The operator product expansion for perturbative quantum field theory in curved spacetime (Q2385033)

With the two previous relevant communications \textit{S. Hollands, R. M. Wald}, [Commun. Math. Phys. 231, No.~2, 309--345 (2002; Zbl 1015.81043) and Commun. Math. Phys. 223, No.~2, 289--326 (2001; Zbl 0989.81081)], the author of the paper under review and \textit{R. M. Wald} have started a very interesting program devoted to the systematically tackling of peculiar problems arising in the perturbative construction of interacting QFTs in curved spacetimes. In the first paper they showed, in fact, how a local covariance requirement allows for the effective reduction of the renormalizability ambiguities that affect such QFTs, while with the second paper they addressed the existence of time-ordered products of covariant Wick-powers of free scalar field in curved spacetimes, thus providing an insight into a basic tool for the perturbative treatment of the nonlinear field theories. Essential motivations and support to these works can be traced back to arguments of [\textit{R. Brunetti} and \textit{K. Fredenhagen}, Commun. Math. Phys. 208, No.~3, 623--661 (2000; Zbl 1040.81067)] (see also [\textit{R. Brunetti, K. Fredenhagen} and \textit{R. Verch}, Commun. Math. Phys. 237, No.~1--2, 31--68 (2003; Zbl 1047.81052)]). In the paper under consideration here, the author adds further elements to the issue by presenting an algorithm for constructing OPE in perturbation theory for the interacting QFT associated with a single hermitian scalar field in four-dimensional Lorentian spacetime with renormalizable interaction. The retarded products needed to compute OPE coefficient to given order in perturbation theory and given accurancy are computed by resorting to the procedure already devised by the author and Wald in the aforementioned works. The author next establishes and elucidates some essential properties of expansion coefficients, such as a microlocal spectrum condition, the local and covariant dependence upon the spacetime metric and coupling constants, and associativity. The OPE coefficients are also shown to be expandible for asymptotically small distances in terms of curvature terms and Minkowski distributions in spacetime tangent space. In this respect, it is due to point out that the scaling expansion discussed here is more general than that which can be found in the second of the Hollands-Wald references mentioned above. Minkowski distributions are extracted from OPE coefficient by taking residues of its Mellin-transform. The explicit application of the proposed method to the determination of the coefficient in the triple product of interacting fields up to first order in perturbation theory, and when all points are scaled together at the same rate, is eventually accomplished.