An Étude in non-linear Dyson--Schwinger Equations

Abstract

We show how to use the Hopf algebra structure of quantum field theory to derive nonperturbative results for the short-distance singular sector of a renormalizable quantum field theory in a simple but generic example. We discuss renormalized Green functions $G_R(α,L)$ in such circumstances which depend on a single scale $L=\ln q^2/μ^2$ and start from an expansion in the scale $G_R(α,L)=1+\sum_k γ_k(α)L^k$. We derive recursion relations between the $γ_k$ which make full use of the renormalization group. We then show how to determine the Green function by the use of a Mellin transform on suitable integral kernels. We exhibit our approach in an example for which we find a functional equation relating weak and strong coupling expansions.