On conjectured local generalizations of anisotropic scale invariance and their implications

Abstract

The theory of generalized local scale invariance of strongly anisotropic scale invariant systems proposed some time ago by Henkel [M. Henkel, Phenomenology of local scale invariance: from conformal invariance to dynamical scaling, Nucl. Phys. B 641 (3) (2002) 405–486] is examined. The case of so-called type-I systems is considered. This was conjectured to be realized by systems at m-axial Lifshitz points; in support of this claim, scaling functions of two-point cumulants at the uniaxial Lifshitz point of the three-dimensional ANNNI model were predicted on the basis of this theory and found to be in excellent agreement with Monte Carlo results [M. Pleimling, M. Henkel, Anisotropic scaling and generalized conformal invariance at Lifshitz points, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87 (12) (2001) 125702]. The consequences of the conjectured invariance equations are investigated, with emphasis put on this case. It is shown that fewer solutions than anticipated by Henkel generally exist and contribute to the scaling functions if these equations are assumed to hold for all (positive and negative) values of the d-dimensional space (or space time) coordinates ( t , r ) ∈ R × R d − 1 . Specifically, a single rather than two independent physically acceptable solutions exists in the case relevant for the mentioned fit of Monte Carlo data for the ANNNI model. Renormalization-group improved perturbation theory in 4 + m / 2 − ϵ dimensions is used to determine the scaling functions of the order-parameter and energy-density two-point cumulants in momentum space to two-loop order. The results are mathematically incompatible with Henkel's predictions except in free-field-theory cases. However, the scaling function of the energy-density cumulant we obtain for m = 1 upon extrapolation of our two-loop RG results to d = 3 differs numerically little from that of an effective free field theory.