Consistency of the regularization of gauge theories by high covariant derivatives
- Departamento de Fisica Teorica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, E-50009 Zaragoza (Spain)
We show that regularization of gauge theories by higher covariant derivatives and gauge-invariant Pauli-Villars regulators is a consistent method if the Pauli-Villars vector fields are considered in a covariant {alpha} gauge with {alpha}{ne}0 and a given auxiliary preregularization is introduced in order to uniquely define the regularization. The limit {alpha}{r_arrow}0 in the regulating Pauli-Villars fields is pathological and the original Slavnov proposal in the covariant Landau gauge is not correct because of the appearance of massless modes in the regulators which do not decouple when the ultraviolet regulator is removed. In such a case the method does not correspond to the regularization of a pure gauge theory but that of a gauge theory in interaction with massless ghost fields. However, a minor modification of the Slavnov method provides a consistent regularization even for such a case. The regularization that we introduce also solves the problem of overlapping divergences in a way similar to geometric regularization and yields the standard values of the {beta} and {gamma} functions of the renormalization group equations. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
- OSTI ID:
- 385874
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review, D, Journal Name: Physical Review, D Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 54; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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