QED Vertex Correction

In these notes I shall calculate the one-loop correction to the 1PI electron-electron-photon
vertex in QED,

ie (p , p) =

(1)

We are interested in this vertex in the context of elastic Coulomb scattering,

e

(2)

so we take the incoming and the outgoing electrons to be on-shell, p2 = p2 = m2 , but the photon
is off-shell, q 2 6= 0. Moreover, we put the vertex in the context of the complete electron line
including the external line factors, thus u(p ) ie u(p). As discussed in class, this simplifies
the Lorentz and Dirac structure of the vertex and allows us to write it as
(p , p) = Fel (q 2 )

(p + p)
i q
i q
+ Fmag (q 2 )
= F1 (q 2 ) + F2 (q 2 )
. (3)
2m
2m
2m

Working Through the Algebra

At the one-loop level of QED, the 1PI vertex correction comes from a single Feynman diagram

(4)

Using the Feynman gauge for the internal photons propagators, this diagram evaluates to
ie1 loop (p , p)

reg

d4 k ig
i
i
ie
ie
ie
4
2
(2) k + i0
6 p + 6 k m + i0
6 p+ 6 k m + i0
Z

d4 k
6 p + 6 k + m
6 p+ 6 k + m
1

4
2

2
2
(2) k + i0
(p + k) m + i0
(p + k)2 m2 + i0

d4 k N
(2)4 D

= e

reg
3

= e

reg

(5)
where
N = (6 k + 6 p + m) (6 k + 6 p + m)

(6)

and
D =

 2
 
 

k + i0 (p + k)2 m2 + i0 (p + k)2 m2 + i0 .

(7)

The purpose of this section of the notes is to simplify these numerator and denominator. Using
the Feynman parameter trick, we may combine the 3 denominator factors as
1
=
D

1
ZZZ
0

2
dx dy dz (x + y + z 1) h
i3 . (8)
2
2

2
2
2
x((p + k) m ) + y((p + k) m ) + z(k ) + i0
2

Inside the big square brackets here we have

[ ] = x (p + k)2 m2

+ y (p + k)2 m2

+ z k2

= k 2 (x + y + z = 1) + 2k (xp + yp ) + x(p2 m2 ) + y(p2 m2

(9)

= (k + xp + yp )2
where
= (xp + yp )2 xp2 yp2 + (x + y)m2

= xy 2p p = p2 + p2 (p p)2 x(1 x) p2 y(1 y) p2 + (x + y) m2
= xy q 2 x(1 x y) p2 y(1 x y) p2 + (x + y) m2
= xy q 2 xz p2 yz p2 + (1 z) m2
(10)
For the on-shell electron momenta, p2 = p2 = m2 , we may further simplify
2

(1 z) m xz p yz p



2
= m (1 z) (x + y)z = (1 z)
2

(11)

which gives
= (1 z)2 m2 xy q 2 .

(12)

Let us also define the shifted loop momentum

= k + xp + yp ,

(13)

then we can rewrite the denominator as

1
=
D

1
ZZZ

dx dy dz (x + y + z 1)

2
.
[2 + i0]3

(14)

As usual, we plug this denominator into the loop integral (5), then change the order of inteR
R
gration over the loop momentum before over the Feynman parameters, and then shift
3

the momentum integration variable from k to , thus

1 loop (p , p)

= 2ie

1
ZZZ

dx dy dz (x + y + z 1)

reg

d4
N

 .
(2)4 2 + i0 3

(15)

But to make full use of the momentum shift, we need to re-express the numerator N in terms of
the shifted momentum . It would also help to simplify the numerator (6) in the context of this
monstrous integral.
The first step towards simplifying the N is obvious: Let us get rid of the and factors
using the matrix algebra, eg., 6 a = 2 6 a, etc.. However, in order to allow for the dimensional
regularization, we need to re-work the algebra for an arbitrary spacetime dimension D where
= D 6= 4. Consequently,

6 a = 2 6 a + (4 D) 6 a,
6 a 6 b = 4(ab) (4 D) 6 a 6 b,

(16)

6 a 6 b 6 c = 2 6 c 6 b 6 a + (4 D) 6 a 6 b 6 c,

and therefore
def

N = = (6 k + 6 p + m) (6 k + 6 p + m)
= 2m2 + 4m(p + p + 2k) 2(6 p+ 6 k) (6 p + 6 k)

(17)

+ (4 D)(6 p + 6 k m) (6 p+ 6 k m).

