The letters s,t,u are also used in the terms s-channel (timelike channel), t-channel, and u-channel (both spacelike channels). These channels represent different Feynman diagrams or different possible scattering events where the interaction involves the exchange of an intermediate particle whose squared four-momentum equals s,t,u, respectively.
For example, the s-channel corresponds to the particles 1,2 joining into an intermediate particle that eventually splits into 3,4:  The t-channel represents the process in which the particle 1 emits the intermediate particle and becomes the final particle 3, while the particle 2 absorbs the intermediate particle and becomes 4. The u-channel is the t-channel with the role of the particles 3,4 interchanged.
When evaluating a Feynman amplitude one often finds scalar products of the external four momenta. One can use the Mandelstam variables to simplify these:
Where  is the mass of the particle with corresponding momentum .