Operator Product Expansion in Quantum

Field Theory

Hugh Osborn
Dept. of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
University of Cambridge
Wilberforce Rd.
Cambridge CB3 0WA
England
E-mail: [email protected]

October 2005

Introduction
The operator product expansion provides an algebraic structure in quantum
field theory. In a sense it supercedes or rather transcends the equal time
commutation relations which provide the traditional starting point for the
canonical quantisation of any quantum field theory. The essential idea is
that for any two local operator quantum fields at spacetime points x1 , x2
their product may be expressed in terms of a series of other local quantum
fields at a point x, which may be identified with x1 or x2 , times c-number
coefficient functions which depend on x1 − x2 . The set of operators which
may appear depends on the particular quantum field theory and must of
course be in accord with any requirements of conserved quantum numbers.
The coefficient functions depend on x1 − x2 in a fashion which depends on
the dimensions of the various operators involved, at least up to renormali-
sation group corrections. The most singular contributions are those for the
operators appearing in the OPE with lowest scale dimension. From a phe-

1
Operator Product Expansion in Quantum Field Theory 2

menonological point of view only the first few terms in the operator product
expansion are of relevance. However theoretically, especially for conformal
field theories, it is desirable to know the full expansion to all orders in powers
of x1 − x2 in such a way that the operator product may be replaced by the
full expansion in appropriate correlation functions. We first discuss the OPE
for free theories and then the interacting case.

Free Field Theory

The operator product expansion is most straightforward in free field the-
ory when it almost reduces to a Taylor series expansion. For a simple free
massless scalar field φ(x) then in four dimensions we may write

C
φ(x)φ(0) = + : φ(x)φ(0) : , (1)
x2
where : : denotes normal ordering (moving all annihilation operators to the
right of creation operators) and C is just a normalisation numerical constant
(for canonical normalisation C = 1/4π 2). The 1/x2 term proportional to the
identity operator reflects the leading singular behaviour at short distances
of φ(x)φ(0), the power being determined by φ having dimension 1. For
the normal ordered term we may expand in terms of an infinite set of local
operators by using the Taylor expansion
∞
X 1 µ1
: φ(x)φ(0) : = x . . . xµn : ∂µ1 . . . ∂µn φ(0) φ(0) : , (2)
n=0
n!

where the operator appearing in the n’th term has dimension n + 2. Man-
ifestly at short distances only the leading terms are relevant. The equation
(1) also provides a point splitting definition of the local composite operator
: φ2 (0) : in terms of limit of φ(x)φ(0) as x → 0 after subtraction of the
singular C/x2 term.
The OPE can be easily generalised to composite operators defined by normal
ordering. For : φ2 : we have, by applying Wick’s theorem,

2C 2 4C
: φ2 (x) : : φ2 (0) : = + 2 : φ(x)φ(0) : + : φ2 (x) φ2 (0) : , (3)
x4 x
Operator Product Expansion in Quantum Field Theory 3

where Taylor series expansion may be applied to both : φ(x)φ(0) : and also
: φ2 (x) φ2 (0) : to give an infinite sequence of local operators of increasing
dimensions.
The expansion in terms of local operators may be reordered. For instance
from (1) we may write, using ∂ 2 φ = 0,

C  1 2 2

φ(x)φ(0) = + 1 + 12 xµ ∂µ + 14 xµ xν ∂µ ∂ν + 16
x∂ : φ2 (0) :
x2
− 12 xµ xν Tµν + O(x3 ) , (4)

where
Tµν =: ∂µ φ∂ν φ : − 14 ηµν : ∂φ · ∂φ : , (5)
is the energy momentum tensor. In (4), and also in a similar context subse-
quently, we define ∂ : φ2 (0) := ∂y : φ2 (y) : |y=0 . The expansion (4) provides a
point splitting definition of Tµν and also demonstrates that many operators
appearing in the operator product expansion are expressible in terms of over-
all derivatives of lower dimension operators. We may also note that without
further input there is an ambiguity in the definition of Tµν of the form

Tµν ∼ Tµν + a(∂µ ∂ν − 41 ηµν ∂ 2 ) : φ2 : . (6)

In a conformal theory however we require a = − 16 .

