Field-theoretic Renormalization Group Methods Research Articles

Anomalous Scaling in the Kinematic Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence

The problem of the anomalous scaling in the kinematic magnetohydrodynamic turbulence is investigated using the field theoretic renormalization group method and the operator product expansion technique. The anomalous dimensions of all leading composite operators, which drive the anomalous scaling of the correlation functions of a weak passive magnetic field, are determined up to the second order of the perturbation theory (i.e., in the two-loop approximation in the field theoretic terminology) in the presence of a large scale anisotropy for physically the most interesting three-dimensional case. It is shown that the leading role in the anomalous scaling properties of the model is played by the anomalous dimensions of the composite operators near the isotropic shell, in accordance with the Kolmogorov’s local isotropy restoration hypothesis. The importance of the two-loop corrections to the anomalous dimensions of the leading composite operators is demonstrated.

Influence of conformal symmetry on the amplitude ratios for O(N) models

In this Letter we compute analytically the effect of conformal symmetry on the radiative corrections to the amplitude ratios for O massless scalar field theories in curved spacetime for probing the two-scale-factor universality hypothesis. For that we employ three distinct and independent field-theoretic renormalization group methods. The amplitude ratios values obtained are identical when computed through the three distinct methods, thus showing their universal character. Furthermore, they are the same as that obtained in flat spacetime, then satisfying the two-scale-factor universality hypothesis.

Influence of exact Lorentz-violating mechanism on the critical exponents for massive q-deformed λϕ4 scalar field theory

We probe the influence of Lorentz-violating mechanism, treated exactly, on the radiative quantum corrections to critical exponents for massive [Formula: see text]-deformed O([Formula: see text]) [Formula: see text] scalar field theories. We attain that task by employing three distinct and independent field-theoretic renormalization group methods. Firstly, we compute the critical exponents up to the finite next-to-leading order for then generalizing the results for any loop level. We show that the [Formula: see text]-deformed critical exponents are insensible to the Lorentz symmetry breaking mechanism thus agreeing with the universality hypothesis.

Exact Lorentz-violating q-deformed O(N) universality class

We examine the influence of exact Lorentz-violating symmetry mechanism on the radiative quantum corrections to the critical exponents for massless [Formula: see text]-deformed O([Formula: see text]) [Formula: see text] scalar field theories. For that, we employ three different and independent field-theoretic renormalization group methods for computing analytically the [Formula: see text]-deformed critical exponents up to next-to-leading order. Then, we generalize the former finite loop level results for any loop order. We show that the Lorentz-violating [Formula: see text]-deformed critical exponents, obtained through the three methods, turn out to be identical and furthermore the same as their Lorentz-invariant [Formula: see text]-deformed ones. We argue that this result is in accordance with the universality hypothesis.

Universality hypothesis breakdown at one-loop order

We probe the universality hypothesis by analytically computing, at least, the two-loop corrections to the critical exponents for $q$-deformed O($N$) self-interacting $\lambda\phi^{4}$ scalar field theories through six distinct and independent field-theoretic renormalization group methods and $\epsilon$-expansion techniques. We show that the effect of $q$-deformation on the one-loop corrections to the $q$-deformed critical exponents is null, so universality hypothesis is broken down at this loop order. Such effect emerges just, at least, at two-loop level and the validity of universality hypothesis is restored. The $q$-deformed critical exponents obtained through the six methods are the same and, furthermore, reduce to their non-deformed values in the appropriated limit.

Exact Lorentz-violating all-loop ultraviolet divergences in scalar field theories

In this work we evaluate analytically the ultraviolet divergences of Lorentz-violating massive O(N) lambda phi ^{4} scalar field theories, which are exact in the Lorentz-violating mechanism, firstly explicitly at next-to-leading order and latter at any loop level through an induction procedure based on a theorem following from the exact approach, for computing the corresponding critical exponents. For attaining that goal, we employ three different and independent field-theoretic renormalization group methods. The results found for the critical exponents show that they are identical in the three distinct methods and equal to their Lorentz-invariant counterparts. Furthermore, we show that the results obtained here, based on the single concept of loop order of the referred terms of the corresponding beta -function and anomalous dimensions, reduce to the ones obtained through the earlier non-exact approach based on a joint redefinition of the field and coupling constant of the theory, in the appropriate limit.

