Past exam of the quantum field theory course of the University of Oxford / 2023 / 1 / c

Write ${\varphi }_B=Z^{1/2}\varphi$, $Z=1+{\delta }_Z$, and define the mass counterterm ${\delta }_m$ as a squared-mass coefficient:With the self-energy convention in b, the inverse scalar propagator is $p^2-m^2+{\delta }_Z{p}^2-{\delta }_m-\Sigma (p^2)$. Requiring the pole mass to equal $m$ therefore gives the on-shell renormalization scheme conditionAt one loop order, ${\Sigma }_1^{\prime }=0$; hence a unit pole residue also gives ${\delta }_Z^{(1)}=0$, andThe mass counterterm Feynman rule is $-i{\delta }_m$, cancelling the tadpole diagram. A convention defining a positive mass subtraction by $m_B^2=m^2-{\delta }_m^{\mathrm{sub}}$ instead has ${\delta }_m^{\mathrm{sub}}=-{\delta }_m$; specifying this convention avoids a spurious sign disagreement.

There is no one-loop wave-function renormalization because the tadpole diagram is independent of momentum. Each one-loop four-point bubble diagram has two scalar propagators, so its large Euclidean loop momentum integral behaves as $\int d^2{k}_E/k_E^4$ and is ultraviolet finite. Thus no divergent quartic interaction counterterm is required. Finite coupling redefinitions remain possible. At higher loop orders, finite wave-function renormalization may be needed if unit pole residue is imposed; power counting only rules out its ultraviolet divergence.