Interacting Theories
The operator product expansion becomes an essential tool in the context of
interacting quantum field theories. For renormalisable quantum field theo-
ries various results can be proved to all orders in the standard perturbative
expansion and are naturally assumed to be properties of the complete the-
ory. In interacting theories we may no longer use normal ordering to define
composite operators which in general have anomalous dimensions. The co-
efficient functions appearing in the operator product expansion also gain
perturbative corrections but these are constrained by renormalisation group
Callan-Symanzik equations.
Again if we consider the simplest case of a massless scalar theory as above
but now with a renormalised coupling constant g the leading terms in the
Operator Product Expansion in Quantum Field Theory 4

expansion of φ(x)φ(0) are of the form (here we assume a Z2 symmetry under

φ → −φ, otherwise the operator φ would be expected to appear in the
operator product expansion)

C(g, µ2x2 )
φ(x)φ(0) = + D(g, µ2x2 ) φ2(0) + . . . , (7)
x2
where µ is an arbitrary renormalisation scale. This arbitrariness is reflected
in the RG equation
 ∂ ∂ 
µ + β(g) + 2γφ (g) C(g, µ2x2 ) = 0 . (8)
∂µ ∂g
At a fixed point β(g∗) = 0 this equation may be solved with an arbitrary
choice of normalisation to give C(g∗ , µ2 x2 ) = (µ2 x2 )−γφ (g∗ ) which corresponds
to the fields φ having a modified scale dimension 1 + γφ (g∗ ). In a similar
fashion the coefficient D(g, µ2x2 ) in (7) satisfies
 ∂ ∂ 
µ + β(g) + 2γφ (g) − γφ2 (g) D(g, µ2x2 ) = 0 , (9)
∂µ ∂g
where it is necessary to introduce a new anomalous dimension function γφ2 (g)
related to the composite operator φ2 . Although it is natural to label the
operator as φ2 its definition in terms of the elementary field φ is essentially
only as given in terms of the OPE (9). At a fixed point again D(g∗, µ2 x2 ) =
1
k(µ2 x2 )−γφ (g∗ )+ 2 γφ2 (g∗ ) where the coefficient k is determined by the scale of
the three point function hφ(x)φ(y)φ2(0)i. In asymptotically free theories the
RG equations show that at short distances the coefficient functions tend to
those of free field theory but with calculable logarithmic corrections. More
generally for a set of operators {Oi } the OPE has the form
1 X
Oi (x)Oj (0) ∼ Cijk (g, µ2x2 )Ok (0) , (10)
(x2 )p k

where p is determined by the free scale dimensions of the Oi and

 ∂ ∂ 
µ + β(g) Cijk (g, µ2 x2 ) (11)
∂µ ∂g
X 
= γkn (g)Cijn(g, µ2x2 ) − γin (g)Cnjk (g, µ2x2 ) − γjn (g)Cink (g, µ2x2 ) ,
n
Operator Product Expansion in Quantum Field Theory 5

with γin (g) the anomalous dimension matrix arising from the mixing of com-
posite operators.
An important aspect of the operator product expansion is that the coeffi-
cient functions may be calculated perturbatively, essentially by applying the
OPE in some suitable correlation function. Essentially the OPE provides a
factorisation between short distance UV singularities and non perturbative
effects. In a Feynman graph the short distances in an operator product corre-
spond to the large momentum behaviour and power counting theorems allow
a factorisation up to calculable logarithmic corrections. A detailed analysis
depends on the detailed technicalities of the proofs of renormalisation to all
orders of perturbation theory.
The coefficient functions in the OPE should be independent of any infra
red or non perturbative long distance effects (such as confinement in QCD).
However the operators which appear in the OPE, such as φ2 above, may have
non zero expectation values which are absent to all orders in perturbation
theory.

Perturbative Example
The general considerations can be illustrated by considering a scalar field the-
ory to lowest order in a perturbative expansion. We consider a four dimen-
sional theory with a single scalar field and a potential V (φ) = 12 m2 φ2 + 24
1
gφ4 .
2
Using dimensional regularisation m , as well as g, is treated as a coupling
with an associated β-function γφ2 (g)m2 . With a mass term the operator φ2
mixes with the identity operator so that

D + γφ2 (g) hφ2 (0)i = −γφ2 I (g)m2 ,

∂ ∂ ∂
D=µ + β(g) + γφ2 (g)m2 , (12)
∂µ ∂g ∂m2
where γφ2 I reflects the mixing. At one loop order we have

3g 2 g 1
β(g) = , γφ2 (g) = , γφ2 I (g) = , (13)
16π 2 16π 2 8π 2
and we may also set γφ (g) = 0. In this case in the operator product expansion
(7) the coefficient C also depends on m2 x2 and the RG equations (8) and (9)
Operator Product Expansion in Quantum Field Theory 6

are now modified to include the effects of mixing

DC(g, m2x2 , µ2 x2 ) = m2 x2 γφ2 I (g) D(g, µ2x2 ) ,
D − γφ2 (g) C(g, µ2x2 ) = 0 .


