Name: _________________________ Date: _________________ Class: _________

Feynman Diagrams
Feynman diagrams were developed to describe the interactions of charged particles in
quantum physics, and they have found a wide use in describing a variety of particle
interactions.
They are a type of space–time diagram; the time axis points upwards and the space axis
points to the right, as shown in Figure 1. (Particle physicists often reverse this orientation.)
Particles are shown as lines with arrows that denote the direction of their travel in time.
(Particle physicists show antiparticles moving in the opposite direction.) Note that the lines do
not show the actual trajectory of particles in space.
Virtual, or exchange, particles such as the photon or the W boson (W or W+) are shown as
wavy lines. W bosons are heavier than a neutron and give rise to the weak force. Since they
exist for a very short time they do not violate the law of conservation of energy.
Particle Symbol Rest energy / MeV
photon γ 0
neutrino ν 0
antineutrino ν 0
neutron n 939.551
proton p 938.257
electron e or β 0.511
+ +
positron e or β 0.511

Figure 1

Questions
1 The Feynman diagram for beta decay is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5

 a Describe what is happening in Figure 2. (2 marks)
b State what is wrong with the representation of beta decay as shown in Figure 3, and
explain how it should have been drawn. (2 marks)
c State the differences and similarities between Figure 2 and Figure 4? (2 marks)
d State the differences and similarities between Figure 4 and Figure 5? (2 marks)

2 Draw the Feynman diagram for

a pair production of an electron and a positron from a photon, (1 mark)
b annihilation of an electron and a positron into two photons. (1 mark)

3 Look at the Feynman diagrams for β– and β+ decay in Figure 6. Describe, in your own
words, the difference between these decays. (2 marks)

Figure 6

4 The rest energies of different particles are given in the data booklet and some of them are
given in the article.
a Calculate the energy in joules released in the decay n → p + β + ν (4 marks)

b β+ decay can be represented as p → n + β+ + ν

Look at the rest energies of the particles involved and make a comment on when the
decay will occur. (4 marks)

c The rest energy of a W boson is 80 GeV. Explain why the W– boson in Figure 2 can
only exist for a short time. (1 mark)
 Name: _________________________ Date: _________________ Class: _________

Feynman Diagrams
d What are the important differences between a proton and a positron? (3 marks)

e Compare and comment on the amount of energy produced when an electron meets a
positron in annihilation, and when an electron meets a proton in electron capture.
(2 marks)

Answers
1 a A neutron emits a W particle and changes to a proton. (1 mark)
The W particle, which is the exchange particle, decays into a β particle
and an antineutrino. (1 mark)
b The W particle is shown moving backwards in time. It is emitted from the
vertex where n, p and W meet (1 mark) and should be shown moving
forwards in time (that is, up the page) (1 mark).
c Differences: in Figure 2 the W particle decays into the antineutrino and a
beta particle. In Figure 4 the W particle interacts with a neutrino. (1 mark)
Similarities: both involve the change of a neutron to a proton and a beta
particle is emitted. (1 mark)
d Differences: in Figure 4 the neutron emits a W particle which is absorbed
by the neutrino. In Figure 5 the neutrino emits a W+ particle which is
absorbed by the neutron. (1 mark)
Similarities: the same particles enter and exit; the exchange particle is the
same mass and type. (1 mark)
2 a The Feynman diagram should show one photon (wavy line) rising to
emit an electron and a positron. (1 mark)
b The Feynman diagram should show an electron and a positron (lines)
rising vertically to meet and emit two photons (wavy lines). (1 mark)

It is also possible that three gamma ray photons are emitted or, if the
electron or positron has high kinetic energy, then other particles can be
produced such as W+/W and even Z bosons.
3 In β decay a neutron decays to a proton, a β particle and an antineutrino by
the weak force. The exchange particle is a W particle that exists for a very
small time. (1 mark)
In β+ decay a proton decays to a neutron, a β+ particle and a neutrino. The
exchange particle is a W+ particle. (1 mark)
4 a Total energy before decay = rest energy of neutron (1 mark)
Total energy after decay = rest energy of proton + rest energy of electron +
energy released
 So, energy released = rest energy of neutron − rest energy of proton − rest
energy of electron
= 939.551 − 938.257 − 0.511 (MeV)
= 0.783 MeV (1 mark)
Since 0.783 MeV = 783 000 eV and 1 eV = 1.6 × 1019 J, (1 mark)
energy released = 783 000 × 1.6 × 1019 J = 1.25 × 1013 J (1 mark)
b The rest energy of the products (neutron, positron and neutrino) is larger
than the proton (1 mark). The reaction does not happen spontaneously
with a free proton (1 mark). In a nucleus, when the whole nucleus is
considered, there is a decrease in rest mass and so some energy is
produced in the reaction (1 mark). Otherwise energy must be given to the
proton for the reaction to proceed (1 mark).
c If W bosons existed for a long time then energy would not be conserved. (1 mark)
d The proton is heavier than the positron. (1 mark)
The proton is a particle whereas the positron is an antiparticle. (1 mark)
The positron is a fundamental particle and is not made from any other
particle. (The proton is a baryon and made from three quarks, whereas the
positron is a lepton.) (1 mark)
e In annihilation, when a positron meets an electron all the rest mass is
liberated in the energy of two photons (1 mark). In electron capture,
although the initial particles have greater rest energy, not all the mass is
converted to energy as the resulting neutron has mass (1 mark), so there
is much less energy available (1 mark).