Exact RG Equation Research Articles

Exact effective action for the O(N) vector model in the large N limit

We present the Wilsonian effective action as a solution of the exact RG equation for the critical O(N)O(N) vector model in the large NN limit. Below four dimensions, the exact effective action can be expressed in a closed form as a transcendental function of two leading scaling operators with infinitely many derivatives. From the exact solution that describes the RG flow from a UV theory to the fixed point theory in the IR, we obtain the mapping between UV operators and IR scaling operators. It is shown that IR scaling operators are given by sums of infinitely many UV operators with infinitely many derivatives.

Bulk gauge fields and holographic RG from exact RG

Recently, a method was described for deriving Holographic RG equation in AdSD+1 space starting from an Exact RG equation of a D-dimensional boundary CFT [22]. The evolution operator corresponding to the Exact RG equation was rewritten as a functional integral of a D + 1 dimensional field theory in AdSD+1 space. This method has since been applied to elementary scalars and composite scalars in the O(N) model [34]. In this paper, we apply this technique to the conserved vector current and the energy momentum tensor of a boundary CFT, the O(N) model at a fixed point. These composite spin one and spin two operators are represented by auxiliary fields and extend into the bulk as gauge fields and metric perturbations. We obtain, at the free level, the (gauge fixed) Maxwell and Einstein actions. While the steps involved are motivated by the AdS/CFT correspondence, none of the steps logically require the AdS/CFT conjecture for their justification.

Aspects of the map from exact RG to holographic RG in AdS and dS

In earlier work, the evolution operator for the exact RG equation was mapped to a field theory in Euclidean AdS. This gives a simple way of understanding AdS/CFT. We explore aspects of this map by studying a simple example of a Schrödinger equation for a free particle with time-dependent mass. This is an analytic continuation of an ERG like equation. We show for instance that it can be mapped to a harmonic oscillator. We show that the same techniques can lead to an understanding of dS/CFT too.

Exact renormalization group equation for lattice Ginzburg–Landau models adapted to the solution in the local potential approximation

The Wilson Green’s function approach and, alternatively, Feynman’s diffusion equation and the Hori representation have been used to derive an exact functional RG equation (EFRGE) that in the course of the RG flow interpolates between the interaction part of the lattice Ginzburg–Landau Hamiltonian and the logarithm of the generating functional of the S-matrix. Because the S-matrix vertices are the amputated correlation functions of the fluctuating field, it has been suggested that in the critical region the amputation of the long-range tails makes the S-matrix functional more localized and thus more amenable to the local potential approximation (LPA) than the renormalized free energy functional used in Wilson’s EFRGE. By means of a functional Legendre transform the S-matrix EFRGE has been converted into an EFRGE for the effective action (EA). It has been found that the field-dependent part of EA predicted by the equation is the same as calculated within the known EA EFRGE approaches but in addition it is accurately accounts for the field-independent terms. These are indispensable in calculation of such important quantities as the specific heat, the latent heat, etc. With the use of the derived EFRGE a closed expression for the renormalization counterterm has been obtained which when subtracted from the divergent solution of the Wetterich equation would lead to a finite exact expression for the EA thus making two approaches formally equivalent. The S-matrix equation has been found to be simply connected with a generalized functional Burgers’ equation which establishes a direct correspondence between the first order phase transitions and the shock wave solutions of the RG equation. The transparent semi-group structure of the S-matrix RG equation makes possible the use of different RG techniques at different stages of the RG flow in order to improve the LPA solution.

Reliability of the local truncations for the random tensor models renormalization group flow

The standard nonperturbative approaches of renormalization group for tensor models are generally focused on a purely local potential approximation (i.e. involving only generalized traces and product of them) and are showed to strongly violate the modified Ward identities. This paper as a continuation of our recent contribution [Physical Review D 101, 106015 (2020)], intended to investigate the approximation schemes compatibles with Ward identities and constraints between $2n$-points observables in the large $N$-limit. We consider separately two different approximations: In the first one, we try to construct a local potential approximation from a slight modification of the Litim regulator, so that it remains optimal in the usual sense, and preserves the boundary conditions in deep UV and deep IR limits. In the second one, we introduce derivative couplings in the truncations and show that the compatibility with Ward identities implies strong relations between $\beta$-functions, allowing to close the infinite hierarchy of flow equations in the non-branching sector, up to a given order in the derivative expansion. Finally, using exact relation between correlations functions in large $N$-limit, we show that strictly local truncations are insufficient to reach the exact value for the critical exponent, highlighting the role played by these strong relations between observables taking into account the behavior of the flow; and the role played by the multi-trace operators, discussed in the two different approximation schemes. In both cases, we compare our conclusions to the results obtained in the literature and conclude that, at a given order, taking into account the exact functional relations between observables like Ward identities in a systematic way we can strongly improve the physical relevance of the approximation for exact RG equation.

