Smoothed asymptotics: From number theory to QFT

Inspired by the method of smoothed asymptotics developed by Terence Tao, we introduce a new ultraviolet regularization scheme for loop integrals in quantum field theory which we call <a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><a:mi>η</a:mi></a:math> regularization. This reveals a connection between the elimination of divergences in divergent series of powers and the preservation of gauge invariance in the regularization of loop integrals in quantum field theory. In particular, we note that a method for regularizing the series of natural numbers so that it converges to minus one-twelfth inspires a regularization scheme for non-Abelian gauge theories coupled to Dirac fermions that preserves the Ward identity for the vacuum polarization tensor and other higher point functions. We also comment on a possible connection to Schwinger proper time integrals.