Second-Order Radiative Corrections to the Axial Vector Anomaly

TL;DR

This paper re-examines the neutral pion decay and the ABJ anomaly, confirming Schwinger's equivalence theorem and analyzing radiative corrections with a focus on regularization schemes using Schwinger's source method.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of second-order radiative corrections to the axial vector anomaly using a physically motivated regularization scheme and Schwinger's dispersion method.

Findings

Confirmation of Schwinger's Equivalence Theorem

Dependence of radiative corrections on regularization scheme

Insights into the structure of the ABJ anomaly

Abstract

We re-examine the historically important decay of the neutral pion into two photons. Schwinger's Equivalence Theorem is confirmed. We then consider radiative corrections to the famous Adler-Bell-Jackiw (ABJ) anomaly. The result depends crucially on a physically motivated regularization scheme. Our approach is largely based on Schwinger's source (dispersion) method.