The second step is to re-express this numerator in terms of the loop momentum rather than
k using eq. (13). Expanding the result in powers of , we get quadratic, linear and independent
R
terms, but the linear terms do not contribute to the dD integral because they are odd with

respect to while everything else in that integral is even. Consequently, in the context of
4

eq. (15) we may neglect the linear terms, thus

N = 2m2 + 4m(p + p + 2 2xp 2yp )
2(6 p+ 6 x 6 p y 6 p ) (6 p + 6 x 6 p y 6 p )
+ (4 D)(6 p + 6 x 6 p y 6 p m) (6 p+ 6 x 6 p y 6 p m)
hhskipping terms linear in ii

(18)

= 2m2 + 4m(p + p 2xp 2yp )

2 6 6 2(6 p x 6 p y 6 p ) (6 p x 6 p y 6 p )
+ (4 D) 6 6 + (4 D)(6 p y 6 p x 6 p m) (6 p x 6 p y 6 p m).
Next, we make use of p p = q and 1 x y = z to rewrite
2xp + 2yp = (x + y) (p + p ) + (x y) (p p ),
p + p 2xp 2yp = z (p + p) + (x y) q,
p xp yp = z p y q
= z p (1 x) q,

(19)

p xp yp = z p + x q
= z p + (1 y) q,
and consequently
N
= 2m2 + 4mz(p + p) + 4m(x y)q
+ (2 + 4 D) 6 6
2(z 6 p + (x 1) 6 q) (z 6 p + (1 y) 6 q)

(20)

+ (4 D)(z 6 p + x 6 q m) (z 6 p y 6 q m).
The third step is to make use of the external fermions being on-shell. This means more than
just p2 = p2 = m2 : We also sandwich the vertex ie between the Dirac spinors u(p ) on the left
and u(p) on the right. The two spinors satisfy the appropriate Dirac equations 6 pu(p) = mu(p)
and u(p ) 6 p = u(p )m, so in the context of u(p ) u(p),
A 6 p
= A m and

6 p B
= mB

(21)

for any terms in that look like A 6 p or 6 p B for some A or B. Consequently, the terms on
5

the last two lines of eq. (20) are equivalent to

(z 6 p + (x 1) 6 q) (z 6 p + (1 y) 6 q)
= (zm + (x 1) 6 q) (zm + (1 y) 6 q)
= z 2 m2 (1 x)(1 y) 6 q 6 q


+ z(x y)m 21 { ,6 q} = q



1
+ z(2 x y)m 2 [ ,6 q] = i q

(z 6 p + x 6 q m) (z 6 p y 6 q m)
= ((z 1)m + x 6 q) ((z 1)m y 6 q)

(22)

= (1 z)2 m2 xy 6 q 6 q


(1 z)(x y)m 12 { ,6 q} = q


+ (1 z)(x + y)m 12 [ ,6 q] = i q .

Lets plug these expressions back into eq. (20), collect similar terms together, and make use of
1 x y = z. This gives us
N
= (D 2) 6 6 + 4mz(p + p)


+ m2 2 2z 2 + (4 D)(1 z)2



+ 6 q 6 q 2(z + xy) (4 D)xy



+ mq (x y) 4 2z (4 D)(1 z)



2
+ im q 2z(1 + z) (4 D)(1 z) .

