On the contour prescriptions in string-inspired nonlocal field theories

Abstract

In quantum field theory, a consistent prescription to define and deform integration contours in the complex energy plane is needed to evaluate loop integrals and compute scattering amplitudes. In some nonlocal field theories, including string field theory, interaction vertices contain transcendental functions of momenta that can diverge along certain complex directions, thus making it impossible to use standard techniques, such as Wick rotation, to perform loop integrals. The aim of this paper is to investigate the viability of several contour prescriptions in the presence of nonlocal vertices. We consider three ``different'' prescriptions, and establish their (in)equivalence in local and nonlocal theories. In particular, we prove that all these prescriptions turn out to be equivalent in standard local theories, while this is not the case for nonlocal theories where amplitudes must be defined first in Euclidean space, and then analytically continued to Minkowski. We work at one-loop level and focus on the bubble diagram. In addition to proving general results for a large class of nonlocal theories, we show explicit calculations in a string inspired nonlocal scalar model.

45 pages, 8 figures (many subfigures). V2: minor changes; version accepted for publication in PRD

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• Propagators in AdS for higher-derivative and nonlocal gravity: Heat kernel approach
• On the Meaning of Localization in Non-Local Quantum Field Theory and On the Limits of a Space-Time Description and the Physical Meaning of Phase Space in a Nonlocal Continuum
• On the Standard Model Mass Spectrum and Interactions In the Holomorphic Unified Field Theory
• UV Effects and Short-Lived Hawking Radiation: Alternative Resolution of Information Paradox
• Towards Hamiltonian Formalism for String Field Theory and Nonlocality