Perturbation Series; Brief Introduction to Asymptotics

Perturbation Series; Brief Introduction to

Asymptotics
Series arise when you use perturbation theory (PT)

Perturbation theory for a Hard Problem (HP):

There are always 3 steps in PT

Step 1: insert a small parameter epsilon : HP(epsilon)

Step 2: expand answer as a perturbation series in powers of epsilon

Step 3: set epsilon =1 and sum the series -- this is not so easy!

The result is converting 1 unsolvable HP into an infinite number sequence of solvable problems (easier
problems).

Here in step 2, we have assumed the perturbation series takes a Taylor series form [or power series
expansion].

In general, perturbation series are not necessarily of Taylor form.

In step 2, once you expand as a perturbation series, compute the coefficients as .

Add up the series, with epsilon = 1.

Example:

This is classified as a HARD PROBLEM (HP), because there is no closed form solution of quintic equations; it
is unsolvable”, exactly.

Find real root of .        

Let's try perturbation theory: where to insert our epsilon?

Step 1:

SIDEBAR: Quantum Field Theory; [Strong/Weak] coupling

A Lagrangian                

The parameter g [an example of strong coupling]  is inserted with the highest power of our variable ;
conversely, the parameter  [an example of weak coupling] is inserted with the lowest power of our variable.
                 strong
Perturbation coupling
Series;
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We have solved the unperturbed problem; moreover, the solution to our unperturbed problem gives us the 1st
term in our perturbation series,

Now we go to step 2.

Step 2: Expand as a perturbation series in powers of epsilon

Now we try to calculate the coefficients of the above perturbation series; a, b, c,,...

1. Wheat we must do is substitute  back into our original equation,

How do we raise ANS(epsilon) above to the 5th power?  

(cf. Pascal's triangle or Binomial Theorem will help)

Now that we have [ANS(epsilon)]^5 we plug - substitute ANS(epsilon) back into our perturbed equation:

Next step is to equate coefficients of the power series expansions in epsilon :

● The LHS is obviously a power series expansion in epsilon

● The RHS, 1, is also a power series expansion in epsilon, it just has the quality of all the coefficients
being zero, except for the first term where, a_0 = 1.

Remember : we do perturbation theory because it reduces a complex problem into a sequence of trivial
problems.

Why do the coefficients of the LHS must agree with the coefficients of the RHS?

[Why do the coefficients have to vanish, in this case?]

The coefficients must vanish term-by-term , because:

1. Taylor series are unique.

a. Given any function and it's Taylor series expansion, it's Taylor series coefficients are unique.
2. We are making this profound assumption, because the series expansion must converge to f(x), but
right now, we do not know whether or not the series is convergent.
a. We are assuming this series expansion is convergent.
b. We do not know what this series is!
c. We are proceeding boldly!