Interchanging the two identical outgoing bosons does not create another Feynman diagram; the cubic factorial is already included in the Feynman rule. The integrated decay width instead includes the identical final-state symmetry factor $1/2!$.