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Problem Set 1

The document is a problem sheet for a physics course (PHAS0040) with various questions related to particle physics, including calculations of particle masses, decay processes, Feynman diagrams, and scattering amplitudes. It covers topics such as the Higgs boson, Yukawa potential, cosmic microwave background interactions, and muon lifetimes. The problems require both theoretical understanding and practical calculations, with specific questions due on February 5th.

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14 views3 pages

Problem Set 1

The document is a problem sheet for a physics course (PHAS0040) with various questions related to particle physics, including calculations of particle masses, decay processes, Feynman diagrams, and scattering amplitudes. It covers topics such as the Higgs boson, Yukawa potential, cosmic microwave background interactions, and muon lifetimes. The problems require both theoretical understanding and practical calculations, with specific questions due on February 5th.

Uploaded by

zain.fox.latif
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PHAS0040 Problem Sheet 1

Due through Moodle on Monday the 5th February 5 pm

Question 1

(a) The mass of the Higgs boson is mH = 126 GeV in natural units (with c = h̄ = 1).
What is this in S.I. units (kilograms)? [2]

(b) The radius of a gold nucleus is 35 GeV−1 in natural units (with c = h̄ = 1). What
is this in S.I. units (metres)? [2]

Question 2
What is allowed out of the following processes. If a process is not allowed indicate why:

(a) µ+ → e+ + νe + ν̄µ

(b) e− → µ− + ν¯µ + νe

(c) e+ + e− → τ + + τ −

(d) µ+ + µ− → e+ + e+ + e− + e−
[4]

Question 3
Draw and label the simplest “lowest-order” (that is, those containing the minimum
number of vertices) Feynman diagram(s) for the following scattering processes :

(a) µ+ + µ− → µ+ + µ−

(b) µ− + µ− → µ− + µ−
[6]
Question 4

(a) An unstable particle is produced at the LHC and decays to µ+ + µ− . The µ+ has
an energy of 70 GeV, the µ− has an energy of 60 GeV, and they are produced with
an angle of 89◦ between them. Calculate the invariant mass of the system, which is
also the mass of the decaying particle. [2]

(b) If the µ+ and µ− were further apart (but the energies unchanged) would the mass
of the decaying particle be larger or smaller? [1]

PHAS0040/2023 CONTINUED

1
Question 5
Assuming that the intrinsic strengths of the fundamental weak and electromagnetic
interactions are approximately equal, and using the form of the scattering amplitude
that does not consider the life-time of the exchanged particles (i.e. ignoring the width
of the exchange particle), compare the relative probabilities for weak and
electromagnetic processes at three different four-momentum transfers:

(a) 10 MeV

(b) 90 GeV

(c) 30 TeV
[5]

Question 6
The Yukawa potential can be expressed as:

g 2 e−r/R
V (r) = −
4π r
where R = h̄/MX c is the range of the force. Using the expression for the scattering
amplitude: Z
M = ei⃗pi ·⃗x/h̄ V (x) e−i⃗pf ·⃗x/h̄ d3⃗x,

with p⃗ = p⃗f − p⃗i and r = |⃗x|, integrate over all space (using spherical polar coordinates,
with the z-axis defined by the direction of p⃗) to show that, for the spherically
symmetric Yukawa potential given above, the scattering amplitude has the form:

−g 2 h̄2
M p⃗2 =

.
|⃗p|2 + MX2 c2

[8]

Question 7
If an unstable particle can decay to eight different final states, with equal decay rates
to each, what is the branching fraction for one of the decays? [2]

Question 8
The energy of a photon from the 3K cosmic microwave background (CMB) is given by
E ∼ 3kT . At what energy can high energetic cosmic ray protons interact with the
CMB and produce pions?
Useful data:
Mp = 938.27 MeV, Mπ0 = 134.97 MeV. Boltzmann constant k = 8.617 × 10−5 eVK−1 [4]

PHAS0040/2023 CONTINUED

2
Question 9
Muons have a lifetime of τ = 2.2µs, which means that classically they can’t travel
further than cτ ∼ 660m. However due to relativistic effects, muons created in the earth
atmosphere, reach the ground level from a height of more than 10 km. What is the
minimum energy these muons need to have in order to travel this distance? [4]

Question 10
The ϕ meson has a mass of m(ϕ) = 1019.5 MeV and a decay width Γ = 4.266 MeV.
What is its lifetime? The dominant decay mode is ϕ → K − K + . Draw the
corresponding Feynman Diagram. What is the likely quark content of the phi meson?
Particle data: K + = us̄,K − = ūs [5]

Question 11
Derive the following equation for a singly charged particle with momentum p, curving
with a radius r inside a magnetic field B perpendicular to the momentum direction:
p
[GeV]
= 0.3 [TB] [m]
r

Two tracks are recorded separated by an angle of θ = 88o in a tracking chamber inside
a magnetic field of 3 T (see above). If the recorded curvature radii of the two decay
products are 25 m and 400 m respectively, and we can neglect the mass of the decay
products, what is the reconstructed mass of the decaying particle? [5]

Question 12
Which of the following reactions are allowed and which are forbidden ? Explain why
and draw the lowest order Feynman diagrams for the allowed reactions :

(i) ντ + p → τ − + ∆++

(ii) ∆++ → p + p

(iii) ∆++ → p + π +

(iv) K − → µ− + ν¯µ
[10]
Particle data: ∆++ = uuu , m∆++ = 1232 MeV/c2

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