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michael879
May5-11, 02:10 PM
Hi, I'm working with the free space linearized gravitation lagrangian and trying to derive the proper propagator for it. I have no problem doing this, the only problem is that my QFT makes a quick note of what form this should take and I'm off by a factor of 4. The flatspace metric terms matching the components of the contracted graviton fields are of the correct form, and there is a 1/k^2 factor. I'm getting an additional factor of 2 though, while my book has a factor of 1/2. 1/2 makes much more sense to me, since there are two propagator terms, so I feel like I'm doing something wrong. Can anyone confirm what the correct propagator is for me?

*edit* sorry, the lagrangian I am using is the quadratic terms from the weak field expansion of R/kappa

Bill_K
May6-11, 01:09 PM
I assume you're getting the usual field equation Gμν = κTμν, and the factor of ½ you're talking about is due to the fact that in first order Gμν = ½ ◻hμν. Well, but that factor doesn't matter, does it? Because in any event the propagator is defined to be the solution of ◻hμν = δ4(x-x'), and any factor of ½ goes into the coupling constant, which will be 2κ.