Vacuum instability in scalar field theories

A. J. McKane

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    The class of scalar field theories with interaction gφ2N-1, are studied using the semi-classical approximation. The imaginary part of the vertex functions generated by tunnelling out of the metastable ground state is calculated to first order. Using this result, the leading asymptotic behaviour of the renormalisation group β function for φ3 field theory is obtained in six dimensions. The validity of this result is discussed in view of the extra singularities which appear when the theory is just renormalisable. The structure of the perturbation expansion for n component φ3 theory is also discussed, and cases in which these theories yield perturbation expansions which are Borel summable, are pointed out. © 1979.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)166-188
    Number of pages22
    JournalNUCLEAR PHYSICS B
    Volume152
    Issue number1
    Publication statusPublished - 21 May 1979

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