One-loop flow equation for the first field derivative of the effective potential. A single external leg meets a vertex from which a propagator loop carrying momentum closes back on itself, cut open by the regulator insertion (circled cross). This tadpole is the simplest non-trivial diagram in the functional renormalization group hierarchy.

#import "@preview/cetz:0.5.2": canvas, decorations, draw
#import draw: circle, content, line, mark
#set page(width: auto, height: auto, margin: 8pt, fill: none)
#let rad = 0.8
#canvas({
let arrow-style = (stroke: (thickness: 0.5pt))
decorations.wave(
circle((0, 0), radius: rad),
amplitude: .1,
segments: 16,
close: true,
name: "loop",
mark: (end: "stealth"),
..arrow-style,
)
// Left and right points on the loop (circle centered at origin with given radius)
let loop-left = (-rad, 0)
let loop-right = (rad, 0)
circle(loop-left, radius: 0.075, fill: black, name: "dot")
content(
loop-right,
text(size: 10pt)[$times.o$],
name: "regulator",
fill: rgb("#cdd3da"),
frame: "circle",
stroke: none,
padding: -1.7pt,
)
line((rel: (-1, 0), to: "dot"), "dot", name: "input", ..arrow-style)
content(
"input.start",
$ partial_t (partial V) / (partial chi) = $,
anchor: "east",
padding: (0, 5pt, 0),
)
let top-mark = (0, rad - 0.05)
let bottom-mark = (0, -rad + 0.05)
let mark-style = (length: .15, stroke: .7pt, angle: 60deg, scale: .7, fill: black)
mark(symbol: "stealth", top-mark, (0.1, rad - 0.05), ..mark-style)
mark(symbol: "stealth", bottom-mark, (-0.1, -rad + 0.05), ..mark-style)
content(top-mark, $q$, anchor: "south-east", padding: (0, 0, 5pt))
content(bottom-mark, $q$, anchor: "north", padding: (2pt, 0, 0))
})