On the computation of the spectral density of two-point functions: complex masses, cut rules and beyond

Abstract: We present a steepest descent calculation of the Kallen-Lehmann spectral density of two-point functions involving complex conjugate masses in Euclidean space. This problem occurs in studies of (gauge) theories with Gribov-like propagators. As the presence of complex masses and the use of Euclidean space brings the theory outside of the strict validity of the Cutkosky cut rules, we discuss an alternative method based on the Widder inversion operator of the Stieltjes transformation. It turns out that the results coincide with those obtained by naively applying the cut rules. We also point out the potential usefulness of the Stieltjes (inversion) formalism when non-standard propagators are used, in which case cut rules are not available at all.