The average persistent current [I] of diffusive electrons in the Hartr
ee-Fock approximation is derived in a simple non-diagrammatic picture.
The Fourier expansion directly reflects the winding number decomposit
ion of the diffusive motion around the ring. One recovers the results
of Ambegaokar and Eckern, and Schmid. Moreover ope finds an expression
for [I] which is valid beyond the diffusive regime.