Field Theory Without Feynman Diagrams: One-Loop Effective Actions

In this paper the connection between standard perturbation theory techniques and the new Bern-Kosower calculational rules for gauge theory is clarified. For one-loop effective actions of scalars, Dirac spinors, and vector bosons in a background gauge field, Bern-Kosower-type rules are derived without the use of either string theory or Feynman diagrams. The effective action is written as a one-dimensional path integral, which can be calculated to any order in the gauge coupling; evaluation leads to Feynman parameter integrals directly, bypassing the usual algebra required from Feynman diagrams, and leading to compact and organized expressions. This formalism is valid off-shell, is explicitly gauge invariant, and can be extended to a number of other field theories.