About the n-point Green functions in position-space

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges of calculating n-point Green functions in position space, particularly focusing on the 3-point function in \(\phi^3\) theory. Participants explore both numerical and analytical methods for evaluating integrals involved in these calculations, addressing the complexities and techniques related to dimensional reduction and Euclidean space transformations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes the difficulty of integrating the 3-point function in position space, specifically the integral involving distances between points.
  • Some participants suggest that numerical methods are commonly used for these calculations, although they acknowledge that this approach does not yield a function of the variables \(x_1\), \(x_2\), and \(x_3\) directly.
  • There is a proposal that analytical forms may exist for \(\phi^3\) theory, but generally, arbitrary perturbations are handled numerically.
  • Another participant requests references for numerical approaches to n-particle Green's functions beyond \(\phi^3\) theory.
  • Several references to papers and a book are provided, emphasizing applications in condensed matter systems.
  • One participant discusses the necessity of reducing dimensions to make numerical calculations tractable, suggesting a method to simplify the integral using Euclidean invariance and polar coordinates.
  • Another participant raises a concern about back substitution when working with numerical values, questioning how to handle the transition from Euclidean to Minkowski space in the context of the integral.
  • There is a mention of fitting rational functions to numerical evaluations of the integral and the process of analytically continuing these functions back to Minkowski space.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of views regarding the methods for calculating n-point Green functions, with some favoring numerical approaches while others believe analytical solutions may exist. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach and the specifics of transitioning between Euclidean and Minkowski spaces.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations related to the complexity of integrals, the need for dimensional reduction, and the challenges of back substitution in numerical evaluations. These factors contribute to the ongoing exploration of methods without reaching definitive conclusions.

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When we want to calculate the n-point function in the position space, it's always very difficult. For example, when we're calculate the 3-point function of \phi^3 theory in position space, we would get an integral
\int d^4 z \frac{1}{|z-x_1|^2|z-x_2|^2|z-x_3|^2}
It seems hard to integrate it.
I'm wondering if anyone has already done this before. Or is there any theory to calculate these kind of integrals?
 
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Usually done numerically
 
stone said:
Usually done numerically

But then you don't get it as a function of x_1, x_2, and x_3!
 
Of course, but you can do it various values of x_i's
Although I am pretty sure there must be some analytical forms for phi^3 theory. But in general for arbitrary perturbations, it is always done numerically.
 
stone said:
Of course, but you can do it various values of x_i's
Although I am pretty sure there must be some analytical forms for phi^3 theory. But in general for arbitrary perturbations, it is always done numerically.

Could you please give some online references for the numerical approach to n-particle Green's functions (not necessarily of Phi^3)?
 
stone said:
Most of the applications are in condensed matter systems
users.physik.fu-berlin.de/~pelster/Papers/green.pdf
www.fz-juelich.de/nic-series/volume32/assaad.pdf

Thanks. But one needs to reduce the dimension to make the numerics tractable.

By Euclidean invariance, one can reduce the integral of the OP to the case where x_1=0, x_2=(u,0,0,0), x_3=(v,w,0,0). Thus one is left with a 3-parameter integral. The integration domain can also be reduced to 3D by using polar coordinates in the last two components, and integrating over the angle analytically.

Then one is left with a 3-parameter family of 3D integrals. Still, to map out the resulting function reliably requires a lot of numerical integrations.
 
A. Neumaier said:
Thanks. But one needs to reduce the dimension to make the numerics tractable.

By Euclidean invariance, one can reduce the integral of the OP to the case where x_1=0, x_2=(u,0,0,0), x_3=(v,w,0,0). Thus one is left with a 3-parameter integral. The integration domain can also be reduced to 3D by using polar coordinates in the last two components, and integrating over the angle analytically.

Then one is left with a 3-parameter family of 3D integrals. Still, to map out the resulting function reliably requires a lot of numerical integrations.

So normally when you go Euclidean space, you calculate <0|\phi(-iu_0,u)\phi(-ix_0,x)\phi(-iy_0,y)|0>, and then the integral over the internal vertex d4z :


<br /> \int d^4 z \frac{1}{|z-u|^2|z-x|^2|z-y|^2}<br />

can be reduced from 4 dimensions to 3 via contour integration and selecting the poles which are now off axis? Once you get your answer this way, wherever you see u0, you replace it with iu0, and similarly with x0 and y0?

But now since you are working with numerical values, then you don't know how to back substitute since all the variables became numbers, so you can't do things this way?

So you have to work directly with this integral:

<br /> \int d^4 z \frac{1}{|z-u|^2|z-x|^2|z-y|^2}<br />

where u,x, and y are all real time instead of imaginary time. So how do you make the squared terms Euclidean?
 
RedX said:
But now since you are working with numerical values, then you don't know how to back substitute since all the variables became numbers, so you can't do things this way?

I had assumed that the integral was already Euclidean, since one wouldn't use absolute values in Minkowski space.

The numerical approach would evaluate the integral at a number of points, fit some rational function with the correct symmetry to the values of the integrals, and then analytically continue the resulting rational function back to Minkowski space.
 

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