Past exam of the quantum field theory course of the University of Oxford / 2017 / 3 / e / Solution

Source correction: equation 11 on the original page has $\Gamma (\alpha -1/2)$. The dimensionally regulated integral instead contains $\Gamma (\alpha -d/2)$. This is not an interchangeable convention: for $\alpha =2$ and $d=4-ϵ$, the correct factor $\Gamma (ϵ/2)$ has a logarithmic ultraviolet pole, whereas the printed $\Gamma (3/2)$ is finite.

To obtain the correct expression, shift the loop momentum and perform a Wick rotation. For positive Euclidean ${\mathcal{M}}^2$, introduce a Schwinger parameterization:The derivation first holds in the convergent range and defines the result elsewhere by analytic continuation. For integer $\alpha$, rotating back giveswith the branch inherited from $i0$. This is the Lorentzian continuation of the Euclidean massive loop integral.

Set $p=0$, $\alpha =1$, $d=4-ϵ$. Since $\Gamma (-1+ϵ/2)=-2/ϵ+O(1)$,Consequently the directed tadpole in part d givesThe counterterm is $-i{\delta }_{m^2}$, so cancelling only the pole in the minimal subtraction scheme requiresThis is the quartic complex-scalar mass renormalization result. The scale factors and logarithms contribute finite terms at this order and do not change the displayed pole coefficient. A real-field check gives a tadpole coefficient $\frac{1}{2}(3g/2+g/2)=g$, in agreement with the oriented complex-field computation.