Dimensional Regularization and Minimal Subtraction

Abstract

The results of the previous chapter are completely general. They are valid for any field theoretic renormalization scheme, i.e. independent of the specific choice of the renormalization factors. For quantitative calculations we of course have to specify the Z- factors, and as pointed out in Sect. 11.1, we have some freedom there. We will use the scheme of ‘dimensional regularization’ and ‘minimal subtraction’. This scheme is most efficient for actual calculations, but its underlying basis is a little bit delicate. It needs some careful explanation.