Gaussian evaluation of a free scalar generating functional ($Z_0[J]=\exp [-\frac{1}{2}\int J{\Delta }_{F}J]$)

Completing the square in the free scalar path integral gives a quadratic exponential in the source. If ${\Delta }_F$ includes the factor $i$ in the momentum-space Feynman propagator, the normalized Minkowski functional is $\exp [-\int J{\Delta }_{F}J/2]$. Two source derivatives with their $1/i^2$ factor recover ${\Delta }_F$, while higher derivatives give Wick contractions.