Renormalization Definition and 174 Threads

I am self-studying QFT in the Schwartz book "Quantum Field Theory and the Standard Model", currently I am struggling to understand the all-orders proof that ##Z_1=Z_2## using Ward-Takahashi identity (page 352). He states that ## -ie_R\Gamma^\mu ##, which is the sum of the 1PI contributions to...

Hi, I have several related questions about scale dependence in different renormalization schemes. 1. Is there scale dependence in the on-shell (OS) scheme? Peskin & Schroeder chapter 10 goes through on-shell renormalization without involving an auxiliary scale, but other sources (see...

I want some clarification on what is done about the ##\mu^{2\epsilon}## renormalization scale parameter in loop amplitudes. I am under the impression that it shows up to restore the mass dimension of an amplitude when the loop momentum integral is reduced from 4 to ##4-2\epsilon## dimensions. As...

I'm looking at a proof of beta function universality in ##\phi^4## theory, and at one point they do the following step: after imposing that the renormalized coupling ##\lambda## is independent of the cutoff ##\Lambda##, we have $$0= \Lambda \frac {\text{d} \lambda}{\text{d} \Lambda} = \Lambda...

I'm learning about the RG equation and Callan-Symanzik equation. In ref.1 they claim to solve the RG equation via the method of characteristics for PDE. Here's a picture of the relevant part: First, the part I don't understand - the one underlined in red. What does "compatible" mean here...

Let ##\Gamma[\varphi] = \Gamma_0[\sqrt{Z}\varphi ] = \Gamma_0[\varphi_0]## be the generating functional for proper vertex functions for a massless ##\phi##-##4## theory. The ##0## subscripts refer to bare quantities, while the quantities without are renormalized. Then $$\tilde{\Gamma}^{(n)}(p_i...

I am trying to renormalise the following loop diagram in the Standard Model: Using the Feynman rules, we can write the amplitude as follows: $$ \Gamma_f \sim - tr \int \frac{i}{\displaystyle{\not}\ell -m_f} \frac{i^2}{(\displaystyle{\not}\ell+ \displaystyle{\not}k -m_f)^2} \frac{d^4 \ell}{(2...

I have a question about the ##\mu## in dimensional regularization and how it is related to renormalization conditions. I follow the same notation and conventions as in Schwartz. Take QED as an example: $$\mathcal{L} =-\frac{1}{4}\left( F_{0}^{\mu \nu }\right)^{2} +\overline{\psi }_{0}\left(...

I have been reading a few things about the mathematical formulation of perturbative QFT, specifically in terms of the Stuckelberg-Petermann RG, the Gell-Mann-Low RG, and their difference. Unfortunately I lack the mathematical background to understand these things in depth, and I'm having a...

Hey all, When looking at the renormalization conditions for QED (see page 332, equation 10.40 from Peskin), there is a condition that requires the photon propagator at ##q^2 = 0## to evaluate to 0. But looking at the expression for the photon propagator counterterm: ##-i(g^{\mu\nu}q^2 -...

Where does the ##m## in ##(3.2)## come from? It doesn’t seem to enter anywhere in Feynman rules for the given diagram

What is the meaning of the expansion at first order in ##\delta_2## and ##\delta_3## at the second step in the last line? These quantities are not "small" - on the contrary, the entire point is to then take the ##\epsilon \to 0## limit and the counterterms blow up

I have taken a Quantum Field Theory course recently in which we first derived the Callan-Symanzik equation and then discussed Wilson's Renormalization. However, I don't think I have a clear understanding of the procedures and how they relate to each other. For the sake of this question, let's...

Hello, I have to solve this problem. I will apply the Niemeijer Van Leeuwen method once I have the probability distribution proper to the renormalization group ,P(s,s'). For example, in the case of a triangular lattice, this distribution is: where I is the block index. However, it is very...

For example, after the Lagrangian is renormalized at 1-loop order, it is of the form $$\mathcal{L}=\frac{1}{2}\partial^{\mu}\Phi\partial_{\mu}\Phi-\frac{1}{2}m^2\Phi^2-\frac{\lambda\Phi^4}{4!}-\frac{1}{2}\delta_m^2\Phi^2-\frac{\delta_{\lambda}\Phi^4}{4!}$$. So if I were to attempt to find the...

Trying to solve for the loop contribution when renormalizing a one loop ##\frac{\lambda}{4!}\phi^4## diagram with two external lines in ##d=4## dimensions. After writing down the Feynman rule I see that: $$\frac{(-i\lambda)}{2}\int d^4q \frac{i}{q^2-m_{\phi}^2+i\epsilon} $$ But I see no way to...

