English

Bound states -- from QED to QCD

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology 2014-02-28 v1 Nuclear Theory

Abstract

These lectures are divided into two parts. In Part 1 I discuss bound state topics at the level of a basic course in field theory: The derivation of the Schr\"odinger and Dirac equations from the QED Lagrangian, by summing Feynman diagrams and in a Hamiltonian framework. Less well known topics include the equal-time wave function of Positronium in motion and the properties of the Dirac wave function for a linear potential. The presentation emphasizes physical aspects and provides the framework for Part 2, which discusses the derivation of relativistic bound states at Born level in QED and QCD. A central aspect is the maintenance of Poincar\'e invariance. The transformation of the wave function under boosts is studied in detail in D=1+1 dimensions, and its generalization to D=3+1 is indicated. Solving Gauss' law for A0A^0 with a non-vanishing boundary condition leads to a linear potential for QCD mesons, and an analogous confining potential for baryons.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1402.5005,
  title  = {Bound states -- from QED to QCD},
  author = {Paul Hoyer},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1402.5005},
  year   = {2014}
}

Comments

45 pages. Lectures presented at the "Mini-school on theoretical methods in particle physics" at the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics, University of Edinburgh on 30 September to 4 October 2013. Comments are welcome

R2 v1 2026-06-22T03:12:25.988Z