Vertex corrections 1-loop order Yukawa theory

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the Yukawa theory and the computation of 1-loop vertex corrections, specifically focusing on the relationship between the running fine structure constant and its derivative with respect to the cutoff. Participants explore the implications of their calculations and seek clarification on the proportionality between these quantities.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation, Debate/contested, Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the Yukawa theory and derives the expression for the vertex correction ##\tilde{c}_2##, concluding with the relationship for the running coupling ##g_{\Lambda}## and the fine structure constant ##\alpha_{\Lambda}##.
  • Another participant reiterates the need to show that ##\Lambda \frac{d\alpha_{\Lambda}}{d\Lambda} \propto \alpha_{\Lambda}^2##, expressing confusion about the validity of this relationship based on their calculations.
  • A subsequent reply clarifies that the full statement includes higher-order terms, suggesting that the proportionality holds when considering these additional terms.
  • Further discussion reveals a participant's uncertainty about the consistency of the results and requests an explicit demonstration of the relationship.
  • Another participant points out that the difference between the two expressions is of higher order, indicating that the proportionality is valid only to leading order in the running coupling.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the relationship between the quantities involved, with some suggesting that the proportionality holds when considering higher-order terms. The discussion remains unresolved as participants seek clarification and explicit demonstrations of the relationships.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the expressions involve higher-order corrections, which may affect the validity of the proportionality in certain contexts. The discussion highlights the complexity of the calculations and the assumptions involved.

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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