Advanced particle physics PH5811 - End semester

ˆ You must answer any ten of the 15 questions.

ˆ Any additional answers will be ignored.

ˆ Each question is worth 7.5 marks.

ˆ You may use your notes.

Properties of γ matrices

{γ µ , γ ν } = 2g µν
i µ ν
σ µν = [γ , γ ] ,
2
γ µ† = γ 0 γ µ γ 0 ,
γ 5 = iγ 0 γ 1 γ 2 γ 3 ,
 5 µ
γ ,γ = 0,
5 2
(γ ) = I,
γ 5† = γ 5 ,
Tr(γ µ γ ν γ λ γ ρ ) = 4(g µν g λρ − g µλ g νρ + g µρ g νλ ), and
Tr(γ µ γ ν γ λ γ ρ γ 5 ) = 4iµνλρ .

1. Draw the Feynman diagram for the decay K − → µ− ν̄µ . [1 mark]

Use the Feynman rules to write down the expression for the matrix element of this decay
at the quark level. [3 marks]
Explain how you must modify the matrix element to account for the quark and antiquark
being in a bound state and how this leads to a single scalar parameter fK , the kaon
decay constant, being introduced. Why is the situation more complicated in the decay
K − → π − π 0 ? [3.5 marks]

2. Prove the following in a representation independent way

a/b) = 4(a · b) [3 marks];

(a) Tr(/
a/b/cd/) = 4(a · b c · d − a · c b · d + a · d b · c) [3 marks]; and
(b) Tr(/
(c) Tr(γ 5 ) = 0 [1.5 mark].

3. State the C operator acting on a Dirac spinor and explain how a weak phase can lead to
CP violation. Further, explain the role of interference in its observation. [4 marks]
Explain how CP violation is parameterized in the neutral kaon system and give an ex-
ample of how the parameter can be measured. [3.5 marks]

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4. Describe the Cabibbo model of the coupling of quarks within the first two generations to
weak currents. [1.5 marks]
Draw diagrams for the following three decays and describe the dependence of the decay
rate on the Cabibbo angle:

(a) Λ → pπ − [2 mark]
(b) D+ → K + π + π − [2 mark]
(c) D+ → K − π + π + [2 mark]
¯
Note that the Λ baryon contains uds and the D+ meson cd.

5. Considering two flavour neutrino oscillations derive the expression for the appearance
probability of type β from a beam of type α with an energy E (in GeV), a distance L (in
km) from where it was produced in terms of ∆m (the mass difference in eV) and θ (the
mixing angle). [4.5 marks]
The MINOS experiment produced a pure beam of νµ neutrinos of mean energy 5 GeV
which it then detected 750 km away. The number of observed νµ was (80 ± 2)% of that
expected if there were no neutrino oscillations. Given a ∆m of 0.05 eV show that this
result is compatible with maximal mixing of the neutrinos. [3 marks]

6. Draw two Feynman diagrams that give 2nd order electromagnetic corrections to the pro-
cess e+ e− → uū. [3 marks]
Explain, with minimal calculation, how the electromagnetic diagrams can lead to an un-
defined matrix element for the process when applying the rules without modification.
[1.5 marks]
Qualitatively describe how the renormalisation procedure makes the process calculable.
[3 marks]

7. Use the Proca Lagrangian to explain why the vector gauge field must be massless to
maintain the local gauge invariance of the theory. [3 marks]
Explain how, with m = 0 in the Dirac Lagrangian density, the Higgs field φ can lead to
massive fermions and a coupling to the Higgs boson that is proportional to the mass of
the fermion. [4.5 marks]

8. What is the hierarchy problem? [2 mark]

What is supersymmetry? [1 mark]
How does supersymmetry potentially solve the hierarchy problem? [1 mark]
What other problems of the standard model does supersymmetry potentially solve and
how? [2.5 mark]
Why do some people say supersymmetry is in crisis? [1 mark]

