Self-Similar Structure of Loop Amplitudes and Renormalization

Abstract

We study the self-similar structure of loop amplitudes in quantum field theory and apply it to amplitude generation and renormalization. A renormalized amplitude can be regarded as an effective coupling that recursively appears within another loop. It is best described as a vertex function from the effective action. It is a scale-dependent, finite, parametrically small and observable quantity appearing in the S-matrix. Replacing a tree-level coupling with a loop amplitude provides a systematic method of generating high-order loop amplitudes, guaranteeing no subamplitude divergence. This method also provides an alternative bottom-up proof to the traditional top-down recursive renormalization of general amplitudes.

Comments: 49 pages, 10 figures; v3: corrections and improvements