Two-loop fermion self-energy in reduced quantum electrodynamics and application to the ultrarelativistic limit of graphene

We compute the two-loop fermion self-energy in massless reduced quantum electrodynamics for an arbitrary gauge using the method of integration by parts. Focusing on the limit where the photon field is four-dimensional, our formula involves only recursively one-loop integrals and can therefore be evaluated exactly. From this formula, we deduce the anomalous scaling dimension of the fermion field as well as the renormalized fermion propagator up to two loops. The results are then applied to the ultrarelativistic limit of graphene and compared with similar results obtained for four-dimensional and three-dimensional quantum electrodynamics.

Figure 1

Feynman rules for massless RQED.

Figure 2

One-loop diagrams: (a) photon self-energy and (b) fermion self-energy.

Figure 3

Two-loop massless propagator diagram.

Figure 4

Two-loop fermion self-energy diagrams: (a) bubble diagram, (b) rainbow diagram and (c) crossed photon diagram.