(23)

6 q 6 q = 2q 6 q q 2
= q 2

(24)

Furthermore, in the context of the Dirac sandwich u(p ) u(p) we have

because u(p ) 6 qu(p) = 0, and also

(p + p)
= 2m i q
(the Gordon identity). Plugging these formulae into eq. (23), we arrive at


N
= (D 2) 6 6 + m2 8z 2(1 + z 2 ) + (4 D)(1 z)2




2

q 2(z + xy) (4 D)xy im q (1 z) 2z + (4 D)(1 z)



+ mq (x y) 4 2z (4 D)(1 z) .
6

(25)

(26)

To further simplify this expression, let us go back to the symmetries of the integral (15). The
R
integral over the Feynman parameters, the integral dD , and the denominator [l2 ]3 are all

invariant under the parameter exchange x y. In eq. (26) for the numerator, the first two lines
are invariant under this symmetry, but the last line changes sign. Consequently, only the first two
lines contribute to the integral (15) while the third line integrates to zero and may be disregarded,
thus


N
= (D 2) 6 6 + m2 8z 2(1 + z 2 ) + (4 D)(1 z)2




q 2 2(z + xy) (4 D)xy im q (1 z) 2z + (4 D)(1 z) .

(27)

R
Finally, thanks to the Lorentz invariance of the dD integral,
2

= g ,
D

(28)

2
2

=
(D

2)

g
6 6 =
=

D
D

(29)

and hence

Plugging this formula into eq. (26) and grouping terms according to their matrix structure, we
arrive at
N = N1 N2

i q
2m

(30)

where
N1



(D 2)2
2
2
2

+ 8z 2(1 + z ) + (4 D)(1 z) m2
=
D


2(z + xy) (4 D)xy q 2
(D 2)2
2 (D 2) + 2z (2m2 q 2 ),
D



= (1 z) 4z + 2(4 D)(1 z) m2 .

=
N2

(31)
(32)

Note that splitting the numerator according to eq. (30) is particularly convenient for calculating
the electrons form factors:
1 loop = F11 loop (q 2 ) + F21 loop (q 2 )
7

i q
,
2m

(33)

F11 loop (q 2 )

F21 loop (q 2 )

= 2ie

= +2ie

1
ZZZ

0
1
ZZZ

dx dy dz (x + y + z 1)

dx dy dz (x + y + z 1)

N1
dD

 ,
D
(2) 2 + i0 3

dD
N2

 .
D
(2) 2 + i0 3

(34)

(35)

Electrons Gyromagnetic Moment

As explained earlier in class, electrons spin couples to the static magnetic field as
eg S B
H
2me

where g = 2 Fmag



= F1 + F2 

q 2 =0

(36)

The electric form factor F1 Fel for q 2 = 1 is constrained by the Ward identity,
F1tot = F1tree + F1loops + F1counterterms
1.
2
q 0

(37)

Therefore, the gyromagnetic moment is

g = 2 + 2F2 (q 2 = 0)

(38)

where F2 = F2loops because the there are no tree-level or counter-term contributions to the F2 ,
only to the F1 . Thus, to calculate the g 2 at the one-loop level, all we need is to evaluate the
integral (35) for q 2 = 0.
Lets start with the momentum integral
Z

dD
N2


D
(2) 2 + i0 3

(39)

where = (1 z)2 m2 for q 2 = 0 and N2 is as in eq. (32). Because the numerator here does not
depend on the loop momentum , this integral converges in D = 4 dimensions and there is no
8

need for dimensional regularization. All we need is to rotate the momentum into Euclidean space,
Z

d4
N2

 = N2
(2)4 2 + i0 3

iN2
=

16 2

i d 4 E
1
2
(2)4 (E + )3
Z
d2E
0

2E
(2E + )3

iN2
1
=

2
16
2
i
N2 = 4z(1 z)m2 hhfor D = 4ii
=

32 2
= (1 z)2 m2 hhfor q 2 = 0ii
4z
i

.
=
2
32
1z

(40)

Substituting this formula into eq. (35), we have

F21 loop (q 2

e2
= 0) =
16 2

1
ZZZ

dx dy dz (x + y + z 1)

4z
.
1z

(41)

The integrand here depends on z but not on the other two Feynman parameters, so we can
immediately integrate over x and y and obtain
ZZ1
0

1z
Z
dx dy (x + y + z 1) = dx = 1 z.

