THE HIGHER-DERIVATIVE EXPANSION OF THE EFFECTIVE ACTION BY THE STRINGINSPIRED METHOD, II

We apply the string-inspired worldline formalism to the calculation of the higher derivative expansion of one-loop effective actions in non- Abelian gauge theory. For this purpose, we have completely computerize d the method, using the symbolic manipulation programs FORM, PERL and M. Explicit results are given to sixth order in the inverse mass expan sion, reduced to a minimal basis of invariants specifically adapted to the method. Detailed comparisons are made with other gauge-invariant algorithms for calculating the same expansion. This includes an explic it check of all coefficients up to fifth order. (C) 1998 Academic Pres s.