Vertex corrections 1-loop order Yukawa theory

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The discussion focuses on calculating 1-loop vertex corrections in Yukawa theory, particularly the contributions from fermion loops to the vertex correction ##\tilde{c}_2##. The calculation yields ##\tilde{c}_2 = \frac{g^2_0}{4\pi^2}\ln \frac{\Lambda_0}{\Lambda}##, leading to a renormalized fine structure constant ##\alpha_{\Lambda}## expressed in terms of the running coupling. Participants clarify that the relationship ##\Lambda \frac{d\alpha_{\Lambda}}{d\Lambda} \propto \alpha_{\Lambda}^2 + O(\alpha_{\Lambda}^3)## holds true, with the proportionality being consistent at leading order in the running coupling. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the behavior of these corrections in the context of renormalization. The discussion concludes with a consensus on the validity of the proportionality under consideration.
WannabeNewton
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Consider the Yukawa theory ##\mathcal{L}_0 = \bar{\psi}_0(i\not \partial - m_0 - g\phi_0)\psi_0 + \frac{1}{2}(\partial \phi_0)^2 - \frac{1}{2}M_0^2 \phi_0^2 - \frac{1}{4!}\lambda_0 \phi_0^4## with cutoff ##\Lambda_0##; a lower cutoff ##\Lambda < \Lambda_0## is then introduced with an effective theory ##\mathcal{L}_{\Lambda}##. We wish to then compute the 1-loop vertex corrections ##\tilde{c}_2, \tilde{c}_3## defined by ##\Pi(p^2) \approx \tilde{c}_3\Lambda^2 + \tilde{c}_2 p^2## in the diagrams below. The second diagram, with the scalar loop, is trivial to compute and isn't really the focus of my question so consider just the diagram with the fermion loop, which is of course the only diagram of the two that contributes to ##\tilde{c}_2##, this being the vertex correction of relevance.
1-loop diagrams Yukawa.png


A straightforward calculation yields ##\tilde{c}_2 = \frac{g^2_0}{4\pi^2}\ln \frac{\Lambda_0}{\Lambda}##. The renormalized fine structure constant is defined by ##\alpha_{\Lambda} = \frac{g^2_{\Lambda}}{4\pi}## where the running coupling was calculated in class to be ##g_{\Lambda} = g_0(1 - c_1 - c_2 - \tilde{c}_2/2)## with the vertex corrections ##c_1 = \frac{g_0^2}{8\pi^2}\ln \frac{\Lambda_0}{\Lambda}, c_2 = \frac{g_0^2}{16\pi^2}\ln \frac{\Lambda_0}{\Lambda}## coming from other 1-loop diagrams that don't fall off as ##\frac{1}{\Lambda}## or faster (e.g. self-energy diagram).

Hence ##\alpha_{\Lambda} = \frac{g_0^2}{4\pi}(1 + \frac{5}{16\pi^2}g_0^2\ln \frac{\Lambda}{\Lambda_0})^2##. Thus we find ##\Lambda \frac{d\alpha_{\Lambda}}{d\Lambda} = \frac{5}{8\pi^2}\frac{g_0^4}{4\pi}(1 + \frac{5}{16\pi^2}g_0^2\ln \frac{\Lambda}{\Lambda_0})## and ##\alpha_{\Lambda}^2 = \frac{g_0^4}{16\pi^2}(1 + \frac{5}{16\pi^2}g_0^2\ln \frac{\Lambda}{\Lambda_0})^4 \approx \frac{g_0^4}{16\pi^2}(1 + \frac{5}{4\pi^2}g_0^2\ln \frac{\Lambda}{\Lambda_0}) + O(g_0^4) ##.

We have to show that ##\Lambda \frac{d\alpha_{\Lambda}}{d\Lambda} \propto \alpha_{\Lambda}^2## but I do not see how this is possible in the slightest given the above results, which I have verified time and time again by myself and with others. Does anyone know why the desired proportionality even holds? Thanks in advance!
 
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WannabeNewton said:
We have to show that ##\Lambda \frac{d\alpha_{\Lambda}}{d\Lambda} \propto \alpha_{\Lambda}^2## but I do not see how this is possible in the slightest given the above results, which I have verified time and time again by myself and with others. Does anyone know why the desired proportionality even holds? Thanks in advance!

Well, the full statement is

\Lambda \frac{d\alpha_\Lambda}{d\Lambda} \propto \alpha_\Lambda^2 + O(\alpha_\Lambda^3)

which is consistent with what you have I think.
 
The_Duck said:
Well, the full statement is

\Lambda \frac{d\alpha_\Lambda}{d\Lambda} \propto \alpha_\Lambda^2 + O(\alpha_\Lambda^3)

which is consistent with what you have I think.

I'm not sure I immediately see the consistency, could you show it explicitly if possible? Thanks.
 
According to your formulas we have

\Lambda \frac{d \alpha_\Lambda}{d \Lambda} - \frac{5}{2\pi} \alpha_\Lambda^2 = O(g_0^6) = O(\alpha_\Lambda^3)
 
The_Duck said:
According to your formulas we have

\Lambda \frac{d \alpha_\Lambda}{d \Lambda} - \frac{5}{2\pi} \alpha_\Lambda^2 = O(g_0^6) = O(\alpha_\Lambda^3)

Ah right, so they're only proportional to leading order in the running coupling then; that makes sense, thanks!
 
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