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advanced_tools:feynman_diagrams [2018/04/14 09:19]
aresmarrero [Intuitive]
advanced_tools:feynman_diagrams [2018/07/07 10:22] (current)
jakobadmin [Concrete]
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 <tabbox Intuitive> ​ <tabbox Intuitive> ​
-{{ :​advanced_notions:​quantum_field_theory:​virtualparticles.png?​nolink&​350|}} 
  
 +{{ :​advanced_tools:​320px-feynmandiagram.png?​nolink&​300|}}
  
-Feynman diagrams are a pictorial way to keep track of terms in [[theories:​quantum_field_theory|quantum field theory]] calculations. Each element of a Feynman diagram represents a different term in our calculation. 
  
-An example can be seen on the right-hand side.+ 
 +Feynman diagrams are a pictorial way to keep track of terms in [[theories:​quantum_field_theory:​canonical|quantum field theory]] calculations. Each element of a Feynman diagram represents a different term in our calculation. 
 + 
 +The thing is that we can't calculate things in quantum field theory exactly, but only using a perturbation approach (Taylor series). The first term in this approximation to the correct result yields the biggest contribution and thus is the most important part.  
 + 
 +{{ :​advanced_notions:​quantum_field_theory:​virtualparticles.png?​nolink&​250|}} 
 + 
 +An example can be seen on the right-hand side. In this example two electrons scatter. They do this by exchanging a photon $\gamma$, which is denoted by a wiggly line. After the exchange of the photon the two electrons move away from each other with different momenta.  
 + 
 +In the first order approximation (i.e. when we only consider the first term in the approximation series mentioned above) the two electrons scatter by only exchanging a photon. 
 + 
 +However, at the next order we also take into account that the photon can become a virtual electron-positron pair during this exchange. This will not happen with a high probability but is possible. Even more unlikely, but also possible, is that the virtual electron interacts with one of our in-going electrons via another photon. The total probability amplitude for the scattering to happen is the sum over all such possibilities.
  
  
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   * R.D. Mattuck: A Guide to Feynman Diagrams in the Many-body Problem   * R.D. Mattuck: A Guide to Feynman Diagrams in the Many-body Problem
   * For the derivation of the Feynman rules for a given theory see section 2 of [[http://​cds.cern.ch/​record/​186259/​|Diagrammar]] by Veltman and '​tHooft   * For the derivation of the Feynman rules for a given theory see section 2 of [[http://​cds.cern.ch/​record/​186259/​|Diagrammar]] by Veltman and '​tHooft
 +
 +Take note that the usage of Feynman diagrams is not limited to Quantum Mechanics. See:
 +
 +  * A. Thorndike, “Using Feynman diagrams to solve the classical harmonic oscillator,​” Am. J. Phys. 68 (2), 155-159 (2000)
 +  * R. Penco and D. Mauro, “Perturbation theory via Feynman diagrams in classical mechanics,​” hep-th/​0605061. ​
  
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 <tabbox Abstract> ​ <tabbox Abstract> ​
  
-<note tip> +  * [[https://arxiv.org/abs/math/​0406251|Feynman Diagrams for Pedestrians and Mathematicians]] by MPolyak 
-The motto in this section is: //the higher the level of abstraction,​ the better//. +
-</​note>​+
  
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advanced_tools/feynman_diagrams.1523690394.txt.gz · Last modified: 2018/04/14 07:19 (external edit)