Diverging Integral: 4 Powers of q in Numerator, 2 in Denominator

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The discussion centers on the divergence characteristics of a specific integral involving four powers of q in the numerator and two in the denominator, expressed as g∫(d^4 q)/(2π)^4 * (1/(q^2 - m^2)). It is established that this integral diverges quadratically as q approaches large values and experiences infrared divergence as q approaches zero. The divergence is analyzed by transforming the integral into spherical coordinates in four dimensions, focusing on the radial component |q|. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of understanding the integration domain and the implications of the powers of q on the divergence behavior.

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Elwin.Martin
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Quick question:
What does it mean that this has "four powers of q in the numerator and two in the denominator"? Apparently, this diverges quadratically at large q and has an infrared divergence as q→0 (I'm not concerned about the second one all that much though).
I mean, simply looking at a comparison of powers, since the integration is over all of q, it's feels like they get this result by just saying we have 4/2=2 on top. . .but that's not really legitimate.

[itex]g\int \frac{d^4 q}{\left(2\pi\right)^4}\frac{1}{q^2-m^2}[/itex]

Thanks for any help! I don't doubt the divergence, but I'm just not sure what is meant by it ^^; in one dimension, I know that it blows up at q=±m, I'm just not sure what implications this has on the divergence in d4q
 
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The integrand depends only on |q|. Therefere, imagine the integration domain to be a 4-ball of radius Q. You can use 4d spherical coordinates and perform all angular integrals. You are left with an integral over the radial coordinate |q|. It will have some factors of |q| in the numerator and denominator of its integrand. Then analyse the degree of divergence by checking how the result depends on Q approaches infinity. Similarly can be done e.g for integral divergence caused by integrand divergencies such as what happens at q^2 = m^2
 

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