A convergent expansion about mean field theory: I. The expansion

We give a convergent expansion for nearly Gaussian quantum field theory in the multiphase region. The expansion combines (1) an expansion in phase boundaries, (2) a cluster expansion, and (3) a perturbation expansion to isolate dominant behavior. We study in detail the ground state of the $\text{P}$(φ)₂ = (λφ⁴ ? φ² ? μφ)₂ model, with ∥ μ ∥ ? λ² ? 1. The ground state is close to the classical free field, obtained by replacing $\text{P}$(φ) by the quadratic mean field polynomial $\text{P}$_c(φ), tangent to $\text{P}$ at a global minimum. Selecting one minimum gives a pure phase (ergodic ground state) satisfying the Wightman-Osterwalder-Schrader axioms with a positive mass. We also establish analyticity in λ for μ = 0 in the sector ∥ Im λ ∥ < ? Re λ ? 1, for ? ? 1.