On the 1-Loop Renormalization of the Electroweak Standard Model and its Application to Leptonic Processes

A renormalization scheme for the electroweak standard model is presented in which the electric charge and the masses of the gauge bosons, Higgs particle and fermions are used as physical parameters. The photon is treated such that quantum electrodynamics is contained as a simple substructure. Field renormalization respecting the gauge symmetry gives finite propagators and vertex functions. The Ward identities between the Green functions of the unphysical sector allow a renormalization that maintains the simple pole structure of the propagators in the t'Hooft-Feynman gauge. We give a complete list of self energies and all renormalization constants also in the unphysical Higgs and ghost sector. Explicit results are given for the renormalized self energies, vertex functions and boxes that enter the evaluation of 1-loop radiative corrections to fermionic processes. We calculate the 1-loop radiative corrections to purely leptonic reactions like μ decay, vμ_μe scattering and μ pair production in e⁺e⁻annihilation. A test of the standard model is performed by comparing these low energy data with the results of the PP collider experiments for the W and Z boson masses.     

On the predictivity of the non‐renormalizable quantum field theories

Following a Four Dimensional Renormalization approach to ultraviolet divergences (FDR), we extend the concept of predictivity to non‐renormalizable quantum field theories at arbitrarily large perturbative orders. The idea of topological renormalization is introduced, which keeps a finite value for the parameters of the theory by trading the usual order‐by‐order renormalization procedure for an order‐by‐order redefinition of the perturbative vacuum. One additional measurement is then sufficient to systematically compute quantum corrections at any loop order, with no need of absorbing ultraviolet infinities in the Lagrangian.     

Quantum chromodynamics predictions in renormalization scheme invariant perturbation theory

It has recently been shown that any physical quantity ℛ, in perturbation theory, can be obtained as a function of only the renormalization scheme (rs) invariants,ρ ₀,ρ ₁,ρ ₂, … Physical predictions, to any given order, are renormalization scheme independent in this approach. Quantum chromodynamics (qcd) predictions to second order, within thisrs-invariant perturbation theory, are given here for several processes. These lead to some novel relations between experimentally measurable quantities, which do not involve the unknownqcd scale parameter Λ. They can therefore be directly confronted with experiments and this has been done wherever possible. It is suggested that these relations can be used to probe the neglected higher order corrections.     

Can the equivalence principle survive quantization?

It is well known that Einstein gravity is non-renormalizable; however a generalized approach is proposed that leads to Einstein gravity after renormalization. This then implies that at least one candidate for quantum gravity treats all matter on an equal footing with regard to the gravitational behaviour. Harsh constraints are also placed on any anti-matter gravity theory if one does not wish to violate the conservation of energy. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Meson-current corrections to the magnetic moment of the deuteron within an extended Lee model

The magnetic moment of the deuteron is calculated within an extended Lee model which allows the use of realistic deuteron wave functions. The meson-current corrections which are due to the dynamical effects of the π^? -meson are computed rigorously and analysed in detail. Conclusions are drawn about the validity of perturbation theory and about the importance of norm and off-shell renormalization corrections.     

Quantum ekpyrotic mechanism in Fermi-bounce curvaton cosmology

Within the context of the Fermi-bounce curvaton mechanism, we analyze the one-loop radiative corrections to the four-fermion interaction, generated by the non-dynamical torsion field in the Einstein-Cartan-Holst-Sciama-Kibble theory. We show that contributions that arise from the one-loop radiative corrections modify the energy-momentum tensor, mimicking an effective Ekpyrotic fluid contribution. Therefore, we call this effect quantum Ekpyrotic mechanism. This leads to the dynamical washing out of anisotropic contributions to the energy-momentum tensor, without introducing any new extra Ekpyrotic fluid. We discuss the stability of the bouncing mechanism and derive the renormalization group flow of the dimensional coupling constant ξ, checking whether any change of its sign takes place towards the bounce. This enforces the theoretical motivations in favor of the torsion curvaton bounce cosmology as an alternative candidate to the inflation paradigm.     

