Exact formfactors in the one-loop curved-space QED and the nonlocal multiplicative anomaly

TL;DR

This paper investigates the nonlocal multiplicative anomaly in functional determinants within curved-space QED, providing the first explicit example where the determinant difference cannot be attributed to renormalization ambiguities.

Contribution

It presents the first explicit example of a nonlocal multiplicative anomaly in functional determinants, challenging previous assumptions that such differences are always renormalization ambiguities.

Findings

Demonstrates a nonlocal difference in functional determinants in curved-space QED.

Explains the origin of the anomaly using properties of even-dimensional spaces.

Provides insight into the limitations of the multiplicative property for functional determinants.

Abstract

The well-known formula $det(A\cdot B)=\det A \cdot \det B$ can be easily proved for finite dimensional matrices but it may be incorrect for the functional determinants of differential operators, including the ones which are relevant for Quantum Field Theory applications. Considerable work has been done to prove that this equality can be violated, but in all previously known cases the difference could be reduced to renormalization ambiguity. We present the first example, where the difference between the two functional determinants is a nonlocal expression and therefore can not be explained by the renormalization ambiguity. Moreover, through the use of other even dimensions we explain the origin of this difference at qualitative level.