Three-loop Corrections in a Covariant Effective Field Theory

TL;DR

This paper investigates the impact of three-loop corrections in quantum hadrodynamics within a covariant effective field theory framework, aiming to enhance nuclear structure models through systematic loop expansion improvements.

Contribution

It introduces a systematic analysis of three-loop contributions using Infrared Regularization in quantum hadrodynamics, advancing the understanding of higher-order effects in nuclear energy functionals.

Findings

Three-loop corrections are significant in the loop expansion.

Infrared Regularization effectively manages short-range dynamics.

Loop expansion may be perturbative due to soft interactions.

Abstract

Chiral effective field theories have been used with success in the study of nuclear structure. It is of interest to systematically improve these energy functionals (particularly that of quantum hadrodynamics) through the inclusion of many-body correlations. One possible source of improvement is the loop expansion. Using the techniques of Infrared Regularization, the short-range, local dynamics at each order in the loops is absorbed into the parameterization of the underlying effective lagrangian. The remaining nonlocal, exchange correlations must be calculated explicitly. Given that the interactions of quantum hadrodynamics are relatively soft, the loop expansion may be manageable or even perturbative in nuclear matter. This work investigates the role played by the three-loop contributions to the loop expansion for quantum hadrodynamics.