Direct solution of Minkowski-space Bethe-Salpeter equation in the massive Wick-Cutkosky model

Abstract

In order to solve the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) in the Minkowski space, we first introduce the Nakanishi integral representations of the Bethe-Salpeter amplitude (BSA) and the Bethe-Salpeter wave function (BSWF). We then derive the explicit integral equations for the corresponding spectral functions from the BSE for states of $2$ scalar particles bound by a scalar-particle exchange interaction, where the propagators of constituents are allowed to be fully dressed. These integral equations are subsequently solved numerically in the variation of the Wick-Cutkosky model with massive exchange particles, where an algorithm of adaptive mash grid is proposed. The equations and algorithm we develop here serve as the foundation of Minkowski-space formulation of BSE for bound states of fermions.