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APPENDIX A
Natural Units
The use of h = c = 1 units (natural units) can simplify particle physics notation
considerably. Since one typically deals with particles that are both relativistic and quantum mechanical, a multitude of hs and CIS will encumber the
equations if natural units are not adopted.
Let us consider a few examples of how this works. Set h = c = 1; since
I.[
(LI[TI-I
(where the symbol [ ] means the dimension of), we have [L]= [TI,and since
E2 = p2 + M2c4 we find
(A.1)
(A4
Hence [MI can be chosen as the single independent dimension of our set of
natural units.
For electromagnetic interactions it is convenient to introduce a set of units
in which the MKS constants 0 and po are set to unity, and factors of 47r
are expunged from the fields, appearing in the forces instead. This is done in
the rationalized Heaviside-Lorentz system of units, which is common in high
energy physics. Further, with natural units c = 1, so the cs would not appear
in the equations of electrodynamics. The Maxwell equations in these units
are given by eqns. (2.112).
The fine structure constant is a dimensionless ratio of the electrostatic repulsion between two electrons separated by one Compton wavelength and the
electron rest mass:
e2
47rhc
1
137
511
512
Appendix A
n
1
A, = --t - 21 (140 MeV)-'
Mxc
Mx
(-4.3)
197.3
1 GeV
= 5.068
fm-'.
Hence
[u]= [LI2 = [ M y ,
and from (A.4), 1 fm2 = 25.7 GeV-2 in natural units. But 1 b =
100 fm2 and 1 mb = 0.1 fm2, so
1 GeV-2 = 0.3894 mb
1 mb = 2.568 G e T 2
cm2 =
1 fm2 = 10 mb.
T __
1
M:
--
(140)2
MeV-'
= (140)2 MeV2
2 fm2 N 20 mb.
+ y is
e2E,"
Since [MI = [El, this has dimension [MI-' and we must multiply the right
side by ti = 6.58 x
MeV. sec to make it dimensionally correct. Using
513
Natural Units
MeVasec)
21 2.9
x 1O-l sec.
The Hamiltonian and Hamiltonian density have the same dimensions as the
Lagrangian and Lagrangian density, respectively, and the action is dimensionless in natural units. From the free field equations (see $2.3), we can then infer
the dimensions of various fields. For a spinor field
141 = [MI,
and for the photon and massive vector fields
(A.lO)
Using these dimensions and (A.6), we can find the dimension of any coupling
constant appearing in the interaction Lagrangian density (see Exercise 6.4).
(scalar field)
[%I
E~
is
= [MI.
514
Appendix A
kg
is the Boltzmann
(A.11)
(A.12)
where the Planck mass is
(A.13)
Cp
1
MP
= - = 1.6 x
cm.
(A.14)
sec,
(A.15)
K.
(A.16)