Critical properties of scalar field theory with Lorentz violation: Exact treatment of Lorentz-violating mechanism

In this work, we compute analytically the infrared divergences of massless O(N) self-interacting scalar field theories with Lorentz violation, which are exact in the Lorentz-violating Kμν coefficients, for evaluating the corresponding next-to-leading order critical exponents. For that, we apply three distinct and independent field-theoretic renormalization group methods. We find that the outcomes for the critical exponents are the same in the three methods and, furthermore, are identical to their Lorentz invariant counterparts. We generalize the results for all loop levels by employing a general theorem arising from the exact procedure and give the corresponding physical interpretation.

Unconventional phases of attractive Fermi gases in synthetic Hall ribbons

A novel way to produce quantum Hall ribbons in a cold atomic system is to use M hyperfine states of atoms in a 1D optical lattice to mimic an additional "synthetic dimension". A notable aspect here is that the SU(M) symmetric interaction between atoms manifests as "infinite ranged" along the synthetic dimension. We study the many body physics of fermions with attractive interactions in this system. We use a combination of analytical field theoretic and numerical density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) methods to reveal the rich ground state phase diagram of the system, including novel phases such as squished baryon fluids. Remarkably, changing the parameters entails unusual crossovers and transitions, e. g., we show that increasing the magnetic field (that produces the Hall effect) may convert a "ferrometallic" state at low fields to a "squished baryon superfluid" (with algebraic pairing correlations) at high fields. We also show that this system provides a unique opportunity to study quantum phase separation in a multiflavor ultracold fermionic system.

Critical initial-slip scaling for the noisy complex Ginzburg–Landau equation

We employ the perturbative fieldtheoretic renormalization group method to investigate the universal critical behavior near the continuous non-equilibrium phase transition in the complex Ginzburg–Landau equation with additive white noise. This stochastic partial differential describes a remarkably wide range of physical systems: coupled nonlinear oscillators subject to external noise near a Hopf bifurcation instability; spontaneous structure formation in non-equilibrium systems, e.g., in cyclically competing populations; and driven-dissipative Bose–Einstein condensation, realized in open systems on the interface of quantum optics and many-body physics, such as cold atomic gases and exciton-polaritons in pumped semiconductor quantum wells in optical cavities. Our starting point is a noisy, dissipative Gross–Pitaevski or nonlinear Schrödinger equation, or equivalently purely relaxational kinetics originating from a complex-valued Landau–Ginzburg functional, which generalizes the standard equilibrium model A critical dynamics of a non-conserved complex order parameter field. We study the universal critical behavior of this system in the early stages of its relaxation from a Gaussian-weighted fully randomized initial state. In this critical aging regime, time translation invariance is broken, and the dynamics is characterized by the stationary static and dynamic critical exponents, as well as an independent ‘initial-slip’ exponent. We show that to first order in the dimensional expansion about the upper critical dimension, this initial-slip exponent in the complex Ginzburg–Landau equation is identical to its equilibrium model A counterpart. We furthermore employ the renormalization group flow equations as well as construct a suitable complex spherical model extension to argue that this conclusion likely remains true to all orders in the perturbation expansion.

Perturbative Field-Theoretical Renormalization Group Approach to Driven-Dissipative Bose-Einstein Criticality

The universal critical behavior of the driven-dissipative non-equilibrium Bose-Einstein condensation transition is investigated employing the field-theoretical renormalization group method. Such criticality may be realized in broad ranges of driven open systems on the interface of quantum optics and many-body physics, from exciton-polariton condensates to cold atomic gases. The starting point is a noisy and dissipative Gross-Pitaevski equation corresponding to a complex valued Landau-Ginzburg functional, which captures the near critical non-equilibrium dynamics, and generalizes Model A for classical relaxational dynamics with non-conserved order parameter. We confirm and further develop the physical picture previously established by means of a functional renormalization group study of this system. Complementing this earlier numerical analysis, we analytically compute the static and dynamical critical exponents at the condensation transition to lowest non-trivial order in the dimensional epsilon expansion about the upper critical dimension d_c = 4, and establish the emergence of a novel universal scaling exponent associated with the non-equilibrium drive. We also discuss the corresponding situation for a conserved order parameter field, i.e., (sub-)diffusive Model B with complex coefficients.