On the corrections of the wave function in weakly bound quarkonium

A non-relativistic quark-antiquark system with perturbative gluonic interactions (quarkonium) is considered, which allows a systematic expansion in the strong coupling constant α_s. In a non-abelian gauge theory, non-trivial corrections of the wave function already occur to O(α_s). We emphasize the existence of a renormalization, which is “natural” for such a system leaving only little freedom in the choice of the renormalization point Λ. The general corrections to O(α_s) including coulombic binding are presented. An explicit application to the lowest-order gluonic corrections of the leptonic decay of quarkonium is made. In this process the new term is sometimes much larger than the gluonic correction at the photon vertex and it varies greatly between different coulombic (S-wave) bound states.     

An efficient renormalization group improved implementation of the MSSM effective potential

In the context of MSSM, a novel improving procedure based on the renormalization group equation is applied to the effective potential in the Higgs sector. We focus on the one-loop radiative corrections computed in Landau gauge by using the mass independent renormalization scheme . Thanks to the decoupling theorem, the well-known multimass scale problem is circumvented by switching to a new effective field theory every time a new particle threshold is encountered. We find that, for any field configuration, there is a convenient renormalization scale at which the loop expansion respects the perturbation series hierarchy and the theory retains the vital property of stability. Received: 31 August 1999 / Revised version: 22 March 2000 / Published online: 23 October 2000     

Unification of effective field theories

We consider the renormalization of the coupling constants in theories with extended gauge hierarchies. An effective field theory approach is used to include an interesting class of higher-order effects in the renormalization group formulas. We calculate these corrections for all possible breakdowns of O(10) to SU(3)×SU(2)×U(1).     

Scaling and the approach to scaling in Reggeon field theory

We address ourselves to the problem of the approach to asymptotic scaling in Reggeon field theory. We present a method of integration of the renormalization group equations and obtain the asymptotic scaling functions, as well as the corrections which occur at non-asymptotic energies.     

Lorentz-violating Yang–Mills theory: discussing the Chern–Simons-like term generation

We analyze the Chern–Simons-like term generation in the CPT-odd Lorentz-violating Yang–Mills theory interacting with fermions. Moreover, we study the anomalies of this model as well as its quantum stability. The whole analysis is performed within the algebraic renormalization theory, which is independent of the renormalization scheme. In addition, all results are valid to all orders in perturbation theory. We find that the Chern–Simons-like term is not generated by radiative corrections, just like its Abelian version. Additionally, the model is also free of gauge anomalies and quantum stable.     

Soft Parametrization of Renormalized Field Theory and Kadanoff Scaling

The soft renormalization procedure, proposed by Gomes, Lowenstein and Zimmermann, is applied to the construction of a pre-scaling (soft) parametrization of renormalized perturbation theory. The global pre-scaling parameters are directly incorporated into the Lagrangian; resummation problems and subsidiary condition are completely avoided. For the A⁴-theory with linear symmetry breaking and the spontaneous limit we give a detailed structural investigation in terms of partial differential equations to all orders of perturbation theory. In the second part the scaling structure and “marginal” corrections to scaling are reconsidered in terms of the soft parametrization. The pre-scaling parametrization represents a powerful tool in dealing with the field theoretical aspects of critical phenomena.     

Universality of the continuum limit of lattice quantum theories

The lattice approximation of the naïve continuum action in quantum mechanics or in field theory is not uniquely determined. We investigate to what extent corrections to the lattice action, which vanish in the naïve continuum limit, affect the continuum limit when taking quantum fluctuations into account. In the quantum mechanical case, modifications of the lattice action may induce non-trivial corrections to the potential of the system and thereby change the structure of the theory completely. We verify this statement analytically as well as numerically by performing a Monte Carlo simulation. In the field theoretical case we argue that the lattice corrections considered do not affect the physics of the continuum limit, at least not for asymptotically free gauge field theories. In four dimensions, one might encounter finite renormalization of CP violating terms.     

Perturbation theory and nonperturbative effects: A happy marriage ?

Perturbation expansions in renormalized quantum field theories are reformulated in a way that permits a straightforward handling of situations when in the conventional approach, i.e. in fixed renormalization scheme, these expansions are factorially divergent and even of asymptotically constant sign. The result takes the form of convergent (under certain circumstances) expansions in a set of functionsZ _k(a,) of the couplant and the free parameter which specifies the procedure involved. The value of is shown to be correlated to the basic properties of nonperturbative effects as embodied in power corrections. Close connection of this procedure to Borel summation technique is demonstrated and its relation to conventional perturbation theory in fixed renormalization schemes elucidated.     

