Consider the 1-torus $\mathbb{T}$. Let $k$ be a smooth function on $\mathbb{T}^2$ and $K$ be the integral operator on $L^2(\mathbb{T})$ with kernel $k$. One can show that $K$ is of trace class, hence $|K|^{1/2}$ is a Hilbert Schmidt operator=integral operator. But what is the kernel of $|K|^{1/2}$?



Square root of integral operator
It seems to me that you are looking for a formula for the kernel of $|K|^{1/2}$. But, as Gerald, mentioned, such a formula (in the case where the space $\mathbb{T}$ is replaced by a finite set) would give you a formula for the entries of the square root of an arbitrary positive matrix. And I don't think such a thing exists (or, at least, I don't think it is known). 


