6D trace anomalies from quantum mechanical path integrals

TL;DR

This paper applies a dimensional regularization scheme to quantum mechanical path integrals in curved space to compute six-dimensional trace anomalies, demonstrating the method's efficiency in higher loop calculations.

Contribution

It introduces and tests a DR scheme for quantum mechanics in curved space, enabling efficient higher loop computations of trace anomalies in six dimensions.

Findings

Successfully computed 6D trace anomalies using DR scheme

Demonstrated efficiency of covariant counterterms in higher loop calculations

Validated DR method as a reliable tool for quantum mechanical path integrals

Abstract

We use the recently developed dimensional regularization (DR) scheme for quantum mechanical path integrals in curved space and with a finite time interval to compute the trace anomalies for a scalar field in six dimensions. This application provides a further test of the DR method applied to quantum mechanics. It shows the efficiency in higher loop computations of having to deal with covariant counterterms only, as required by the DR scheme.