(42)

Consequently,

F21 loop (q 2

e2

= 0) =
16 2

Z1
4z
e2

dz (1 z)
=
2 =
2
1z
16
2

(43)

and the gyromagnetic moment is

g = 2 +

+ O(2 ).

(44)

Higher-loop calculations are more complicated because the number of diagrams grows very
rapidly with the number of loops; at 4-loop order there are thousands of diagrams, and one needs
a computer just to count them! Also, at higher orders one has to include the effects of strong
and weak interactions because the photons interact with hadrons and W particles, which in
turn interact with other hadrons, Z 0 , Higgs, etc., etc. Nevertheless, people have calculated the
electrons and muons g factors up to the order 4 back in the 1970s, and more recent calculations
are good up to the order 5 . Meanwhile, the experimentalists have measured ge to a comparable
accuracy of 12 significant digits and g to 9 significant digits

ge = 2.0023193043622(15),

g = 2.0023318414(12).

(45)

The theoretical value of ge is in good agreement with the experimental value, while for the muon
there is a small discrepancy gexp gtheory (59 13 12) 1010 . This discrepancy indicates
some physics beyond the Standard Model, maybe supersymmetry, maybe something else. In
general, effect of heavy particles on g is proportional to (m /Mheavy )2 , thats why g is much
more sensitive to new physics than ge .
For a recent review of high-precision ge and g both the experiments and the theory see
http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/0703049.
I would like to complete this section of the notes by calculating the F21 loop (q 2 ) form factor for
q 2 6= 0. Proceeding as in eq. (40) but letting = (1 z)2 m2 xyq 2 , we have
Z

d4
4z(1 z)m2
N2
i

=


(2)4 2 + i0 3
32 2 (1 z)2 m2 xyq 2

(46)

and hence

F21 loop (q 2 )

e2
=
16 2

1
ZZZ

dx dy dz (x + y + z 1)

4z(1 z)m2
.
(1 z)2 m2 xyq 2

(47)

To evaluate this integral over Feynman parameters, we change variables from x, y, z to w = 1 z

10

and = x/(x + y),

x = w,

y = w(1 ),

z = 1 w,

dx dy dz (x + y + z 1) = w dw d.

(48)

Consequently,

F21 loop (q 2 )

e2
=
16 2

Z1 Z1
d dw w
0

e2
=
16 2

4(1 w)w m2
w 2 m2 w 2 (1 ) q 2

Z1

m2
d 2

m (1 )q 2

e2

8 2

Z1
4w(1 w)
dw w
w2
0

Z1

(49)

m2
m2 (1 )q 2

4m2

q2
4m2 q 2
p
p
4m2
4m2 q 2 + q 2

p
.
=
log
2
2m
(q 2 ) (4m2 q 2 )
=

p
arctan
2
q 2 (4m2 q 2 )

For q 2 < 0 and q 2 m2 ,

F21 loop (q 2 )

2m2
q 2

log
.
2
q 2
m2

11

(50)

The Electric Form Factor

Now consider the electric form factor F1 (q 2 ). In the first section we have obtained
F11 loop (q 2 )

= 2ie

1
ZZZ

dx dy dz (x + y + z 1)

for

dD
N1

 ,
D
(2) 2 + i0 3

(34)

(D 2)2
N1
2 (D 2) + 2z (2m2 q 2 )
=
D

(31)

and = (1 z)2 m2 xyq 2.