A Functional Generalization of the Field-Theoretical Renormalization Group Approach for the Single-Impurity Anderson Model

We apply a functional implementation of the field-theoretical renormalization group (RG) method up to two loops to the single-impurity Anderson model. To achieve this, we follow a RG strategy similar to that proposed by Vojta et al. (in Phys. Rev. Lett. 85:4940, 2000), which consists of defining a soft ultraviolet regulator in the space of Matsubara frequencies for the renormalized Green’s function. Then we proceed to derive analytically and solve numerically integro-differential flow equations for the effective couplings and the quasiparticle weight of the present model, which fully treat the interplay of particle-particle and particle-hole parquet diagrams and the effect of the two-loop self-energy feedback into them. We show that our results correctly reproduce accurate numerical renormalization group data for weak to slightly moderate interactions. These results are in excellent agreement with other functional Wilsonian RG works available in the literature. Since the field-theoretical RG method turns out to be easier to implement at higher loops than the Wilsonian approach, higher-order calculations within the present approach could improve further the results for this model at stronger couplings. We argue that the present RG scheme could thus offer a possible alternative to other functional RG methods to describe electronic correlations within this model.

Length-scale dependent superconductor-insulator quantum phase transitions in one dimension

We study the dissipation physics of a one dimensional mesoscopic superconducting quantum interference device array using the field-theoretical renormalization group method. We observe length scale dependent, superconductor-insulator quantum phase transition at very low temperature and also observe the dual behavior of the system for higher and lower values of magnetic field. At a critical magnetic field, we also observe a critical behavior where the resistance is independent of length.

Field theoretical approach to bicritical and tetracritical behavior: Statics and dynamics

We discuss the static and dynamic multicritical behavior of three-dimensional systems of $O(n_\|)\oplus O(n_\perp)$ symmetry as it is explained by the field theoretical renormalization group method. Whereas the static renormalization group functions are currently know within high order expansions, we show that an account of two loop contributions refined by an appropriate resummation technique gives an accurate quantitative description of the multicritical behavior. One of the essential features of the static multicritical behavior obtained already in two loop order for the interesting case of an antiferromagnet in a magnetic field ($n_\|=1$, $n_\perp=2$) are the stability of the biconical fixed point and the neighborhood of the stability border lines to the other fixed points leading to very small transient exponents. We further pursue an analysis of dynamical multicritical behavior choosing different forms of critical dynamics and calculating asymptotic and effective dynamical exponents within the minimal subtraction scheme.

Thermodynamic Casimir effects involving interacting field theories with zero modes

Systems with an $O(n)$ symmetrical Hamiltonian are considered in a $d$-dimensional slab geometry of macroscopic lateral extension and finite thickness $L$ that undergo a continuous bulk phase transition in the limit $L\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$. The effective forces induced by thermal fluctuations at and above the bulk critical temperature ${T}_{c,\ensuremath{\infty}}$ (thermodynamic Casimir effect) are investigated below the upper critical dimension ${d}^{*}=4$ by means of field-theoretic renormalization-group methods for the case of periodic and special-special boundary conditions, where the latter correspond to the critical enhancement of the surface interactions on both boundary planes. As shown previously [Europhys. Lett. 75, 241 (2006)], the zero modes that are present in Landau theory at ${T}_{c,\ensuremath{\infty}}$ make conventional renormalization-group-improved perturbation theory in $4\ensuremath{-}ϵ$ dimensions ill-defined. The revised expansion introduced there is utilized to compute the scaling functions of the excess free energy and the Casimir force for temperatures $T\ensuremath{\geqslant}{T}_{c,\ensuremath{\infty}}$ as functions of $\mathsf{L}\ensuremath{\equiv}L∕{\ensuremath{\xi}}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}$, where ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}$ is the bulk correlation length. Scaling functions of the $L$-dependent residual free energy per area are obtained, whose $\mathsf{L}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ limits are in conformity with previous results for the Casimir amplitudes ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{C}$ to $O({ϵ}^{3∕2})$ and display a more reasonable small-$\mathsf{L}$ behavior inasmuch as they approach the critical value ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{C}$ monotonically as $\mathsf{L}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$. Extrapolations to $d=3$ for the Ising case $n=1$ with periodic boundary conditions are in fair agreement with Monte Carlo results. In the case of special-special boundary conditions, extrapolations to $d=3$ are hampered by the fact that the one-loop result for the inverse finite-size susceptibility becomes negative for some values of $\mathsf{L}$ when $ϵ\ensuremath{\gtrsim}0.83$.

