In Chapter three (I.3) of A. Zee's Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell, the author derives the Feynman propagator for a scalar field: D(x)=∫d4k(2π)4eikxk2−m2+iϵ=−i∫d3k(2π)32ωk[e−i(ωkt−k⋅x)θ(t)+ei(ωkt−k⋅x)θ(−t)]
Without working through the k integral, the behavior of the propagator for events inside and outside the light-cone can be roughtly analyzed (or so the text states): for time-like events in the future cone, e.g., x=(t,x=0), with t>0, the propagator is a sum of plane waves D(t,0)=−i∫d3k(2π)32ωke−iωkt
Now, for space-like events, e.g., x=(0,x), after interpreting θ(0)=12 and observing the propagator allows for the exchange k→−k, we obtain D(0,x)=−i∫d3k(2π)32√k2+m2e−ik⋅x
The author then states that "...the square root cut starting at ±im leads to an exponential decay ∼e−m|x|, as we would expect." It is left to the reader to verify this as a later problem.
The question is: how can I see that the above is true, without going through the k integral?
Secondarily, what does "the square root cut starting at ±im" mean? I know that one must supply the complex square root with a branch cut, but said branch cut must be a whole ray of the plane, not just a segment.
I have tried going through the integral; by rotating the k so that x points along the k3 direction and switching to spherical coordinates (k=|k|,x=|x|) the integral becomes:
D(0,x)=−i∫∞0dk∫π0dθ∫2π0dφ(k2sinθe−ikxcosθ(2π)32√k2+m2)=−i∫∞0dk∫π0dθ(k2sinθe−ikxcosθ(2π)22√k2+m2)=−i(2π)2∫∞0dk(k2ix√k2+m2)eikx−e−ikx=−i(2π)2∫∞0dkksinkxx√k2+m2∼1|x|
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