# Perturbation theory in Quantum Field Theory

Let the Euclidean Lagrangian be $L_e(\phi,\dot{\phi})=\frac{1}{2}\dot{\phi}^2+\frac{1}{2}m^2{\phi}^2+\frac{\lambda}{4!}{\phi}^4$,for interacting case.Then,

$T\langle0\vert\hat{\phi}(t_a)\hat{\phi}(t_b)...\vert0\rangle$

$=\frac{\int D\phi e^{-\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}dt L_e}\phi(t_a)\phi(t_b)....}{\int D\phi e^{-\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}dt L_e}}$

$=\frac{\int D\phi e^{-\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}dt {L^0}_e}\phi(t_a)\phi(t_b)....\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}(-\frac{\lambda}{4!})^{n}\frac{1}{n!}[\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}dt {\phi}^4]^n}{\int D\phi e^{-\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}dt {L^0}_e}\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}(-\frac{\lambda}{4!})^{n}\frac{1}{n!}[\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}dt {\phi}^4]^n}$

$=\frac{[\int D\phi e^{-\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}dt {L^0}_e}(\phi strings)]/[\int D\phi e^{-\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}dt {L^0}_e}]}{[\int D\phi e^{-\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}dt {L^0}_e}differentstrings of \phi]/[\int D\phi e^{-\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}dt {L^0}_e}]}$

Then,we apply Wick's Theorem to the numerator and Denominator.This is what is normally done.My question is: We know that this is not a free theory,i.e. $\hat{\phi}$ can not be decomposed into creation,anhiliation operators.These are purely interacting fields.Although from the second step only functions appear and no operators appear,these functions are different from that of the free case.Can we apply Wick's theorem in such case to the numerator and denominator?

• 1. Your formulae are very hard to read. 2. Please make clearer what exactly you mean by "Wick's theorem" and what about applying it here is uncelar to you. There is more than one way to set up perturbation theory in the path integral formalism and what exactly the answer is there depends on which one you're trying to do. – ACuriousMind Sep 5 '16 at 17:02
• Wick's theorem:The vacuum expectation value of a time ordered product of 'free' fields is the sum of all possible contractions.For a two point function the answer is $t_a----t_b$ + tadpole – Annie Sep 5 '16 at 17:09
• $l_e$ has been separated into free and interacting parts.And the exponential over interacting part has been expanded in terms of taylor series.Then in the final step,divided the numeratora and denominator by the same thing,so that I can bring it into the form where I can use Wick's theorem. – Annie Sep 5 '16 at 17:12
• Wick's theorem does not rely on the fields being free; in path integral language, Wick's theorem is nothing but pairing rules for Gaussian integral. On the other hand, in the canonical quantization picture, in spirit of perturbation theory, $\phi$ can be treated as free fields, and interaction effects build upon this to give corrections. – pathintegral Sep 5 '16 at 18:33