(14)
From lowest order perturbation theory with (13), and using (14) to include
all orders in g ln µ2 x2 , we have in this approximation
C(g, m2 x2 , µ2 x2 )
2m2 x2   2  − 31 
1 3g 2 2 3 3g 2 2
= 2− 1+ ln µ x 1+ ln µ x −1 ,
4π g 32π 2 32π 2
 3g 1
2 2 2 2 3
D(g, µ x ) = 1 + ln µ x . (15)
32π 2
The operator product expansion then reproduces the small x behaviour of
the two point function hφ(x)φ(0)i at one loop, expanding C, D to first order
in g, if we take
2 m2 µ
hφ (0)i = − 2 ln + O(g) , (16)
8π m
which is in accord with (12). If m2 < 0 the symmetry φ ↔ −φ is broken and
it is necessary to shift the field φ = v + f , with v 2 = −6m2 /g and the field
f has a mass mf with m2f = −2m2 . The operator product expansion (7)
with the same coefficient functions as in (15) remains valid. The two point
function hφ(x)φ(0)i, which includes a non perturbative term v 2 , is again
reproduced for small x at one loop now if
6m2 m2 µ
hφ2 (0)i = − − 2 ln + O(g) , (17)
g 2π mf
but in this case it is necessary to expand D(g, µ2x2 ) to O(g 2 ) as a consequence
of the leading 1/g term in (17). Note that both (16) and (17) contain the
non perturbative dependance on ln m and ln mf which is present in the two
point function.

Conformal Field Theories

When the β-function vanishes and a quantum field theory enjoys conformal
invariance the operator product expansion is a potentially convergent expan-
sion. It is natural to restrict to conformal quasi-primary operators which do
Operator Product Expansion in Quantum Field Theory 7

not mix with lower scale dimensions under conformal transformations. If we

consider for instance two scalar operators φ with scale dimension ∆φ then
the operator product expansion has the generic form
1 X 1 (ℓ)
φ(x)φ(0) = + CφφOI C∆I (x, ∂)µ1 ,...,µℓ OµI 1 ,...,µℓ (0) ,
x2∆φ I (x2 )
1
2
(2∆φ −∆I +ℓ)

(18)
where there is a sum over quasi-primary operators OµI 1 ,...,µℓ
with scale dimen-
sion ∆I and spin ℓ, so they are symmetric traceless tensors of rank ℓ. In the
first term in (18) the coefficient is chosen to be 1 by a choice of normalisa-
tion. The coefficients CφφOI , with a standard normalisation for O I , are then
determined by the coefficients of the corresponding three point functions in-
(ℓ)
volving φφ and O I . In (18) C∆I are differential operators which sum up the
contributions of all derivatives or descendants of the quasi-primary operator
O I . They can be explicitly given in terms of an integral representation, for
any space-time dimension, where the scale is fixed by requiring for the lead-
(ℓ)
ing term C∆I (x, 0)µ1 ,...,µℓ = xµ1 . . . xµℓ − traces. The spectrum of operators
which appear is obviously a property of the particular conformal field theory.

Ward Identities
If the theory has a symmetry with corresponding conserved currents then
there are Ward identities which constrain the operator product expansion
of fields with the conserved current. For a current Jµa then we have in d-
dimensions the singular contribution in the operator product expansion is
given by
1 xµ
Jµa (x)O(0) ∼ − ta O(0) , (19)
Sd (x2 ) 12 d
where ta are a set of matrix generators corresponding to the symmetry acting
on the fields O and Sd is the volume of the unit (d−1)-dimensional sphere,
S4 = 2π 2 . For a conserved current there are no anomalous dimensions and
the coefficient in (19), which depends on the normalisation for the current
Jµa , is chosen so that [Qa , O(0)] = −ta O(0) with Qa the charge formed from
Jµa . For the energy momentum tensor the operator there is an analogous
result. We consider the simpler case of a conformal theory when the energy
Operator Product Expansion in Quantum Field Theory 8

momentum tensor is both conserved and traceless and

Tµν (x) O(0) ∼ Aµν (x)O(0) + Bµνλ (x)∂ λ O(0) + . . . , (20)

where Aµν (x) = O(x−d ) and Bµνλ (x) = O(x−d+1 ). As a distribution Aµν (x)
is ambiguous up to terms proportional to δ d (x). If ∆ is the scale dimension
of O and sµν are the Lorentz spin generators acting on O the Ward identities
then give
∆ 
µ 1
∂ Aµν (x) = ηνλ + Cνλ + s
2 νλ
∂ λ δ d (x) ,
d
η µνAµν (x) = η µν Cµν δ d (x) , ∂ µ Bµνλ (x) = −ηνλ δ d (x) , (21)

where Cµν is a constant tensor reflecting the arbitrariness in Aµν , it is imma-

terial as far as Ward identities are concerned. We may choose
∆
ηνλ + Cνλ = 0 . (22)
d
(If desired we might also take A′µν (x) = Aµν (x) + 12 sµν δ d (x) in which case
∂ µ A′µν (x) = 0 , A′[µν] (x) = 12 sµν δ d (x) but such an antisymmetric piece seems
unnatural). In general there is no unique form for Aµν (x), as a consequence
of the freedom of choice for Cνλ in (21). However for a scalar field O we must
have, for x 6= 0,
∆ 1 xµ xν  1
Aµν (x) = ηµν − d 2 1
d − 1 Sd x (x2 ) 2 d
∆ 1 1
= − ∂µ ∂ν 1 , (23)
(d − 1)(d − 2) Sd (x2 ) 2 d−1

with the overall scale determined by (21).

