Regularization of Propagators and Logarithms in the Background Field Method in Four Dimensions

Abstract

Determinant and higher-loop terms, usually treated by the Pauli–Villars and higher covariant derivatives methods, in the background field method can hardly be regularized simultaneously. At the same time, we observe that introducing a scalar multiplier in front of the quadratic form, which is equivalent to changing the measure in the functional integral, influences only the determinant part of the effective action. This allows one to choose the integration measure and the function in the regularized propagator in such a way as to make all terms in the expansion finite.