Functional Derivatives: Overview & Tips

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the calculation of functional derivatives, specifically how to include constant terms when expanding expressions. Participants emphasize replacing ##J## with ##J+\epsilon dJ## and dropping higher-order terms of ##\epsilon##. The key takeaway is that the coefficient of ##\epsilon## corresponds to the integral of the functional derivative ##dZ(J)/dJ(x)## multiplied by ##dJ(x)##, which is crucial for understanding variations in functionals.

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Can someone please explain how you take a functional derivative of a generating function. I have included a basic example of how I understand it, if it's not the case can someone explain explicitly for a dummy how this is performed. My question is in picture form, as it's much easier for me to do it this way.
Many thanks
Hi
Capture.PNG

In the last sentence I mean you do include constant terms like I have done when taking the product above?
 
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Replace ##J## by ##J+\epsilon dJ##, expand, drop terms involving higher powers of ##\epsilon##. The coefficient of ##\epsilon## is the integral of the functional derivative ##dZ(J)/dJ(x)## multiplied by ##dJ(x)##.
 
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