Hi all, I am currently studying renormalization group and beta functions. Since I'm not in school there is no one to fix my mis-understandings if any, so I'd really appreciate some feedback. PART I: I wrote this short summary of what I understand of the beta function: Is this reasoning...

I’ve tried multiple times to learn the methods of renormalization without success. Assume I know quantum mechanics at the level of Griffith’s, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics what’s a good intro to learning renormalization? Robert Clark

Hello! I am currently reading Itzykson Zuber QFT book and on Chapter 7 where for the first time loops are considered. Particular method of dealing with divergences namely Pauli-Villars regularization is considered in section 7-1-1 considering vacuum polarization diagram. I do understand physics...

While in QFT we remove infinite energy problem with renormalization procedure, asking e.g. "what is mean energy density in given distance from charged particle", electric filed alone would say $$\rho \propto |E|^2 \propto 1/r^4 $$ But such energy density would integrate to infinity due to...

I tried to do a Euler Lagrange equation to our Lagrangian: $$\frac{S_\text{eff}}{T}=\int d^6x\left[(\nabla \phi)^2+(\nabla \sigma)^2+\lambda\sigma (\nabla \phi)^2\right]+\frac{S_{p.p}}{T}$$ and then I would like to solve the equation using perturbation theory when ##Q## or somehow...

Before I start, let me say that I have looked into textbooks and I know this is a standard problem, but I just can't get the result right... My attempt goes as follows: We notice that the amplitude of this diagram is given by $$\begin{align*}K_2(p) &= \frac{i(-i...

Currently, I am reading about counter term renormalization used to eliminate the infinities in the loop calculations involved in QFT calculations. I found somewhere that the insertion of mass counter terms in one loop diagrams is equivalent to the derivative of one loop diagram multiplied with...

Hey there, I am a little confused about the way most textbooks and notes I've read find the beta function for QED. They find it by looking at how the photon propagator varies with momentum ##q##, in particular in the context of a ##2\rightarrow2## scattering process which is proportional to...

In this article [1] we can read an explanation about Wilson's approach to renormalization I have read that Kenneth G Wilson favoured the path integral/many histories interpretation of Feynman in quantum mechanics to explain it. I was wondering if he did also consider that multiple worlds...

I was reading about the renormalization of ##\phi^4## theory and it was mentioned that in order to renormalize the 2-point function ##\Gamma^{(2)}(p)## we add the counterterm : \delta \mathcal{L}_1 = -\dfrac{gm^2}{32\pi \epsilon^2}\phi^2 to the Lagrangian, which should give rise to a...

I am still rather new to renormalising QFT, still using the cut-off scheme with counterterms, and have only looked at the ##\varphi^4## model to one loop order (in 4D). In that case, I can renormalise with a counterterm to the one-loop four-point 1PI diagram at a certain energy scale. I can...

Let ##\phi_{+}=\frac{d^3k}{2\omega_k (2\pi)^3}\int(\hat{a}^{\dagger}(\overrightarrow{k})e^{ikx})## and ##\phi_{-}=\frac{d^3k}{2\omega_k (2\pi)^3}\int(\hat{a}(\overrightarrow{k})e^{-ikx})##. Then ##\phi^4=\phi_{1}\phi_{2}\phi_{3}\phi_{4}=(\phi_{1+}+\phi_{1-})(\phi_{2+}+\phi_{2-}...

In many QFT textbooks, we usually see the calculations of vertex function, vacuum polarization and electron self-energy. For example, one calculates the vacuum polarization to correct photon propagator $\langle{\Omega}|T\{A_{\mu}A_{\nu}\}|\Omega\rangle$, where $|\Omega\rangle$ is the ground...

Hello, I'm studying the renormalization of QED. I have the Lagrangian $$\mathscr{L}_{QED}=\mathscr{L}_{physical}+\mathscr{L}_{counterterms}$$ where $$\mathscr{L}_{physical}=-\frac{1}{4}F_{\mu\nu}F^{\mu\nu}+\bar{\psi}(i\gamma^\mu\partial_\mu - m)\psi - e \bar{\psi}\gamma^\mu\psi A_\mu$$...

When introducing renormalization of fields, we define the "free Lagrangian" to be the kinetic and mass terms, using the renormalized fields. The remaining kinetic term is treated as an "interaction" counterterm. If we write down the Hamiltonian, the split between "free" and "interaction" terms...

