EPP Feynman Diagrams

In this section we will cover the following topics:

• What are Feynman Diagrams

• Diagrams for Electromagnetism

• Diagrams for the Strong Interaction

• Diagrams for the Weak Interaction

• Uses for Feynman Diagrams

PHY-306 EPP Feynman Diagrams Slide 1

 EPP Feynman Diagrams
Invented by Richard Feynman to aid
calculation of scattering amplitudes,
cross sections and decay rates

Feynman Diagrams are like circuit

diagrams – they show what is
connected to what but not the detailed
momentum vectors – lengths and
angles are not relevant

http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/cdiags.htm

PHY-306 EPP Feynman Diagrams Slide 2

 EPP Basics

A particle moving
Space (~instantaneously) from
one point to another

Conventions:

Higgs boson

Time

A particle moving
A particle at rest
forward in time and
space

PHY-306 EPP Feynman Diagrams Slide 3

 EPP Basics
Interactions are rapresented through vertices:

interaction between interaction between
quarks or leptons and quarks and strong force
electroweak force

interaction interaction between interaction interaction between

electroweak gluons electroweak gluons
gauge bosons gauge bosons

PHY-306 EPP Feynman Diagrams Slide 4

 EPP Annihilation Diagrams

Annihilation/Formation Diagram. Particles A and B collide to

form particle X which later decays to C and D

At each vertex, electric

Space
charge must be
conserved and, except in
Weak Interactions, quark
or lepton flavours

Real World

Time

PHY-306 EPP Feynman Diagrams Slide 5

 EPP Exchange Diagrams
Exchange Diagram. Particles A scatters off particle B by exchanging
particle X. Particle A becomes particle C and B becomes D

Real World
Space

+
Time

We don't know if A emitted X and =

B absorbed it or vice versa

PHY-306 EPP Feynman Diagrams Slide 6

 EPP Virtual Particles
In both previous cases particle X is 'virtual' and the time it exists is
governed by the uncertainty principle E Δt ~ ћ. The mass of
particle X is usually not its rest mass

If an electron and a positron annihilate, If two electrons scatter, X is a photon

X is a photon () with zero charge, zero () with zero charge, momentum
momentum and energy 2Ee and hence < 2pe and zero energy and hence an
an apparent mass of 2Ee /c2 apparent imaginary mass of
< 2√-pe2/c2

PHY-306 EPP Feynman Diagrams Slide 7

 EPP Electromagnetism

electron

photon

proton

Photons mediate the force between

protons and electrons

At a particle physics
level the interaction is
with the quarks

PHY-306 EPP Feynman Diagrams Slide 8

 EPP Strong Interaction (1)

proton

gluon

proton

Gluons hold protons and neutrons

together and are responsible for
the Strong force between them

PHY-306 EPP Feynman Diagrams Slide 9

 EPP Strong Interaction (2)

Quark lines Virtual +

are exchange
continuous

PHY-306 EPP Feynman Diagrams Slide 10

 EPP Weak Interaction (1)

Beta decay

electron
neutron proton

anti-neutrino

Mediated by
charged W
exchange

PHY-306 EPP Feynman Diagrams Slide 11

 EPP Weak Interaction (2)

Neutrino scattering off

an electron
neutrino
electron

Mediated by neutral Z0
exchange

PHY-306 EPP Feynman Diagrams Slide 12

 EPP Use of Feynman Diagrams
Although they are used pictorially to show what is going on, Feynman
Diagrams are used more seriously to calculate cross sections or
decay rates

Draw all possible Feynman Diagrams for the process

Propagator
+ + ...

Free
particle
Assign values to each part of the diagram
Vertex
charge
Calculate the amplitude by multiplying together

Add the amplitudes for each diagram (including interference)

Square the amplitude to get the intensity/probability (cross

section or decay rate)
PHY-306 EPP Feynman Diagrams Slide 13
 EPP Orders of Feynman diagrams

+ + ...

PHY-306 EPP Feynman Diagrams Slide 14