- #1
RedX
- 970
- 3
In the expression [tex] ln(-s^2-i\epsilon) [/tex], [tex]s^2[/tex] and [tex]\epsilon[/tex] are positive (this expression can result from for example a loop diagram where [tex]s^2[/tex] is a Mandelstam variable). In mathematics, the branch cut of ln() is usually taken to be the negative real axis, so that the value above the negative axis differs from the value below the negative axis by [tex]2\pi i[/tex].
But shouldn't the physical result be independent of where you place the branch cut? If you place it on the positive real axis, then [tex] ln(-s^2-i\epsilon) [/tex] has the same value as [tex] ln(-s^2+i\epsilon) [/tex].
But shouldn't the physical result be independent of where you place the branch cut? If you place it on the positive real axis, then [tex] ln(-s^2-i\epsilon) [/tex] has the same value as [tex] ln(-s^2+i\epsilon) [/tex].