UV and IR divergence-free calculation of the vertex function at arbitrary values of its arguments

Abstract

The vertex function is analyzed using covariant spectral regularization without encountering any divergence, either UV or IR. The mathematics of covariant spectral regularization for covariant matrix valued measures with one Lorentz index on open subsets of Minkowski space is described. This is then applied to the case of the vertex function and expressions for the densities associated with the vertex function in the t channel and the s channel with respect to Lebesgue measure on Minkowski space are obtained. These densities are well defined, non-divergent and analytic over their domains of definition and are obtained without using renormalization or needing to consider final state radiation. The limit of the expression for the vertex function in the t channel at low energy and low momenta is computed resulting in the classical result for the leading order (LO) contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron. Also the density for the vertex function in the s channel is used to compute the LO vertex correction contribution to the high energy limit of the cross section for the process $e^{+}e^{-}\rightarrow\mu^{+}\mu^{-}$.