For the operator product of the current Jµa with itself there is an additional
term proportional to the identity operator of the form
 xµ xν  1
Jµa (x)Jνb (0) ∼ CJ δab ηµν − 2 2 , (24)
x x2(d−1)
where the coefficient CJ , which is determines the scale of the two point
function for Jµa , is well defined since the normalisation of the current is
determined through the Ward identity. A similar result also holds for the
Operator Product Expansion in Quantum Field Theory 9

operator product of the energy momentum tensor with itself, with an overall
coefficient CT . In general we may also write for the operator product of two
scalar fields O
1 CO d∆ 1
O(x)O(0) ∼ CO 2∆ − xµ xν Tµν (0) , (25)
x CT Sd d − 1 (x2 )∆− 12 d+1
neglecting other contributions. The contribution of the energy momentum
tensor does not therefore introduce any new coefficient.

Two Dimensions
In two dimensions the operator product expansion plays an essential role
in the discussion of conformal field theories. For a Euclidean metric it is
natural to use complex variables z and z̄. The energy momentum tensor
in this case reduces to a chiral field T (z) and its conjugate T̄ (z̄). For the
operator product with a chiral field φ(z) with scale dimension ∆
∆ 1
T (z)φ(0) ∼ 2
φ(0) + φ′ (0) , (26)
z z
and for the operator product of T with itself
c 2 1
T (z)T (0) ∼ 4
+ 2 T (0) + T ′ (0) , (27)
2z z z
Here c is the Virasoro central charge which plays a critical role in the discus-
sion of two dimensional conformal field theories, it is given by the two point
function which follows from (27), hT (z)T (0)i = 21 c z −4 .
In simple rational conformal field theories the operators are organised into
conformal blocks by the infinite dimensional extended conformal symmetry
in two dimensions. This allows the full spectrum of operators and their
dimensions to be determined and in consequence complete results for the
operator product expansion to be found in many cases.

Further Remarks
The operator product expansion reflects the locality properties of quantum
field theories and can be extended without difficulty to curved space back-
Operator Product Expansion in Quantum Field Theory 10

grounds. For a product φ(x)φ(0) the separation x2 may be replaced by a

biscalar at x and 0 but it is necessary to include in the operator product
expansion contributions involving the background Riemann tensor as well as
the operator fields present in flat space. There is also a generalisation of the
operator product expansion for superfields on superspace.
At a fundamental level although the operator product expansion can be de-
rived to all orders in perturbation theory the contribution of non perturbative
effects such as instantons to the coefficients is not entirely clear. Issues of
associativity have yet to be fully analysed.
There are also important applications to the phemenonological analysis of
QCD when assumptions about the OPE and saturation of sum rules can
lead to results for the vacuum expectation value of gauge invariant operators
such as F µν Fµν .
Operator Product Expansion in Quantum Field Theory 11

Further Reading
K.G. Wilson, Non-Lagrangian Models of Current Algebra, Phys. Rev.
179 (1969) 1499; Renormalization Group and Strong Interactions, Phys.
Rev. D3 (1971) 1818.

L.P. Kadanoff, Operator Algebra and the Determination of Critical In-

dices, Phys. Rev. Letters 23 (1969) 1430.

J.C. Collins, Renormalization: an introduction to renormalization, the

renormalization group and the operator-product expansion, (Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, 1984).

F. David, On the Ambiguity of Composite Operators, I.R. renormalons

and the Status of the Operator Product Expansion, Nucl. Phys. B234
(1984) 237.

V.A. Novikov, M.A. Shifman, A.I. Vainshtein and V.I. Zakharov, Wil-
son’s Operator Product Expansion: Can It Fail?, Nucl. Phys. B249
(1985) 445.

J. Cardy, Anisotropic Corrections to Correlation Functions in Finite

Size Systems, Nucl. Phys. B290 (1987) 355.

J. Erdmenger and H. Osborn, Conserved currents and the energy-

momentum tensor in conformally invariant theories for general dimen-
sions, Nucl. Phys. B483 (1996) 431.

P. Di Francesco, P. Mathieu, D. Sénéchal, Conformal Field Theory,

Springer Verlag New York (1997).