Feynman propagator in curved spacetime: A momentum-space representation

Journal Article · Thu Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Phys. Rev., D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.20.2499· OSTI ID:5727546

Bunch, T S; Parker, L

We obtain a momentum-space representation of the Feynman propagator G (x,x') for scalar and spin-1/2 fields propagating in arbitrary curved spacetimes. The construction uses Riemann normal coordinates with origin at the point x' and is therefore only valid for points x lying in a normal neighborhood of x'. We show that the resulting momentum-space representation is equivalent to the DeWitt-Schwinger proper-time representation. Our momentum-space representation permits one to apply momentum-space techniques used in Minkowski space to arbitrary curved spacetimes. The usefulness of this representation in discussing the renormalizability of interacting field theories in curved spacetime is illustrated by an explicit renormalization, to second order in the coupling constant, of a quartically self-interacting scalar field theory in an arbitrary spacetime.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
• OSTI ID: 5727546
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev., D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev., D; (United States) Vol. 20:10; ISSN PRVDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645400* -- High Energy Physics-- Field Theory
657003 -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Relativity & Gravitation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
COUPLING CONSTANTS
EQUATIONS
FEYNMAN PATH INTEGRAL
FIELD EQUATIONS
FIELD THEORIES
FUNCTIONS
GREEN FUNCTION
INTEGRALS
MATHEMATICAL SPACE
METRICS
MINKOWSKI SPACE
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
PROPAGATOR
RENORMALIZATION
SCALAR FIELDS
SPACE
SPACE-TIME
SPIN
ULTRAVIOLET DIVERGENCES