Axial-vector current and dimensional regularization

Journal Article · Sat Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 1979 · Phys. Rev., D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.20.3378· OSTI ID:5755578

Gottlieb, S; Donohue, J T

The properties of the axial-vector current are investigated using the dimensional-regularization scheme. The problem of defining an appropriate generalization of ..gamma../sub 5/ in n dimensions is discussed, and previous work is briefly reviewed. For the VVA triangle, in QED, we find that the dimensional scheme provides for vector current conservation, with the divergence of the axial-vector current anomalous. This is shown unambiguously without specifying the anticommuting nature of ..gamma../sub 5/ in n dimensions. If one arranges to have two species of fermions with different masses and equal but opposite couplings to the axial-vector current, the VVA anomaly is proportional to n-4, being fully canceled only at n=4. However, the behavior of the triangle amplitude for large external momenta is reduced by two powers, and the resulting softened triangle does not give rise to any finite (as n ..-->.. 4) anomalies when inserted in higher-order diagrams. Finally, the appropriate generalization of ..gamma../sub 5/ for even-parity fermion loops is shown to be totally anticommuting, and the validity of Ward identities for two-point functions is demonstrated.

• Research Organization: High Energy Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439
• OSTI ID: 5755578
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev., D; (United States), Vol. 20:12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
AXIAL-VECTOR CURRENTS
RENORMALIZATION
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
FERMIONS
GAUGE INVARIANCE
PARITY
SPINORS
UNITARITY
WARD IDENTITY
ALGEBRAIC CURRENTS
CURRENTS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
FIELD THEORIES
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
645400* - High Energy Physics- Field Theory