Mode regularization, time slicing, Weyl ordering, and phase space path integrals for quantum-mechanical nonlinear sigma models

Abstract

A simple, often invoked, regularization scheme of quantum mechanical path integrals in curved space is mode regularization: one expands fields into a Fourier series, performs calculations with only the first $M$ modes, and at the end takes the limit $M \to \infty$. This simple scheme does not manifestly preserve reparametrization invariance of the target manifold: particular noncovariant terms of order $\hbar^2$ must be added to the action in order to maintain general coordinate invariance. Regularization by time slicing requires a different set of terms of order $\hbar^2$ which can be derived from Weyl ordering of the Hamiltonian. With these counterterms both schemes give the same answers to all orders of loops. As a check we perform the three-loop calculation of the trace anomaly in four dimensions in both schemes. We also present a diagrammatic proof of Matthews' theorem that phase space and configuration space path integrals are equal.