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Quantum Field Theory — Equation Sheet
The complete equation reference for QFT — from classical fields and canonical quantization through Feynman rules, renormalization, path integrals, and the Standard Model.
12 sections · 87 equations
Classical Field Theory
Action Functional
The action is the spacetime integral of the Lagrangian density ℒ. The principle of least action (δS = 0) yields the field equations of motion.
Euler-Lagrange Equation for Fields
Field equation of motion obtained by extremizing the action. Generalizes the particle E-L equation to continuous fields.
Klein-Gordon Lagrangian
Lagrangian density for a real scalar field φ of mass m. The first term is kinetic; the second is the mass term.
Klein-Gordon Equation
Relativistic wave equation for a massive scalar field, derived from the KG Lagrangian via the Euler-Lagrange equation.
Dirac Lagrangian
Lagrangian for a spin-½ Dirac spinor field ψ. The Dirac adjoint is ψ̄ = ψ†γ⁰.
Noether Current
To every continuous symmetry δφ of the action there corresponds a conserved current j^μ (Noether's theorem).
Conserved Noether Charge
Spatial integral of the time component of the Noether current. dQ/dt = 0 follows from current conservation.
Canonical Energy-Momentum Tensor
Conserved tensor (∂_μ T^{μν} = 0) arising from invariance under spacetime translations. T^{00} is the Hamiltonian density.
Canonical Quantization — Scalar Field
Canonical Momentum Density
Canonical momentum conjugate to the scalar field φ. For the KG Lagrangian this equals the time derivative of the field.
Equal-Time Commutation Relations
The fundamental quantum condition promoting φ and π to operators. The other equal-time commutators vanish.
Mode Expansion (Scalar Field)
Expansion of the scalar field in plane-wave modes. p·x = ω_p t − p·x in the exponent. a and a† are annihilation and creation operators.
On-Shell Dispersion Relation
Energy of a mode with momentum p for a field of mass m. Sets p² = m² (on-shell condition).
Ladder Operator Commutator
Creation and annihilation operators satisfy canonical commutation relations. All other combinations commute.
Normal-Ordered Hamiltonian
After normal ordering (:…:) to discard the infinite zero-point energy. Each a†a counts the occupation of mode p with energy ω_p.
Vacuum State
The Fock vacuum is annihilated by all lowering operators. Single-particle states are |p⟩ = a†_p|0⟩.
Dirac Field & Spinors
Dirac Equation
First-order, relativistic wave equation for a spin-½ particle. Factorizes the Klein-Gordon equation.
Clifford Algebra
The defining relation of the gamma matrices in metric signature (+−−−). The γ^μ are 4×4 matrices.
Dirac Adjoint
Lorentz-covariant adjoint. Products of the form ψ̄ψ, ψ̄γ^μψ are Lorentz scalars and four-vectors respectively.
Feynman Slash Notation
Contraction of a four-vector a_μ with the gamma matrices. The Dirac equation becomes (i∂̸ − m)ψ = 0.
Equal-Time Anticommutation Relations
Fermi-Dirac statistics require anticommutators. The spin-statistics theorem guarantees this for half-integer spin fields.
Dirac Field Mode Expansion
Expansion in u-spinors (particles, operator a) and v-spinors (antiparticles, operator b†). Sum over spins s = ±½.
Spin-Sum Completeness Relations
Used to average or sum over unobserved spin states when computing |M|². Essential for squaring amplitudes.
Gordon Identity
Decomposes the vector current into a charge-current term and a magnetic-moment term. q = p′ − p is the momentum transfer.
Gauge Fields & QED
Electromagnetic Field Tensor
Antisymmetric tensor built from the four-potential A^μ. Encodes E and B: F^{0i} = −E^i, F^{ij} = −ε^{ijk}B_k.
Maxwell Lagrangian
Free electromagnetic field Lagrangian; invariant under U(1) gauge transformations A_μ → A_μ − ∂_μα.
U(1) Gauge Transformation
Local gauge symmetry of QED. Invariance under this transformation forces the introduction of the photon field.
QED Covariant Derivative
Replaces ∂_μ in the Dirac Lagrangian to enforce local gauge invariance. The coupling constant e is the electric charge.
QED Lagrangian
Full QED Lagrangian. Expanding D̸ = ∂̸ + ieà generates the three-point interaction vertex −eψ̄γ^μ A_μ ψ.
Lorenz Gauge Condition
Covariant gauge-fixing condition. Does not uniquely fix the gauge but simplifies the equations of motion to □A^μ = ej^μ.
