# Renormalizing QED with on-shell fermions

When renormalizing QED, we calculate the 1 loop correction to the fermion-fermion-photon vertex using the diagram,

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When doing the calculation we typically let the photon go off-shell but demand that the fermions be on-shell. In other words, $$q ^2 >0, \,(q-p)^2 = p ^2 = m_e^2$$ We then go on to calculate the diagram using its Lorentz structure and then splitting the contribution into a part contributing to the $g$ factor ($F_2(q^2)$) and another which does not ($F_1(q^2)$) giving a vertex factor of, $$\Gamma ^\nu ( p , p ' ) = ( - i e ) \left[ \gamma ^\nu F _1 ( q ^2 ) + \frac{ i \sigma ^{ \mu \nu } q _\mu }{ 2 m } F _2 ( q ^2 ) \right]$$

However, keeping the fermions on-shell seems like a very strange requirement as in general this vertex may appear in the middle of a diagram and so could have off-shell incoming fermions. In fact, we don't make this requirement when renormalizing the propagator, I believe for this exact reason. So what makes it justified when discussing vertex renormalization?

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Actually, in renormalization of QED, there is no demand to put the fermions of vertex diagram on mass shell. Renormalization procedure is usually performed on the level of Green functions with general four-momenta of outer legs. Note that the off-shell propagator you mention is connected to vertex function via Ward-Takahashi identity $$(p'-p)_{\mu} \Gamma^{\mu} (p, p') = S(p')^{-1} - S(p)^{-1}$$ where all momenta are off-shell. I guess that in QED textbooks authors put these fermions on-shell to discuss quantum corrections to form factors (such as Schwinger's $\alpha/2\pi$ correction to $g$-factor), and thus connect the renormalization story with effects on actual measurable physical quantities.
When QCD textbooks do vertex diagram they don't put quark momenta on-shell. Actually, they are often put to "deep Euclidean" off-shell limit of large negative $p^2$ to get away from physical singularities so that you can concentrate on some interesting renormalization effects relevant for QCD (like violation of Bjorken scaling).
Thanks for you answer! In Peskin and Schroeder (pg 334) the authors calculate the counterterm for vertex renormalization by assuming on-shell fermions (I think, they are not clear here). So is this in general incorrect and should be done for arbitrary $p^2$? –  JeffDror Feb 26 '14 at 12:35