Lets start by calculating the momentum integral in eq. (34). The numerator N1 depends on
as a2 + b, so there is a logarithmic UV divergence for ; to regularize this divergence, we
work in D = 4 2 dimensions. Thus,
a2 + b
d4
i4D
i
(2)4 [2 + i0]3
Z

reg

dD
a2 + b
=
(2)D [2 + i0]3

idD E a2E + b
(2)D [2E + ]3


Z D
d E
a2E b
a
a + b
4D
=
=

2
(2)D
(E + )2
(2E + )3
(E + )3
Z D
Z 

d E
4D
t(+2E )
1 2
dt
a

(a
+
b)

e
t
2
(2)D
= i

4D

Z 
Z D

d E t2e
4D
1 2 t
= dt a t (a + b) 2 t e
e

(2)D

(51)

Z 

= dt a t (a + b) 21 t2 et
0

4D
=
(4)D/2
4D

4D
(4t)D/2

Z


dt et a t1(D/2) 12 (a + b) t2(D/2)
0

D
2

D
2 2

1
2 (a + b)

a 2

(4)D/2


a
a + b
(42) (1 + )
.

16 2

12

D
2

D
2 3

In light of eq. (31),

a =

(D 2)2
,
D

b = 2z (2m2 q 2 ) (D 2) ,

(52)

so on the last line of eq. (51)

a + b
1
z(2m2 q 2 )
a

(53)

Consequently, the momentum integral in eq. (34) for the electric form factors evaluates to
2 4D

2ie

dD
N1
=
2
D
(2) [ + i0]3

 

z (2m2 q 2 )
42

() (1 ) (1 + )
,
=
2

(54)

and now we need to integrate this expression over the Feynman parameters.
Changing the integration variables from x, y, z to w and according to eq. (48), we have

where

(1

)()

Z1 Z1

[(w,
)]

1 loop 2
2
F1
(q ) =
(4 ) d dw w

(1 w)(2m2 q 2 )
2

(1 + )
0
0
1+
[(w, )]

or equivalently,



(w, ) = (1 z)2 m2 xyq 2 = w 2 m2 (1 )q 2 ,

def

(w, ) = w 2 H() where H() = m2 (1 )q 2.

(55)

(56)

(57)

R
The form (57) is particularly convenient for evaluating the dw integral in eq. (55), which becomes

Z1 
w
2m2 q 2 w(1 w)
2(1 )()
2 2(1 + )

.
dw
H
w
H 1+
w 2+2

(58)

Near the lower limit w 0, the integrand is dominated by the second term, which is proportional
13

to w 12 . But for any 0 i.e., for any dimension D 4 the integral

positive
Z

dw
w 1+2

(59)

diverges: For D = 4 the divergence is logarithmic while for D < 4 it becomes power-like.
Infrared Divergence.
Physically, the divergence (59) is infrared rather than ultraviolet, thats why it gets worse as we
lower the dimension D. Indeed, lets go back to the diagram (4) and look at the denominator D in
eqs. (5) and (7). Taking the electrons momenta p and p on-shell before introducing the Feynman
parameters, we have
(p + k)2 m2 = k 2 + 2kp and likewise

(p + k)2 m2 = k 2 + 2kp .

(60)

Therefore, for k 0 the denominator behaves as D |k|4 while the numerator N remains finite,
which makes the integral
Z

N
d k

D
D

dD k

1
|k|4

(61)

diverge for k 0. In D = 4 dimensions, the infrared divergence here is logarithmic, while in

lower dimensions D < 4 it becomes power-like, i.e. O (1/kmin )4D precisely as in eqs. (59)

and (58).

We can regularize the infrared divergence (61) and also (59) by analytically continuing
spacetime dimension to D > 4. Such dimensional regularization of the IR divergences is used in
many situations in both QFT and condensed matter. However, taking D > 4 makes the ultraviolet
divergences worse, so if some amplitude has both UV and IR divergences, we cannot cure both
of them at the same time by analytically continuing to D 6= 4. In particular, when calculating
the electric form factor F1 (q 2 ) of the electron, we need D < 4 to regulate the momentum integral
R D
d , but then we need D > 4 to regulate the integral over the Feynman parameters.
R
A common dirty trick is to first continue to D < 4 and evaluate the dD momentum integral,

then analytically continue the result to D > 4 and integrate over the Feynman parameters, and
then continue the final result to D = 4. However, in this kind of dimensional regularization its
14

hard to disentangle the 1/ poles coming from the UV divergence log(2 /2 ) from the 1/ poles
2 ), so we are not going to use it here.
coming from the IR divergence log(2 /kmin