I am trying to figure out if the use of the Zeta function allows renormalization to be bypassed. I have formed a preliminary view but would like to hear what others think: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.570.4579&rep=rep1&type=pdf Thanks Bill

Quantum gravity theories and GUTs are nonrenormalizable theories, but does this actually mean that these theories must be flawed, or does it mean that renormalization must be a flawed concept, or is this not actually a problem? If it is impossible to produce a renormalizable quantum gravity...

Is there anyone on here who could help me fill in my gaps in quantum field theory up to renormalization? I know how to canonically quantize a theory and how to use scalars (spin 0), vectors (spin 1) and spinors (spin 1/2) but lack more advanced knowledge like renormalization which I could...

In the Peskin & Schroeder textbook, the ##\beta## function for the Gross-Neveu model is discussed in problem 12.2. After computing it, I have tried checking my results with some solutions found online. My problem is that they all disagree among each other (something quite recurrent for this book...

Hello everybody! I have a big question about the renormalization: I do not understand why the "renormalization condition" is to impose the tree level result. Now I will explain it better. Let's take, for example, the electron self energy. The tree-level contribution is the simple fermionic...

Homework Statement Show that, after considering all 1 particle irreducible diagrams, the bare scalar propagator becomes: $$D_F (p)=\frac{i}{p^2-m^2-\Sigma (p^2)}$$ And that the residue of the pole is shifted to a new value, and beomes...

If we were to find some way to make the graviton self-interaction easily calculable, would applying non-perturbative renormalization on it seem any promising?

Take for example dimensional regularization. Is it correct to say that the main point of the dimensional regularization of divergent momentum integrals in QFT is to express the divergence of these integrals in such a way that they can be absorbed into the counterterms? Can someone tell me what...

I am looking for some resources describing the following content: A light with wavelength ##\lambda## is propagating in flat spacetime. The light redshifts as its wavelength gets larger and larger. In quantum field theory, this causes an infrared divergence of the field. What I want to know...

Question Has the LHC released any papers or reports on the observed running of any of the three Standard Model coupling constants with energy scale from either Run-1 or Run-2 data (or both data sets)? Last time I looked I couldn't find any data As of January 2014, I had not locate any papers...

Homework Statement I am looking for references for the scalar field theory in one-space, one-time dimension defined by: $$\mathcal{L}=-\frac{1}{2}(\partial_{\mu}\phi)^2-\frac{1}{2}m_{2,0}^2\phi^2-\frac{1}{4!}m_{4,0}^2\phi^4-\frac{1}{6!}m_{6,0}^2\phi^6$$ That explains why the only divergences...

Proton decay has not been observed and has been constrained to be extremely rare in ordinary low temperature situations, if it happens at all (the Standard Model says it doesn't happen at all, because there are no lighter decay products that would not violate conservation of baryon number)...

Or in other words: The renormalization group is a systematic theoretical framework and a set of elegant (and often effective) mathematical techniques to build effective field theories, valid at large scales, by smoothing out irrelevant fluctuations at smaller scales. But does the...

I'm trying to understand renormalisation properly, however, I've run into a few stumbling blocks. To set the scene, I've been reading Matthew Schwartz's "Quantum Field Theory & the Standard Model", in particular the section on mass renormalisation in QED. As I understand it, in order to tame the...

Greg Bernhardt submitted a new PF Insights post Mathematical Quantum Field Theory - Renormalization Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.

Most QFT texts, such as Peskin&Schroeder and D. Tong's lecture notes, contain a mention that the renormalizability of an interacting theory requires the coupling constants to have correct dimensions, making scalar fields with ##\phi^5 , \phi^6, \dots## interactions uninteresting. Maybe there are...

I've done some recent reading on IR divergences (propagators becoming singular, etc.). I believe I understand collinear divergences (to some extent)... but I'm not sure about total energies for (primarily) soft photons. In all scattering experiments, total energy should be conserved - but if...

My current understanding of renormalization is that the LSZ formula requires normalized fields. So when you normalize them you get some extra parameters from the regularization procedure you encounter along the way. It's an upgrade on my previous understanding of it as some artificial way of...

In quantum gravity, I get 'mixed signals' as regards renormalizability. My state of confusion is being caused, I suspect, by an incomplete understanding of what is covered under t'Hooft's 1972 proof that non-Abelian gauge theories are renormalizable. ( = Nobel Prize 1999). Specifically, some...