The nucleon Green function in pseudoscalar meson theory. II

Abstract

Following the formal work of the preceding paper, a method is proposed to evaluate the functional integral which has been derived for the Green function of one nucleon interacting with a pseudoscalar meson field. The method is basically that of stationary phase taken to its second approximation, and since this approximation where applicable is accurate in the limits of strong and weak coupling constants, it is assumed good in general. There are several difficulties involved in the evaluation, and as far as possible these are isolated and discussed with the aid of models each showing one difficulty alone. Combining these separate points, the evaluation of the functional integral is thereby expressed in terms of the solution of a set of coupled equations which provide a basis for a covariant intermediate coupling approach to the problem. The solution of these equations is not attempted in this paper.