Rota-Baxter Algebras in Renormalization of Perturbative Quantum Field Theory

Abstract

Recently, the theory of renormalization in perturbative quantum field theory underwent some exciting new developments. Kreimer discovered an organization of Feynman graphs into combinatorial Hopf algebras. The process of renormalization is captured by a factorization theorem for regularized Hopf algebra characters. In this context the notion of Rota-Baxter algebras enters the scene. We review several aspects of Rota-Baxter algebras as they appear in other sectors also relevant to perturbative renormalization, for instance multiple-zeta-values and matrix differential equations.