A Non-perturbative Solution of the Zero-Dimensional lambda phi^4 Field Theory

Abstract

We have done a study of the zero-dimensional $\lambda\phi^{4}$ model. Firstly, we exhibit the partition function as a simple exact expression in terms of the Macdonald's function for $Re(\lambda)>0$. Secondly, an analytic continuation of the partition function for $Re(\lambda)<0$ is performed, and we obtain an expression defined in the complex coupling constant plane $\lambda$, for $|arg \lambda|<\pi$. Consequently, the partition function understood as an analytic continuation is defined for all values of $\lambda$, except for a branch cut along the real negative $\lambda$ axis. We also evaluate the partition function on perturbative grounds, using the Borel summation technique and we found that in the common domain of validity for $Re(\lambda)>0$, it coincides precisely with the exact expression.