A study of Schwinger-Dyson Equations for Yukawa and Wess-Zumino Models

We study Schwinger-Dyson equation for fermions in Yukawa and Wess-Zumino models, in terms of dynamical mass generation and the wavefunction renormalization function. In the Yukawa model with $\gamma_5$-type interaction between scalars and fermions, we find a critical coupling in the quenched approximation above which fermions acquire dynamical mass. This is shown to be true beyond the bare 3-point vertex approximation. In the Wess-Zumino model, there is a neat cancellation of terms leading to no dynamical mass for fermions. We comment on the conditions under which these results are general beyond the rainbow approximation and also on the ones under which supersymmetry is preserved and the scalars as well do not acquire mass. The results are in accordance with the non-renormalization theorem at least to order $\alpha$ in perturbation theory. In both the models, we also evaluate the wavefunction renormalization function, analytically in the neighbourhood of the critical coupling and numerically, away from it.Comment: 12 pages and 7 Postscript figures, accepted for publication in Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physic

Anomalies without Massless Particles

Baryon and lepton number in the standard model are violated by anomalies, even though the fermions are massive. This problem is studied in the context of a two dimensional model. In a uniform background field, fermion production arise from non-adiabatic behavior that compensates for the absence of massless modes. On the other hand, for localized instanton-like configurations, there is an adiabatic limit. In this case, the anomaly is produced by bound states which travel across the mass gap. The sphaleron corresponds to a bound state at the halfway point.Comment: (26 pages, 3 figures, uses harvmac and uufiles), UCSD/PTH 93-3