On exact proper time Wilsonian RG flows

We discuss the possibility to define exact RG equations for a UV regulated Wilsonian action based on a proper time (PT) regulator function. We start from a functional mapping which shows how each particular flow equation (and RG scheme) is associated to infinitely many scale dependent field redefinitions, which are related to specific coarse-graining procedures. On specializing to a sub-family of one parameter PT regulators we briefly analyze few results for the Ising Universality class in three dimensions, obtained within a second order truncation in the derivative expansion of the Wilsonian action.

Dualities for Ising Networks.

In this Letter, we study the equivalence between planar Ising networks and cells in the positive orthogonal Grassmannian. We present a microscopic construction based on amalgamation, which establishes the correspondence for any planar Ising network. The equivalence allows us to introduce two recursive methods for computing correlators of Ising networks. The first is based on duality moves, which generate networks belonging to the same cell in the Grassmannian. This leads to fractal lattices where the recursion formulas become the exact renormalization group equations of the effective couplings. The second, we use an amalgamation in which each iteration doubles the size of the seed lattice. This leads to an efficient way of computing the correlator where the complexity scales logarithmically with respect to the number of spin sites.

The background scale Ward identity in quantum gravity

We show that with suitable choices of parametrization, gauge fixing and cutoff, the anomalous variation of the effective action under global rescalings of the background metric is identical to the derivative with respect to the cutoff, i.e. to the beta functional, as defined by the exact RG equation. The Ward identity and the RG equation can be combined, resulting in a modified flow equation that is manifestly invariant under global background rescalings.

Inflationary potentials from the exact renormalisation group

We show that an inflationary slow-roll potential can be derived as an IR limit of the non-perturbative exact renormalisation group equation for a scalar field within the mean-field approximation. The result follows without having to specify a Lagrangian in the UV, which we take to be somewhere below the Planck scale to avoid discussing quantum gravity effects. We assume that the theory contains a scalar mode with suppressed coupling to other fields, and that higher derivative couplings are suppressed. In this framework the exact RG equation becomes a one-dimensional Schrödinger equation, which we solve. The effective IR potential is then dominated by the eigen-states of the RG Hamiltonian with the highest eigenvalues. We find that these potentials can generically give rise to slow-roll inflation, which is fully consistent with recent observations. As an example of how the proposed renormalisation group procedure works, we perform an explicit calculation in the ϕ4 theory in an appendix.

Gauge invariance and equations of motion for closed string modes

We continue earlier discussions on loop variables and the exact renormalization group on the string world sheet for closed and open string backgrounds. The world sheet action with a UV regulator is written in a generally background covariant way by introducing a background metric. It is shown that the renormalization group gives background covariant equations of motion – this is the gauge invariance of the graviton. Interaction is written in terms of gauge invariant and generally covariant field strength tensors. The basic idea is to work in Riemann normal coordinates and covariantize the final equation. It turns out that the equations for massive modes are gauge invariant only if the space–time curvature of the (arbitrary) background is zero. The exact RG equations give quadratic equations of motion for all the modes including the physical graviton. The level (2,2¯) massive field equations are used to illustrate the techniques. At this level there are mixed symmetry tensors. Gauge invariant interacting equations can be written down. In flat space an action can also be written for the free theory.

Nonperturbative renormalization-group approach to fermion systems in the two-particle-irreducible effective action formalism

We propose a nonperturbative renormalization-group (NPRG) approach to fermion systems in the two-particle-irreducible (2PI) effective action formalism, based on an exact RG equation for the Luttinger-Ward functional. This approach enables us to describe phases with spontaneously broken symmetries while satisfying the Mermin-Wagner theorem. We show that it is possible to choose the Hartree-Fock--RPA theory as initial condition of the RG flow and argue that the 2PI-NPRG is not restricted to the weak-coupling limit. An expansion of the Luttinger-Ward functional about the minimum of the 2PI effective action including only the two-particle 2PI vertex leads to nontrivial RG equations where interactions between fermions and collective excitations naturally emerge.

