Gauge dependence of on-shell and pole mass renormalization prescriptions

Abstract

We discuss the gauge dependence of physical parameter's definitions under the on-shell and pole mass renormalization prescriptions. By two-loop-level calculations we prove for the first time that the on-shell mass renormalization prescription makes physical result gauge dependent. On the other hand, such gauge dependence doesn't appear in the result of the pole mass renormalization prescription. Our calculation also implies the difference of the physical results between the two mass renormalization prescriptions cannot be neglected at two-loop level.