We consider the finite-temperature frequency and momentum dependent two-point
functions of local operators in integrable quantum field theories. We focus on
the case where the zero temperature correlation function is dominated by a
delta-function line arising from the coherent propagation of single particle
modes. Our specific examples are the two-point function of spin fields in the
disordered phase of the quantum Ising and the O(3) nonlinear sigma models. We
employ a Lehmann representation in terms of the known exact zero-temperature
form factors to carry out a low-temperature expansion of two-point functions.
We present two different but equivalent methods of regularizing the divergences
present in the Lehmann expansion: one directly regulates the integral
expressions of the squares of matrix elements in the infinite volume whereas
the other operates through subtracting divergences in a large, finite volume.
Our central results are that the temperature broadening of the line shape
exhibits a pronounced asymmetry and a shift of the maximum upwards in energy
("temperature dependent gap"). The field theory results presented here describe
the scaling limits of the dynamical structure factor in the quantum Ising and
integer spin Heisenberg chains. We discuss the relevance of our results for the
analysis of inelastic neutron scattering experiments on gapped spin chain
systems such as CsNiCl3 and YBaNiO5.Comment: 54 pages, 10 figure
