The art of Schwinger and Feynman parametrizations

Abstract

We present a derivation of the Schwinger parametrization and the Feynman parametrization in detail and their elementary applications. Although the parametrizations are essential to computing the loop integral arising in relativistic quantum field theory, their detailed derivations are not presented in usual textbooks. Beginning with an integral representation of the unity, we derive the Schwinger parametrization by performing multiple partial derivatives and utilizing the analyticity of the gamma function. The Feynman parametrization is derived by the partial-fraction decomposition and the change of variables introducing an additional delta function. Through the extensive employment of the analyticity of a complex function, we show the equivalence of those parametrizations. As applications of the parametrizations, we consider the combinatorial factor arising in the Feynman parametrization integral and the multivariate beta function. The combinatorial factor corresponds to an elementary integral embedded in the time-ordered product of the Dyson series in the time-dependent perturbation theory. We believe that the derivation presented here can be a good pedagogical example that students enhance their understanding of complex variables and train the use of the Dirac delta function in coordinate transformation.