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Assignment 1: Quantum Field Theory (PEU 431) : Due March 2nd

This document outlines an assignment on quantum field theory and the Lorentz group. It includes: 1) Defining the generators of the Lorentz group algebra and representations. Showing the algebra is isomorphic to su(2) ⊕ su(2). 2) Defining the Dirac matrices and showing the sigma matrices form a representation of the Lorentz algebra. 3) Writing out the Dirac equation as four coupled first-order equations using a specific representation of the gamma matrices. 4) Constructing the boost matrix S(a) that transforms spinors under a boost in the y direction.

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Ahmed I. Ewais
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71 views3 pages

Assignment 1: Quantum Field Theory (PEU 431) : Due March 2nd

This document outlines an assignment on quantum field theory and the Lorentz group. It includes: 1) Defining the generators of the Lorentz group algebra and representations. Showing the algebra is isomorphic to su(2) ⊕ su(2). 2) Defining the Dirac matrices and showing the sigma matrices form a representation of the Lorentz algebra. 3) Writing out the Dirac equation as four coupled first-order equations using a specific representation of the gamma matrices. 4) Constructing the boost matrix S(a) that transforms spinors under a boost in the y direction.

Uploaded by

Ahmed I. Ewais
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Assignment 1: Quantum Field Theory

(PEU 431)

Due March 2nd

(1) Consider the Lie algebra of the Lorentz group


 
L , L = ig L ig L ig L + ig L .

(a) Define Ji = 21 ijk Ljk and Ki = L0i . Show that

[Ji , Jj ] = iijk Jk , [Ki , Kj ] = iijk Jk , [Ji , Kj ] = iijk Kk . (1)

(b) A field living in a definite representation of the Lorentz group transforms as


h i i
0 (x0 ) = exp L (x), (2)
2
where L are the generators of the Lie algebra in the corresponding representation,
for example, L = 0 for scalar fields etc. Write down the transformation (2) in
terms of K~ and J.~ Hint: You can define the boost parameters 0i = i and the
rotation angles i = 12 ijk jk .
(c) Consider the following two representation of the algebra (1)
1 i
Ji = i , Ki = i .
2 2
Show that these are indeed representations of (1) and write down the transformation
(2) in each case. What is the dimension of these representations?
(d) Define Ni = 12 (Ji + iKi ) and Ni = 12 (Ji iKi ). Show that

[Ni , Nj ] = iijk Nk , [Ni , Nj ] = iijk Nk , [Ni , Nj ] = 0, (3)

i.e., the Lie algebra of the Lorentz group is just su(2) su(2).

1
(e) Show that the following matrices represnt the algebra (3)
1
Ni = i , Ni = 0.
2
This representation is denoted ( 21 , 0).
Also,
1
Ni = i , Ni = 0.
2
1
This representation is denoted (0, 2 ).
Do the same for the following representation
! !
1 i 0 1 0 0
Ni = , Ni = .
2 0 0 2 0 i

This representation is denoted ( 12 , 0) (0, 21 ).


(f) Construct the basis of the vector space on which the representation ( 12 , 0) (0, 12 )
acts.
(g) Find the J3 eigenvalue of the different basis in (d). Remember J3 = N3 + N3 .
(h) Write down the transformation (2) in terms of N and N (you can just substitute
for J~ and K)
~ in terms of N and N .

(i) Using the expression you got in (h), how does the representations ( 12 , 0) and (0, 12 )
transform under the Lorentz group? How does the representation ( 21 , 0) (0, 12 )
transform?

(2) Given a set of Dirac matrices which satisfy the algebra



, = 2g I.

Define,
i 
= , .
4
(a) Show that
 
, = i( g g ).

(b) Show that fullfils a representation of the Lie algebra of the Lorenz group,
i.e.,
 
, = ig ig ig + ig .

2
(3) Write down Dirac equation explicitly as four separate coupled first-order equations.
Use the Dirac representation of the matrices
! !
I 0 0 i
0 = i = .
0 I i 0

(4) Construct the matrix S(a) which transforms the spinors under a boost in the y
direction.

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