Covariant Maxwell Equations
Inhomogeneous equation (sources ej^μ) and homogeneous Bianchi identity (automatically satisfied by F = dA).
Feynman Propagators
Scalar Propagator (position space)
Time-ordered two-point function of the scalar field. The fundamental building block of perturbation theory.
Scalar Propagator (momentum space)
Feynman propagator in momentum space. The iε prescription selects the Feynman contour and enforces causal boundary conditions.
Fermion Propagator (momentum space)
Propagator for an internal Dirac fermion line with four-momentum p. The numerator is the spin sum ∑_s u u̅.
Photon Propagator — Feynman Gauge
Massless boson propagator in Feynman (Lorenz) gauge ξ = 1. The most common gauge choice for QED calculations.
Photon Propagator — General Rξ Gauge
General covariant gauge family. ξ = 1: Feynman gauge; ξ = 0: Landau gauge. Physical observables are ξ-independent.
Källén-Lehmann Spectral Representation
Exact non-perturbative form of the full propagator. The spectral density ρ(μ²) ≥ 0; its single-particle pole gives the field-strength renormalization Z.
Perturbation Theory & S-Matrix
S-Matrix (Time-Ordered Exponential)
Unitary operator encoding all scattering amplitudes. ℋ_I is the interaction Hamiltonian density in the interaction picture.
Dyson Series
Perturbative expansion of S in powers of the coupling constant. The n = 0 term is the identity (no scattering); n = 1 gives first-order processes.
Scattering Amplitude Definition
The invariant amplitude M_{fi} encodes dynamics; the delta function enforces four-momentum conservation.
Wick's Theorem
Reduces time-ordered products to normal-ordered terms plus Feynman propagators (contractions). Essential for extracting Feynman diagrams.
Field Contraction
A Wick contraction of two scalar fields equals the Feynman propagator. Analogously for fermion and photon fields.
LSZ Reduction Formula (scalar)
Relates S-matrix elements to residues of poles in the full n-point Green's function. Each external leg amputates the propagator and puts the particle on-shell.
Feynman Rules — QED
QED Vertex Factor
One factor per QED vertex connecting two fermion lines (momenta p, p′) and one photon line (index μ). Momentum is conserved at each vertex.
Internal Fermion Propagator
One factor per internal fermion line with four-momentum p. Arrow direction follows fermion-number flow.
Internal Photon Propagator
One factor per internal photon line with four-momentum k (Feynman gauge). Indices μ, ν contract with adjacent vertex factors.
External Fermion Lines
Spinor factors for external (on-shell) fermion legs. Use v and v̄ for antifermions.
External Antifermion Lines
Spinor factors for external antifermion legs (e.g., positrons). Reversed convention from fermion lines.
External Photon Lines
Polarization vector for external on-shell photons with momentum k and polarization λ.
Loop Momentum Integration
Integrate over the unconstrained four-momentum ℓ for each independent loop. Loop integrals are generally divergent and require regularization.
Fermion Loop Sign
Each closed fermion loop contributes an extra factor of −1 from the anticommuting nature of Grassmann (fermionic) fields.
Cross Sections & Decay Rates
General Decay Rate
Differential decay rate for a particle of mass M decaying into n final-state particles. |M|² is the spin-summed, spin-averaged amplitude squared.
Lorentz-Invariant Phase Space (nLIPS)
Lorentz-invariant measure over all final-state momenta subject to four-momentum conservation.
Two-Body Phase Space (CM frame)
Phase space integrated over angles for 2-body final states in the CM frame with √s = total CM energy.
Differential Cross Section
For 2 → n scattering; |v₁ − v₂| is the relative velocity of the beams. In the CM frame the flux factor = 2√s.
Mandelstam Variables
Lorentz-invariant combinations of momenta for 2 → 2 scattering (particles 1,2 in; 3,4 out).
Mandelstam Sum Rule
Constraint relating the three Mandelstam variables. In the massless limit, s + t + u = 0.
Optical Theorem
Relates the imaginary part of the forward elastic amplitude to the total cross section. Follows from unitarity of the S-matrix.
Renormalization
Superficial Degree of Divergence (QED)
Power counting in QED: D is the degree of UV divergence of a diagram with E_γ external photon lines and E_ψ external fermion lines.
Callan-Symanzik Equation
Renormalization group equation: physical Green's functions are independent of the arbitrary scale μ. β and γ encode the running of coupling and fields.
QED Beta Function (one loop)
QED is infrared-free: the coupling grows with energy scale. Leads to a Landau pole at extremely high energies.
