QFT Notes important results

Sarthak Duarya
a
International Centre for Theoretical Sciences,Tata Institute of Fundamental Research,Shivakote,
Bengaluru 560089, India.

E-mail: sarthak.duary@icts.res.in

Abstract: Based on Quantum Field Theory II Lectures by Prof. Ashok Sen.

Contents

1 Functional Differentiation 1

2 Green’s function 1

3 How to calculate Z[J] 2

1 Functional Differentiation
Z
δF [φ]
F [φ] = d4 xφ(x)J(x) ⇒ = J[y]. (1.1)
δφ(y)
δ h i δF [φ] δG[φ]
F [φ]G[φ] = .G[φ] + F [φ]. . (1.2)
δφ(x) δφ(x) δφ(x)
Z
δ h i
d4 yφ(y)J(y) = J(x). (1.3)
δφ(x)
Putting, J(y) = δ 4 (x − ω) we get
δ
φ(ω) = δ 4 (x − ω). (1.4)
δφ(x)
Z
δ
d4 y[φ(y)]2 = 2φ(x). (1.5)
δφ(x)

2 Green’s function

Let’s define a quantity Z[J] such that

Z h Z i
Z[J] = [Dφ] exp iS + i d4 xJ(x)φ(x) . (2.1)

Let’s calculate
Z Z
 δ  δ   δ  h i
−i −i ··· − i Z[J] = [Dφ] exp iS + i d4 xJ(x)φ(x) φ(xn )φ(xn−1 ) · · · φ(x1 ).
δJ(x1 ) δJ(x2 ) δJ(xn )
R
Now, Z[0] = [Dφ] exp[iS].
Hence,
R h i
1  δ  δ   δ  
 [Dφ] exp iS φ(x1 )φ(x2 ) · · · φ(xn )
−i −i ··· − i Z[J] = R
Z[0] δJ(x1 ) δJ(x2 ) δJ(xn ) J=0 [Dφ] exp[iS]
= G(x1 , · · · , xn ).

–1–
3 How to calculate Z[J]

We’ll calculate Z[J] for free scalar field theory.

Z  Z  1 
4 µ 1 2 2
Zf [J] = [Dφ] exp i d x − ∂µ φ∂ φ − m φ + J(x)φ(x)
2 2

–2–