Our aim is to contribute to quantum field theory (QFT) formalisms useful for descriptions of short time phenomena, dominant especially in heavy ion collisions. We formulate out-of-equilibrium QFT within the finite-time-path formalism (FTP) and renormalization theory (RT). The potential conflict of FTP and RT is investigated in g ϕ 3 QFT, by using the retarded/advanced ( R / A ) basis of Green functions and dimensional renormalization (DR). For example, vertices immediately after (in time) divergent self-energy loops do not conserve energy, as integrals diverge. We “repair” them, while keeping d < 4 , to obtain energy conservation at those vertices. Already in the S-matrix theory, the renormalized, finite part of Feynman self-energy Σ F ( p 0 ) does not vanish when | p 0 | → ∞ and cannot be split to retarded and advanced parts. In the Glaser–Epstein approach, the causality is repaired in the composite object G F ( p 0 ) Σ F ( p 0 ) . In the FTP approach, after repairing the vertices, the corresponding composite objects are G R ( p 0 ) Σ R ( p 0 ) and Σ A ( p 0 ) G A ( p 0 ) . In the limit d → 4 , one obtains causal QFT. The tadpole contribution splits into diverging and finite parts. The diverging, constant component is eliminated by the renormalization condition ⟨ 0 | ϕ | 0 ⟩ = 0 of the S-matrix theory. The finite, oscillating energy-nonconserving tadpole contributions vanish in the limit t → ∞ .
S-Matrix for Interacting Extended Boson Fields. II: Scattering Amplitude and Self-Energy