Integration by Parts in Zee's QFT: Understanding Eq. (14) to Eq. (15)

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the application of integration by parts in Zee's "Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell" to transition from Equation (14) to Equation (15). The integral representation of the partition function Z is analyzed, specifically the transformation of the kinetic term from \((\partial \varphi)^2\) to \(-\partial^2 \varphi\). The corrected Equation (15) is presented as \(Z = \int D \varphi e^{i \int d^4 x [-\frac{1}{2}\varphi(\partial^2+m^2)\varphi + J\varphi]}\), confirming the proper use of integration by parts in this context.

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  • Understanding of Quantum Field Theory (QFT) principles
  • Familiarity with integration by parts in functional integrals
  • Knowledge of variational calculus
  • Proficiency in manipulating differential operators
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Homework Statement



I'm studying from Zee's QFT in a nutshell. On page 21, I don't understand how he uses integration by parts to get from Eq (14) to Eq (15), ie from

[itex]Z = \int D \varphi e^{i \int d^4 x \{ \frac{1}{2}[(\partial \varphi)^2 - m^2 \varphi^2] + J\varphi \}}[/itex]

to

[itex]Z = \int D \varphi e^{i \int d^4 x [-\frac{1}{2}(\partial^2+m^2)\varphi + J\varphi]}[/itex].

Is he suggesting that [itex]\int d^4x \varphi^2 = \int d^4x \varphi[/itex] and [itex]\int d^4x (\partial\varphi)^2 = \int d^4x( -\partial^2 \varphi)[/itex]? If so, I'm failing to see why this should be the case.
 
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Sigh. Nevermind, there was a typo in my second integral, Eq. (15) is actually

[itex]Z = \int D \varphi e^{i \int d^4 x [-\frac{1}{2}\varphi(\partial^2+m^2)\varphi + J\varphi]}[/itex] which can be obtained easily by integration by parts on the [itex](\partial \varphi)^2[/itex] term:

[itex]\int d^4 x\, (\partial \varphi)^2 = -\int d^4x\, \varphi \partial^2\varphi[/itex].
 

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