Green Functions in Quantum Field Theory  

In General > Usually, "Green function", with no further specification, means feynman propagator.
* Idea: The 2-point function giving the probability amplitude that, given that a particle is created at x, it will be observed at x'.
* Remark: The various Green functions can also be expressed as expectation values of products of field operators in various states; The most common ones refer to the vacuum state (vacuum expectation values), but ensemble averages with thermal states at temperature –1 can be used (thermal Green functions),

G(x, x'):= 0| ... |0 ,   Gbeta(x, x'):= tr(...) beta ,

where beta is the canonical distribution (the v.e.v. corresponds to = 0).
* For a scalar field: The vacuum ones can all be expressed by the integral

G(x, x') = –i(2)–n G(k) exp{i k · (x–x')} dnk ,   G(k) = (k · k + m2)–1

(the integrand has poles at k0 = (k2+m2)1/2) with various choices of contours, i.e., of how to add i's to the denominator, depending on boundary conditions.
* For a massive Klain-Gordon field: With a static source,

R ret(x, t) dt = exp{–|x|m}/4|x| ,

a Yukawa-type Green function for –2+m2:

(2 – m2) R ret(x, t) dt = –3(x) .

Euclidean Green Function
* Idea: It is defined by substituting = –it in the Lorentzian Green function, i.e., rotating the contour (> see Wick Rotation); This can be done only for the Feynman propagator, and one finds

GE(i, x; i', x') = i GF(t, x; t', x') .

* Properties: It satisfies (x–m2) GE(x, x') = –n(x–x') (notice that is elliptic).
@ References: Candelas & Raine PRD(77) [Feynman propagator in curved spacetime]; Wald CMP(79).

Advanced and Retarded Green Function
$ Def: In terms of the Pauli-Jordan function,

Gret:= –(t–t') G ;   Gadv:= (t'–t) G .

* Properties: For the scalar field case they satisfy (x + m2) Gret/adv(x, x') = n(x–x').
* One defines also their average: Gavg(x, x'):= (Gret + Gadv)/2.

Other Types > s.a. feynman propagator; Hadamard's Elementary Function; Pauli-Jordan, Wightman Function.
@ Wheeler Green function: Bollini & Rocca IJTP(98)ht.
@ Schwinger's function: Tsamis & Woodard CQG(01)hp/00.

References > s.a. covariant quantum gravity; green functions for differential equations; scalar field theory.
@ Simple: Dyson PW(93)aug.
@ Non-perturbative methods: Rochev JPA(97)ht/96; Brouder a0710 [equations for Green functions in general states].
@ Lattice theories: Glasser & Boersma JPA(00) [cubic]; Maassarani JPA(00)hl; Martinsson & Rodin PRS(02); Sakaji et al JMP(02).
@ Examples: Alhaidari mp/02 [Dirac-oscillator problem]; > s.a. quantum oscillator.
@ Solid state applications: Doniach & Sondheimer 98; > s.a. Phonons.
@ Related topics: Kröger PLA(96) [fermions, fractal geometry]; Fried 02 [and ordered exponentials]; Grozin IJMPA(04) [methods, up to 3 loops]; Sardanashvily ht/06 [identities, Euclidean quantum field theory]; Ottewill & Wardell a0906 [transport equation approach]; > s.a. renormalization.

In Curved Spacetime > s.a. electromagnetic field; topology change.
@ Higher-order Green functions: in Mankin et al PRD(01)gq/00.
@ Various fields: Krtous gq/95 [scalar]; Antonsen & Bormann ht/96 [scalar, Dirac, Yang-Mills in various backgrounds]; Gabriel & Spindel JMP(97)ht/99 [massive spin-2, dS spacetime]; Kratzert AdP(00)mp [Dirac, globally hyperbolic spacetime].
@ Quantum gravity corrections: Padmanabhan gq/97; Rinaldi PRD(08)-a0803 [from modified dispersion relations].

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