Instead, we are going to use DR for the UV divergence only, while the IR divergence is regulated
by a tiny but not-quite-zero photon mass m2 m2e . Strictly speaking, a massive vector particle
has three polarization states and its propagator is


i
kk

= 2
.
g
k m2 + i0
m2

(62)

However, the longitudinal polarization of the massive but ultra-relativistic photon does not couple
to a conserved current, so we are going to disregard the k k terms in the propagator (62) and
use
=

ig
.
k 2 m2 + i0

(63)

In other words, we use the Feynman gauge in spite of the photons mass; this is not completely
consistent, but the inconsistencies go away in the m 0 limit.
Using this infrared regulator for the internal photon line in the one-loop diagram (4), we get
the vertex amplitude that looks exactly like eq. (5) except for one factor in the denominator,
1
k 2 + i0

becomes

1
.
k 2 m2 + i0

(64)

In terms of the integral (15), this change has no effect on the numerator N or the loop momentum
(which remains exactly as in eq. (13)), but the in the denominator becomes
(x, y, z) = (x, y, z) + z m2 .

(65)

Consequently, the electric form factor is

F11 loop (q 2 )

d(F P ) 4D

dD 2ie2 N1
,
(2)D [2 + i0]3

(66)

exactly as in eq. (34), except for the instead of the in the denominator. The momentum
integral here converges for any D < 4 and it evaluates exactly as in eq. (51). The only subtlety
15

here is that in the numerator, the independent term b involves the un-modified instead of
(cf. eq. (52)), but we can fix that by writing
b = 2z 2m2e q 2 + (1 )m2
Hence, instead of eq. (55) we get

F11 loop (q 2 ) =

(42 )
2

where

2(1 ) .

(67)

(1

)()

[ (w, )]
d dw w
(68)
(1 w)(2m2e q 2 + (1 )m2 )

(1 + )

0
[ (w, )]1+

Z1
0

Z1

(w, ) = (1 z)2 m2e xyq 2 + zm2 = w 2 H() + (1 w) m2 .

(69)

Note that the photons mass is tiny, m2 m2e , q 2 ; were it not for the IR divergences, we
would have used m2 = 0. This allows us to neglect various O(m2 ) terms in eq. (68) except when
it would cause a divergence for w 0; in particular, we may neglect the (1 )m2 term in the
numerator of the second term in the integrand. As to the denominators, in eq. (69) the second
term containing the photons mass becomes important only in the w 0 limit, and in that limit
(1 w)m2 m2 . Thus, we approximate
(w, ) w 2 H() + m2

(70)

R
and the dw integral in eq. (68) becomes

Z1
dw w (1 )()
0

(1 )()

=
H

1
(1 w)(2m2e q 2 )

(1
+
)

[w 2 H() + m2 ]
[w 2 H() + m2 ]1+

Z1
0

+ (1 + )

(1 + )

dw w
[w 2 + (m2 /H)]

2m2e q 2
H 1+

2m2e q 2

H 1+

Z1

0
Z1

(71)
dw w 2
[w 2 + (m2 /H)]1+

[w 2

16

dw w
.
+ (m2 /H)]1+

For 0 < <

1
2

i.e., for 3 < D < 4 the integrals on the second and third lines here converge

even for m2 = 0,
Z1

dw w
1
=
2

[w ]
2 2

for < 1,

Z1

dw w 2
[w 2 ]1+

(72)
=

1
1 2

for < 12 ,

so we may just as well evaluate them without the photons mass. Only on the last line of eq. (71)
we do need m2 6= 0 to make the integral converge for some D 4:
Z1
0

