We consider large-order perturbative expansions in QED and QCD. The coefficients of the expansions are known to be dominated by the so-called ultraviolet (UV) renormalons which arise from inserting a chain of vacuum-polarization graphs into photonic (gluonic) lines. In large orders the contribution is associated with virtual momenta $k^2$ of order $Q^2{e}^n$ where $Q$ is the external momentum, $e$ is the base of natural logs, and $n$ is the order of the perturbation theory considered. To evaluate the UV renormalon we develop a formalism of operator product expansion (OPE) which utilizes the observation that $k^2\gg Q^2$. When applied to the simplest graphs the formalism reproduces the known results in a compact form. More generally, the formalism reveals the fact that the class of the renormalon-type graphs is not well defined. In particular, graphs with extra vacuum-polarization chains are not suppressed. The reason is that while inclusion of extra chains lowers the power of $\ln k^2$ their contribution is enhanced by combinatorial factors.

• Received 26 September 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.54.4039