Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2009/iii/paper-43/3/2/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2009 iii Paper 43 3 2 Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Couple a real source through . Its Fourier components obey , and the source term is . Complete the square using the positive quadratic kernel from the previous part:Translation of the integration variables in the regulated Gaussian functional integral therefore givesThis also fixes the sign: a real linear source increases the Gaussian generating function by a positive quadratic exponent, unlike an imaginary Fourier-characteristic-function source.
To specify rather than conceal an infinite normalization, first impose finite volume and an ultraviolet cutoff, and choose orthonormal real coordinates for the independent field modes. If their number is and the eigenvalues of the quadratic form are , the measure givesA measure removes the prefactor. In the continuum one may express this as plus a source-independent measure constant, with the same regulator understood. The real-mode prescription prevents double counting the conjugate Fourier pairs. All normalized correlation functions follow from and do not depend on that constant.
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