40 Years of Calculus in 4 + epsilon Dimensions

TL;DR

This paper reviews the history and impact of Dimensional Regularization, a method in Quantum Field Theory developed 40 years ago in La Plata, Argentina, which revolutionized particle physics and contributed to the Standard Model.

Contribution

It highlights the origin of Dimensional Regularization in Latin America and its pivotal role in advancing modern particle physics and the Standard Model.

Findings

Dimensional Regularization was developed 40 years ago in La Plata, Argentina.

This method revolutionized calculations in Quantum Field Theory.

It played a key role in the development of the Standard Model.

Abstract

Modern physics describes elementary particles by a formalism known as Quantum Field Theory. However, straight calculations with this formalism lead to numerous divergences, hence one needs a suitable regularization scheme. 40 years ago a surprising scheme was established for this purpose: Dimensional Regularization. One computes in "4 + epsilon space-time dimensions", and takes the limit to our 4 dimensional space-time at the end. This method caused a revolution in particle physics, which led to the Standard Model. Many people refer to its results, and even apply it, without being aware that its history actually started in Latin America, more precisely in La Plata, Argentina. ----- La f\'isica moderna describe a las part\'iculas elementales por medio del formalismo conocido como Teor\'ia Cu\'antica de Campos. Sin embargo, los c\'alculos directos realizados con este formalismo llevan a una gran cantidad de divergencias, por lo que es necesario un m\'etodo para regularizarlos. Hace 40 a\~nos se estableci\'o un esquema sorprendente para este objetivo: la Regularizaci\'on Dimensional. Se calcula en "4 + epsilon dimensiones espacio-temporales", y al final se toma el l\'imite a nuestro espacio y tiempo en 4 dimensiones. Este m\'etodo caus\'o una revoluci\'on en la f\'isica de part\'iculas, que result\'o en el Modelo Est\'andar. Muchas personas hacen referencia sus resultados, e incluso la aplican, sin saber que su historia comenz\'o en Am\'erica Latina, precisamente en La Plata, Argentina.