1




dw w
H
1
1
1
 =
1 .
=
[w 2 + (m2 /H)]1+
2 [w 2 + (m2 /H)] 0
2
m2

Combining all these

(73)

dw integrals together, we get




Z1 n o
(1 + ) 2m2e q 2
(1 + ) 2m2e q 2
H
()
+

1
dw =
2H
1 2
H 1+
2
H 1+
m2
0
 



2m2e q 2
1
H
()
1 +

=
2H
H
1 2
m2

(74)

and hence

F11 loop (q 2 ) =
4


 
 


Z1
2m2e q 2
42
1
H()
d ()
1+

H()
H()
1 2
m2

(75)

where
H() = m2e (1 )q 2 .

(57)

Before we even try to perform this last integral, lets remember that

+ loops + 1
net = tree

17

(76)

and hence
F1net (q 2 ) = 1tree + F1loops (q 2 ) + 1 .

(77)

Also, the net electric charge does not renormalize, so we must have
F1net (q 2 ) 1 for q 2 0

(78)

1 = F1loops (q 2 = 0).

(79)

and hence

To calculate the counterterm 1 to order we use eq. (75) for q 2 = 0, in which case H() m2e
R
and the d becomes trivial (the integrand does not depend on at all). Thus,
1

= ()
4

42
m2e

 2  
2
me
1+
+ O(2 ).
2
1 2
m2


(80)

This formula holds for any dimension D between 3 and 4 (i.e., 0 < < 12 ). In the D 4 limit, it
becomes
1

m2e
1
42
+
4

2
log
E + log

m2e
m2

+ O(2).

(81)

Now lets go back to the electric form factor F1net (q 2 ) for q 2 6= 0. According to eqs. (77)
and (79), at the one-loop level
F1net (q 2 ) 1 = F11 loop (q 2 ) F11 loop (0) + O(2)

(82)

where F11 loop (q 2 ) is given by eq. (75). Taking the 0 limit of that formula, we arrive at

F11 loop (q 2 )

=
4



Z1 
1
42
2m2e q 2
H()
,
d
E + log
+
2 log

H()
H()
m2

(83)

and now we should subtract a similar a similar expression for q 2 = 0. This subtraction cancels
the UV divergence and the associated 1/ pole but not the IR divergence. Moreover, not only the
18

subtracted one-loop amplitude depends on the IR regulators, but the coefficient of the log m2 has
a non-trivial momentum dependence. Indeed,
F11 loop (q 2 ) F11 loop (0) =




Z1 
m2e
m2e
2m2e q 2
H()

d log
2 2 log 2
+
2 log
=
4
H()
H()
m2
m
0



 2
 
Z1 
2m2e q 2
m2e
2me q 2
m2e
d
1+
log
+
2 2 log 2
H()
H()
H()
m
0


m2e

2
2
2
2
h(q /me ) + fIR (q /me ) log 2
=
4
m
(84)

=
4

where h(q 2 /m2e ) and fIR (q 2 /m2e ) are finite (in the limit m 0) functions of the q 2 /m2e ratio;
both of them vanish for q 2 = 0. Specifically,

fIR (q

/m2e )


Z1  2
2me q 2
q 2 (1 2 + 2 2 )
,
= d
2 =
H()
m2e q 2 (1 )

(85)

which happens to be the same function that governs the IR divergence of the the soft-photon
bremsstrahlung. In terms of 6.1 of the Peskin & Schroeder textbook,

fIR (q 2 /m2e ) = I(v, v ) =

" 
2 #n0 =|n|=1
d2 n
p
p

,
4
(np )
(np)

(86)

see textbooks eqs. (6.6970) for the proof. Note: my definition of the iIR differs from the textbooks
by a factor of 2.
Altogether, the electric form factor of the electron is
F1net (q 2 )



m2e

2
2
2
2
+ O(2 ).
g(q /me ) + fIR (q /me ) log 2
= 1
4
m

Implications of this formula will be discussed in class; see also 6.4 of the textbook.

19

(87)