Abstract
We discuss the methodology of quantum Monte Carlo calculations of the effective mass based on the static self energy, Σ(k,0). We then use variational Monte Carlo calculations of Σ(k,0) of the homogeneous electron gas at various densities to obtain results very close to perturbative G₀ W₀ calculations for values of the density parameter 1 ≤ r_s ≤ 10. The obtained values for the effective mass are close to diagrammatic Monte Carlo results and disagree with previous quantum Monte Carlo calculations based on a heuristic mapping of excitation energies to those of an ideal gas.