Unstable Particles in Quantum Field Theory
Scott Willenbrock
TL;DR
This paper provides a pedagogical overview of the modern quantum field theory understanding of unstable particles, focusing on the analytic structure of propagators, including resonance phenomena and pole analysis.
Contribution
It offers a clear, educational synthesis of the analytic methods used to understand unstable particles, including resonance and pole trajectory analysis.
Findings
Explanation of the propagator's analytic structure for unstable particles
Discussion of resonance width and Breit-Wigner formulae
Analysis of pole trajectories and their physical implications
Abstract
In honor of Dave Roper's 90th birthday, I present a pedagogical introduction to our modern understanding of unstable particles in Quantum Field Theory, based on the analytic structure of the propagator, with occasional remarks on the Roper resonance. I discuss the mass and decay rate of unstable particles, Breit-Wigner resonance formulae and width, poles and branch cuts, and pole trajectories.
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Taxonomy
TopicsQuantum and Classical Electrodynamics · Quantum Mechanics and Applications · Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect