Past exam of the quantum field theory course of the University of Oxford / 2020 / 1 / d

For a connected amputated Feynman diagram, write $L$ for the number of independent loop momenta. Each loop momentum integration scales as ${\lambda }^4$, each internal scalar propagator as ${\lambda }^{-2}$, and each internal Dirac propagator as ${\lambda }^{-1}$ when both four-momenta and mass are scaled. The Yukawa coupling has mass dimension zero. ThusCounting the two fermion ends and one scalar end at each interaction vertex, and using connectedness, givesConsequently $n_f=n_v$, $L=n_s+1$, andThe requested exponent requires amputation and removal of the overall momentum delta function. An ordinary unamputated connected Green function has an additional $n$ external scalar propagators, giving mass dimension $4-3n$ after stripping that delta function, or $-3n$ if it is retained. For a concrete check, the free two-point scalar propagator scales as ${\lambda }^{-2}$, not ${\lambda }^2$. The exponent $4-n$ is the engineering result for the amputated object. A fixed renormalization scale introduces logarithms; the displayed homogeneity is a naive power counting statement rather than an exact quantum scaling law at fixed subtraction scale.

More generally, with $E_s$ external scalar ends and $E_f$ external fermion ends, the same counting gives the superficial degree of divergenceThis is an upper bound on the overall ultraviolet divergence. Numerator cancellations and Lorentz invariance may lower it; an apparently convergent whole Feynman diagram can still have ultraviolet subdivergences. Local subtraction of those ultraviolet subdivergences is required first.

For pure scalar ends, $E_s=0,1,2,3,4$ can require counterterms. Lorentz invariance reduces the two-point terms to a mass counterterm and wave-function renormalization; derivatives of a single scalar field are total derivatives, and a one-derivative cubic scalar term cannot be a Lorentz scalar. With two external fermions, $E_s=0$ requires their kinetic term and mass counterterm, while $E_s=1$ requires Yukawa coupling renormalization. Four external fermions give $D=-2$, so no independent four-fermion counterterm is required.

A complete counterterm Lagrangian consistent with the species symmetry can therefore be writtenThe vacuum energy density term matters for an unnormalized vacuum functional and cancels from normalized Green functions. The tadpole counterterm can impose $⟨\varphi ⟩=0$. There is no $\varphi \mapsto -\varphi$ symmetry of the massive Yukawa interaction, so linear, cubic and quartic scalar terms cannot be excluded. For instance, in a constant background the divergent fermion loop contribution contains $(m+g\varphi {)}^4$, exhibiting all these powers. This is counterterm closure of a massive Yukawa theory.

The two species have identical couplings, so their common unitary flavour rotations preserve the Lagrangian density and their counterterms can be chosen species independent. Equality of the scalar and fermion masses, however, is not protected: $\delta m_s^2$ and $\delta m_f$ are independent. Including the displayed finite set of operators yields a renormalizable quantum field theory. Restricting the bare Lagrangian density to the terms printed in the question is not closed under renormalization.