Deriving Z[J] from the time evolution operator
  An important quantity in quantum field theory is the vacuum-to-vacuum transition amplitude in the presence of an external source. This quantity is often designated by Z[J] and is the generator for the n-point Greens functions. In textbooks Z[J] is often derived using a path integral formulation, however it will be shown here that it is possible to derive Z[J] directly from the time evolution operator without using the path integral formulation. 
Dan Solomon
quant-ph