Exact form factors in integrable quantum field theories: the sine-Gordon model

We provide detailed arguments on how to derive properties of generalized form factors, originally proposed by one of the authors (M.K.) and Weisz twenty years ago, solely based on the assumption of ‘maximal analyticity” and the validity of the LSZ reduction formalism. These properties constitute consistency equations which allow the explicit evaluation of the n-particle form factors once the scattering matrix is known. The equations give rise to a matrix Riemann-Hilbert problem. Exploiting the “off-shell” Bethe ansatz we propose a general formula for form factors for an odd number of particles. For the sine-Gordon model alias the massive Thirring model we exemplify the general solution for several operators. In particular we calculate the three-particle form factor of the soliton field, carry out a consistency check against the Thirring model perturbation theory and thus confirm the general formalism.