Past exam of the quantum field theory course of the University of Oxford / 2025 / 2 / c / ii / Solution

Keep the particle labels specified under 2. There are two connected tree-level Feynman diagrams: the quartic contact interaction vertex and an $s$-channel light antiparticle exchange. The initial Noether charge is $1-2=-1$, exactly the charge of $\bar{\varphi }$. At the first cubic Feynman vertex, the incoming $\varphi$ and $\Phi$ leave the second $\varphi$ leg internal; the conjugate Feynman vertex supplies both outgoing particles.

ThusHere $s=(p_1+p_2{)}^2$ for incoming $\varphi (p_1),\Phi (p_2)$. Both terms have the same sign in the chosen S-matrix convention.

The distinction from antiparticles matters. If the paper's heavy “$\Phi$ particle” is instead intended to mean the charge-$+2$ state $\bar{\Phi }$, so that its printed decay into $\varphi \varphi$ is allowed, the exchange diagram is crossed. For that alternative physical process,This is a consistent alternative naming convention only if it is also applied to the decay in iii; one cannot use the same heavy particle label for both charge assignments.