# Gaussian integral extended to multi-dimensions

In Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell by A. Zee, the following integral

$$Z(J)=\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} d q e^{-\frac{1}{2} m^{2} q^{2}-\frac{\lambda}{4!} q^{4}+J q}$$

is solved perturbatively by expansion of the $$\lambda$$ and the $$J$$ term.

For example expanding the $$J$$ term we obtain:

$$Z(J)=\displaystyle\sum_{s=0}^{\infty} \frac{1}{s !} J^{s} \int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} d q e^{-\frac{1}{2} m^{2} q^{2}-\left(\lambda / 4!) q^{4}\right.} q^{s} .\tag{1}$$

This method is extended to a multidimensional integral

$$Z(J)=\displaystyle\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} \int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} \cdots \int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} d q_{1} d q_{2} \cdots d q_{N} e^{-\frac{1}{2} q \cdot A \cdot q-(\lambda / 4!) q^{4}+J \cdot q}$$

where $$q^4\equiv\sum_i q_i^4$$ and $$A$$ is an $$N\times N$$ matrix.

We can expand the $$J$$ term, obtaining the following according to A. Zee :

$$Z(J)=\displaystyle\sum_{s=0}^{\infty} \sum_{i_{1}=1}^{N} \cdots \sum_{i_{s}=1}^{N} \frac{1}{s !} J_{i_{1}} \cdots J_{i_{s}} \int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}\left(\prod_{l} d q_{l}\right) e^{-\frac{1}{2} q \cdot A \cdot q-(\lambda / 4 !) q^{4}} q_{i_{1}} \cdots q_{i_{s}}.\tag{2}$$

How is this a correct expansion of the $$J$$ term?

My guess would be straightforward using the exponential expansion, just like in equation $$1$$:

$$e^{J\cdot q}=e^{\displaystyle\sum_iJ_iq_i}=1+\sum_i J_iq_i+\frac{1}{2!}(\sum_i J_iq_i)^2\dots=\sum_{s=0}^{\infty}\dfrac{1}{s!}\Bigg(\sum_iJ_iq_i\Bigg)^s$$ Which results in an infinite power series in $$J$$ and $$q$$ while A. Zee's equation $$2$$, the powers of $$J$$ and $$q$$ are finite.

• The powers are not finite, because $s$ runs all the way to $\infty$. Zee's expression can be obtained by plugging your expression in the definition of $Z(J)$. Sep 28, 2019 at 16:31

Yours and his expressions are equal. Remember that the sum over $$i$$ in your series run from $$i=1$$ to $$i=N$$, only. The other part of the combinatorics is just $$e^{x+y}= e^xe^y$$ or $$\sum_s \frac 1{s!} (x+y)^s= \sum_{n=1}^\infty\sum_{m=1}^\infty \frac 1{n!} \frac 1{m!}x^n y^m$$