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 9. Applying the Feynman rules to the decay of a W or Z gauge boson to a fermion-
antifermion pair in electroweak theory gives an amplitude of the form

M = −ū(p1 )γ µ a − bγ 5 v(p2 )µ (k) ,

where p1 , p2 and k are the four momenta of the particles involved. Identify what each
part of the righthand side represents. [3 marks]
Explain why a = b for W boson decay and why it is not always the case for Z boson
decay. [1.5 mark]
Show that
1 hX i h i 4
|M|2 = µ (k)∗ν (k) Tr p/1 γ µ (a − bγ5 )p/2 γ ν (a − bγ5 ) = (a2 + b2 )M 2 ,
3 3
where M is the mass of the boson,
P the sum is over polarization states and the fermion
masses have been ignored. Use µ (k)ν (k) = −gµν + kM
∗ µ kν
2 . [3 marks]

10. Define isospin in terms of the strong interaction and explain its relationship to SU(2)
symmetry. [1.5 mark]
Further define the charge conjugation operator Ĉ and explain what observation led to
the conclusion that the π 0 is an eigenstate of Ĉ with an eigenvalue ηC = +1. [1.5 mark]
Define the G-parity operator Ĝ and explain how π ± as well as π 0 are G-parity eigenstates.
[3 mark]
Given that the eigenvalue of Ĝ for a light meson is (−1)I ηC (h0 ), where ηC (h0 ) is the
eigenvalue of the neutral member of the isospin multiplet, explain why
Γ (ω → π + π − )
= 0.017 . [1.5 mark]
Γ (ω → π + π − π 0 )

11. The general solution to the Dirac equation is

 
χ µ
Ψ(xµ ) = N σ·p e−ip xµ .
E+m
χ

Explain how to normalise the solutions to the Dirac equation to ensure that they are
covariant. [1.5 mark]
Give the helicity operator and interpret its eigenvalues.
  Find the probability of measuring
1
a negative helicity for an electron with χ = √15 . [3 marks]
2
At high energy (E >> m), electrons with the χ given above interact with unpolarized
protons with charged-current cross section σpol . For unpolarized electrons interacting
with unpolarized protons, the corresponding cross section is σ0 . Calculate σpol /σ0 . [3
marks]

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12. Show that

//b/cγ µ = −2/c/ba
(a) γµ a /, [3 marks]


(b) µνλσ µνθτ = −2 δθλ δτσ − δτλ δθσ , [3 marks] and
(c) that ψγ 5 ψ is a pseudoscalar. [1.5 mark]

13. Explain how the GIM mechanism accounts for the absence of flavour-changing weak
neutral currents and the suppression of the decay K 0 → µ+ µ− [4.5 marks].
Explain why CP violation in the weak decay of hadrons requires the introduction of a
third generation of quarks. [3 marks]

14. Explain why the Higgs boson was first observed decaying to (i) H → γγ and (ii) H →
four charged leptons. Draw appropriate Feynman diagrams to illustrate your answer. [3
marks]
Given the lifetime and mass of hadrons containing a b quark are approximately 1 ps and
5 GeV, respectively, estimate how far the b hadrons produced in Higgs decay might travel
before they decay. [3 marks]
Hence, explain how the process H → bb̄ is observed. [1.5 mark]

15. The electroweak interaction is of the form

g0 Y µ
 
µ
−i gjµ · W + jµ B ,
2

where
1 1
jµ · Wµ = √ jµ+ W µ+ + √ jµ− W µ− + jµ3 W µ3 .
2 2
Introduce the weak mixing angle θW to find the neutral current interactions in terms of
the photon and the Z 0 . Give the relationship between the charge of an electron e and
the couplings g and g 0 . [4.5 marks]
Show that the Z 0 current is
 
g µ 1
jZµ = −i ψ̄γ 5 2
(1 − γ )I3 − sin θW Q ψ ,
cos θW 2

where I3 is the third component of weak isospin and Q is the charge of the fermion in
units of the electron charge. [3 marks]

End of paper