Running Coupling (QED)
QED coupling constant at scale μ. α(m_e) ≈ 1/137; at the Z-pole α(m_Z) ≈ 1/128 — a measurable logarithmic running.
Ward-Takahashi Identity
QED Ward identity relating the vertex function Γ^μ to the fermion self-energy. Implies Z₁ = Z₂, protecting charge renormalization.
Dyson Resummation (Full Propagator)
Resums the geometric series of self-energy insertions Σ(p²). The pole of D̃ defines the physical mass and field-strength renormalization Z.
Anomalous Dimension
Measures the deviation of the field scaling dimension from its classical value. Non-zero γ leads to anomalous scaling in critical phenomena.
Path Integrals
Scalar Field Path Integral
Sum over all field configurations weighted by e^{iS/ℏ}. Equals the vacuum persistence amplitude ⟨0|0⟩ in the absence of sources.
Generating Functional
Source J(x) coupled linearly to φ generates all Green's functions by functional differentiation.
n-Point Green's Function
Full (disconnected) n-point correlator extracted by taking n functional derivatives of Z[J] and setting J = 0.
Free-Field Generating Functional
Closed-form result of the Gaussian path integral for free scalar theory. Encodes all free propagators.
Connected Green's Functions
W[J] generates only connected diagrams. The 2-point function from W gives the full connected propagator.
1PI Effective Action
Legendre transform of W[J]. Γ[φ_c] generates only one-particle-irreducible (1PI) diagrams. Its second functional derivative is the inverse full propagator.
Fermion Path Integral
Path integral over Grassmann-valued spinor fields. η and η̄ are Grassmann-valued sources for ψ and ψ̄.
Non-Abelian Gauge Theories
Lie Algebra Structure Constants
The generators T^a of a compact Lie group obey this algebra. For SU(N): T^a = λ^a/2 (Gell-Mann matrices for N=3).
Non-Abelian Covariant Derivative
Minimal coupling for a matter field in representation T^a. The index a runs over the adjoint representation of the gauge group.
Non-Abelian Field Strength
Unlike QED, F contains a nonlinear term from the gauge algebra — the origin of gluon self-interactions in QCD.
Yang-Mills Lagrangian
Kinetic Lagrangian for non-Abelian gauge bosons. Generates 3- and 4-point self-interaction vertices absent in QED.
QCD Lagrangian
G^a_{μν} is the gluon field strength for SU(3)_c. Sum over quark flavors f; the covariant derivative couples quarks to gluons.
QCD Beta Function (one loop)
β < 0 for SU(3) with n_f < 16.5 quark flavors, giving asymptotic freedom. C_A = 3, T_F = ½ for SU(3).
Running QCD Coupling (asymptotic freedom)
α_s → 0 as μ → ∞ (asymptotic freedom). Λ_QCD ≈ 200 MeV is the QCD scale where the coupling becomes non-perturbative.
Faddeev-Popov Ghost Lagrangian
Anticommuting ghost fields c, c̄ must be introduced in covariant gauges to cancel unphysical gauge-boson polarizations in loop diagrams.
Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking & Higgs Mechanism
Higgs Potential (Mexican Hat)
Double-well (or Mexican-hat for complex φ) potential. The minimum is a circle of radius v, not at the origin — the symmetry is spontaneously broken.
Vacuum Expectation Value
Non-zero VEV that breaks the U(1) symmetry. In the Standard Model, v ≈ 246 GeV sets the electroweak scale.
Goldstone's Theorem
For every spontaneously broken continuous symmetry generator there is a massless Nambu-Goldstone boson. G is the original symmetry group, H the residual (unbroken) group.
Higgs Boson Mass
Mass of the physical Higgs boson — the radial fluctuation around the vacuum. Measured at m_H ≈ 125 GeV.
W Boson Mass (Higgs Mechanism)
W± bosons acquire mass by "eating" the would-be Goldstone bosons. g is the SU(2) weak gauge coupling.
Z Boson Mass
Z⁰ mass from mixing SU(2) and U(1)_Y gauge bosons. θ_W is the Weinberg mixing angle; m_Z ≈ 91 GeV.
Weinberg Angle
Electroweak mixing angle relating gauge couplings: tan θ_W = g′/g. Its precise value is measured in electroweak precision tests.
Yukawa Coupling (Fermion Mass)
Fermion masses arise from Yukawa couplings to the Higgs doublet H after SSB. The top quark has y_t ≈ 1, while the electron has y_e ≈ 3 × 10⁻⁶.