Standard Model Effective Field Theory: Integrating out Vector-Like Fermions

Abstract: We apply the covariant derivative expansion of the Coleman-Weinberg potential to vector-like fermion models, matching the UV theory to the relevant dimension-6 operators in the standard model effective field theory. The $\gamma$ matrix induced complication in the fermionic covariant derivative expansion is studied in detail, and all the contributing combinations are enumerated. From this analytical result we also provide numerical constraints for a generation of vector-like quarks and vector-like leptons.