Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2026 / iii / Paper 304 / 1 / a

The first two terms are the kinetic term and mass term of a real scalar field; together they determine the free quantum field theory propagator. The term $-\lambda {\varphi }^4/4!$ is its quartic field interaction term. The remaining three terms are counterterms: ${\delta }_Z$ renormalizes the field normalization, ${\delta }_m$ renormalizes the mass, and ${\delta }_{\lambda }$ renormalizes the quartic coupling. Their regulator dependence cancels the ultraviolet divergences of loop diagrams, while their finite parts implement the chosen renormalization conditions.