Remarks on exact RG equations

Exact RG equations are discussed with emphasis on the role of the anomalous dimension η . For the Polchinski equation, this may be introduced as a free parameter reflecting the freedom of such equations up to contributions which vanish in the functional integral. The exact value of η is only determined by the requirement that there should exist a well defined nontrivial limit at an IR fixed point. The determination of η is related to the existence of an exact marginal operator, for which an explicit form is given. The results are extended to the exact Wetterich RG equation for the one particle irreducible action Γ by a Legendre transformation. An alternative derivation of the derivative expansion is described. An application to N = 2 supersymmetric theories in three dimensions is described where if an IR fixed point exists then η is not small.

Epsilon expansion for multicritical fixed points and exact renormalisation group equations

The Polchinski version of the exact renormalisation group equations is applied to multicritical fixed points, which are present for dimensions between two and four, for scalar theories using both the local potential approximation and its extension, the derivative expansion. The results are compared with the epsilon expansion by showing that the nonlinear differential equations may be linearised at each multicritical point and the epsilon expansion treated as a perturbative expansion. The results for critical exponents are compared with corresponding epsilon expansion results from standard perturbation theory. The results provide a test for the validity of the local potential approximation and also the derivative expansion. An alternative truncation of the exact RG equation leads to equations which are similar to those found in the derivative expansion but which gives correct results for critical exponents to order ε and also for the field anomalous dimension to order ε2. An exact marginal operator for the full RG equations is also constructed.

Wilson–Polchinski exact renormalization group equation forO (N) systems: leading and next-to-leading orders in the derivative expansion

With a view to study the convergence properties of the derivative expansion of the exactrenormalization group (RG) equation, I explicitly study the leading and next-to-leadingorders of this expansion applied to the Wilson–Polchinski equation in the case of theN-vector model with thesymmetry O (N). As a test,the critical exponents η and ν as well as thesubcritical exponent ω (and higher ones) are estimated in three dimensions for values ofN rangingfrom 1 to 20. Icompare the results with the corresponding estimates obtained in preceding studies or treatments ofother O (N) exact RG equations at second order. The possibility of varyingN allows the derivative expansion method to be better valued. The values obtained from theresummation of high orders of perturbative field theory are used as standards to illustratethe eventual convergence in each case. Particular attention is drawn to the preservation (ornot) of the reparameterization invariance.

Renormalizability of gauge theories in extra dimensions

We analyze the possibility of nonperturbative renormalizability of gauge theories in D > 4 dimensions. We develop a scenario, based on Weinberg's idea of asymptotic safety, that allows for renormalizability in extra dimensions owing to a non-Gaussian ultraviolet stable fixed point. Our scenario predicts a critical dimension D_cr beyond which the UV fixed point vanishes, such that renormalizability is possible for D <= D_cr. Within the framework of exact RG equations, the critical dimension for various SU(N) gauge theories can be computed to lie near five dimensions: 5 ~< D_cr < 6. Therefore, our results exclude nonperturbative renormalizability of gauge theories in D=6 and higher dimensions.

Exact multilocal renormalization group and applications to disordered problems.

We develop a method, the exact multilocal renormalization group (EMRG) which applies to a broad set of theories. It is based on the systematic multilocal expansion of the Polchinski-Wilson exact renormalization group (ERG) equation together with a scheme to compute correlation functions. Integrating out explicitly the nonlocal interactions, we reduce the ERG equation obeyed by the full interaction functional to a flow equation for a function, its local part. This is done perturbatively around fixed points, but exactly to any given order in the local part. It is thus controlled, at variance with projection methods, e.g., derivative expansions or local potential approximations. Our EMRG method is well-suited to problems such as the pinning of disordered elastic systems, previously described via functional renormalization group (FRG) approach based on a hard cutoff scheme. Since it involves arbitrary cutoff functions, we explicitly verify universality to O(epsilon=4-D), both of the T=0 FRG equation and of correlations. Extension to finite temperature T yields the finite size (L) susceptibility fluctuations characterizing mesoscopic behavior (Deltachi)2 approximately L(straight theta)/T, where straight theta is the energy exponent. Finally, we obtain the universal scaling function to O(epsilon(1/3)) which describes the ground state of a domain wall in a random field confined by a field gradient, compare with exact results and variational method. Explicit two loop exact RG equations are derived and the application to the FRG problem is sketched.

Flow equations for the Higgs top system

The flow equations or exact RG equations for the Higgs Top System are solved to leading order in 1 N c . This allows us to relate arbitrary bare actions with this field content continuously to effective low-energy theories, and we find the flow converging towards general renormalizable models. The assumption of a bare action of the generalized Nambu-Jona-Lasinio type does not restrict the parameters of the low-energy theory.

Gradient expansion based on the physical RG branch

A recently obtained physical branch solution of the exact (local) RG equation is used as a zeroth order approximation for a verifiable gradient expansion.