Radiative breaking scenario for the GUT gauge symmetry

The origin of the grand unified theory (GUT) scale from the top-down perspective is explored. The GUT gauge symmetry is broken by the renormalization group effects, which is an extension of the radiative electroweak symmetry breaking scenario to the GUT models. That is, in the same way as the origin of the electroweak scale, the GUT scale is generated from the Planck scale through the radiative corrections to the soft supersymmetry breaking mass parameters. This mechanism is applied to a perturbative SO(10) GUT model, recently proposed by us. In the SO(10) model, the relation between the GUT scale and the Planck scale can naturally be realized by using order-one coupling constants. PACS 12.10.-g, 12.10.Dm, 12.10.Kt     

Meson exchange corrections and properties of nuclear matter and neutron matter

A calculation of meson exchange corrections to the binding energy as function of the density is presented for nuclear matter and neutron matter. The framework is the application of non-covariant perturbation theory to a field theoretical Hamiltonian. Within a Brueckner-type approximation we restrict ourselves to the calculation of those meson exchange corrections which are due to one meson exchange and which produce no mass renormalization corrections. The results are reported in detail and the structure of the results is revealed. As a net effect, we find that our meson exchange corrections give a repulsion in nuclear matter yielding about 5 MeV less binding at the saturation point. For neutron matter, the effects are very small.     

On the Connections between the Non-linearity of Equations of Motion in Quantum Theory,Asymptotic Behavior and Renormalization

It is shown that the ordinary perturbation expressions used in quantum mechanics lead to the wrong asymptotic behavior of the Heisenberg observables as function of time. This difficulty is traced to the non-linearity of the Heisenberg equations of motion and is studied in the context of a one-dimensional non-linear oscillator problem. It is found that the correct asymptotic behavior can be obtained by a process of renormalization analogous to renormalization theory in quantum field theory. It turns out that the renormalized parameters analogous to mass and wave-function renormalization are not c-numbers but are instead q-numbers. It is suggested that the renormalization parameters of quantum field theory are also q-numbers.     

No parity anomaly in massless QED3: A BPHZL approach

In this Letter we call into question the perturbatively parity breakdown at 1-loop for the massless QED₃ frequently claimed in the literature. As long as perturbative quantum field theory is concerned, whether a parity anomaly owing to radiative corrections exists or not shall be definitely proved by using a renormalization method independent of any regularization scheme. Such a problem has been investigated in the framework of BPHZL renormalization method, by adopting the Lowenstein–Zimmermann subtraction scheme. The 1-loop parity-odd contribution to the vacuum-polarization tensor is explicitly computed in the framework of the BPHZL renormalization method. It is shown that a Chern–Simons term is generated at that order induced through the infrared subtractions — which violate parity. We show then that, what is called “parity anomaly”, is in fact a parity-odd counterterm needed for restauring parity.     

Resummed pQCD for <Emphasis Type="Italic">W</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">±</Emphasis></Superscript> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis><Superscript>0</Superscript> transverse momentum spectra at RHIC and LHC

The transverse momentum distributions of W_± and Z₀ are predicted at RHIC and LHC. A resummation formalism with power corrections to the renormalization group equations is used. Shadowing effects are discussed and found to be unimportant at RHIC, but important for LHC. We study the enhancement of power corrections due to multiple scattering in nuclear collisions and numerically illustrate the weak effects of the dependence on the nuclear mass.     

Z′ and the Appelquist–Carrazzone decoupling

We consider the electroweak theory with an additional neutral vector boson Z^′ at one loop. We propose a renormalization scheme which makes the decoupling of heavy Z^′ effects manifest. The proposed scheme justifies the usual procedure of performing fits to the electroweak data by combining the full SM loop corrections to observables with the tree-level corrections due to the extended gauge structure. Using this scheme we discuss in the model with extra an U(1)^′ group factor one-loop results for the ρ parameters defined in several different ways.