Critical dynamics: a field-theoretical approach

We review the progress made in dynamic bulk critical behaviour in equilibrium in the last 25 years since the review of Halperin and Hohenberg. We unify the presentation of the theoretical background by restricting ourselves to the field-theoretic renormalization group method. The main results obtained in the different universality classes are presented. This contains the critical dynamics near the gas–liquid transition in pure fluids (model H), the plait point and consolute point in mixtures (model H � ), the superfluid transition in 4 He (model F) and 4 He– 3 He mixtures (model F � ), the Curie point (model J) and Neel point (model G) in Heisenberg magnets and the superconducting transition. In comparison with experimental results, it became clear that in most cases one has to consider apart from the universal asymptotic critical behaviour also the non-universal effective behaviour. Either because it turned out to be inevitable due to a small dynamical transient exponent inhibiting the system to reach the asymptotics (e.g., at the superfluid transition) or because one is interested in the region further away from the phase transition like in pure fluids and mixtures at their gas–liquid or demixing transition. The calculation of the critical dynamics is adequate in most cases only in two-loop order. We review these results and present the solution to unreasonable features found for some models. Thus, we consider model C where relaxational and diffusive dynamics are coupled and the scaling properties and the limit to a purely relaxational model (model A) have not been understood. In general for models where the order parameter couples to other conserved densities time scale ratios between the kinetic coefficients of the order parameter and the conserved densities play an important role. Their fixed-point values and the approach to the fixed point are changed considerably in two-loop order compared to their values in one-loop order. These considerations are relevant for the explanation of the dynamical critical shape functions of systems such as superfluid helium (model F) and the isotropic antiferromagnet (model G). As far as possible, the comparison of results obtained by the renormalization group theory with numerical simulations has been made.

Theory of the Dynamics of First-Order Phase Transitions: Unstable Fixed Points, Exponents, and Dynamical Scaling

Phase transitions are of great importance in a diversity of fields. They are usually classified into continuous phase transitions and first-order phase transitions (FOPTs). Whereas the former has a well-developed theoretical framework of the renormalization-group (RG) theory, no general theory has yet been developed for the latter that appear far more frequently. Focusing on the dynamics of a generic FOPT in the phi4 model below its critical point, we show by a field-theoretic RG method that it is governed by an unexpected unstable fixed point of the corresponding phi3 model. Accordingly, it exhibits a distinct scaling and universality behavior with unstable exponents different from the critical ones.

Applications of field-theoretic renormalization group methods to reaction–diffusion problems

We review the application of field-theoretic renormalization group (RG) methods to the study of fluctuations in reaction-diffusion problems. We first investigate the physical origin of universality in these systems, before comparing RG methods to other available analytic techniques, including exact solutions and Smoluchowski-type approximations. Starting from the microscopic reaction-diffusion master equation, we then pedagogically detail the mapping to a field theory for the single-species reaction k A -> l A (l < k). We employ this particularly simple but non-trivial system to introduce the field-theoretic RG tools, including the diagrammatic perturbation expansion, renormalization, and Callan-Symanzik RG flow equation. We demonstrate how these techniques permit the calculation of universal quantities such as density decay exponents and amplitudes via perturbative eps = d_c - d expansions with respect to the upper critical dimension d_c. With these basics established, we then provide an overview of more sophisticated applications to multiple species reactions, disorder effects, L'evy flights, persistence problems, and the influence of spatial boundaries. We also analyze field-theoretic approaches to nonequilibrium phase transitions separating active from absorbing states. We focus particularly on the generic directed percolation universality class, as well as on the most prominent exception to this class: even-offspring branching and annihilating random walks. Finally, we summarize the state of the field and present our perspective on outstanding problems for the future.

Boundary critical behaviour atm-axial Lifshitz points: the special transition for the case of a surface plane parallel to the modulation axes

The critical behaviour of $d$-dimensional semi-infinite systems with $n$-component order parameter $\bm{\phi}$ is studied at an $m$-axial bulk Lifshitz point whose wave-vector instability is isotropic in an $m$-dimensional subspace of $\mathbb{R}^d$. Field-theoretic renormalization group methods are utilised to examine the special surface transition in the case where the $m$ potential modulation axes, with $0\leq m\leq d-1$, are parallel to the surface. The resulting scaling laws for the surface critical indices are given. The surface critical exponent $\eta_\|^{\rm sp}$, the surface crossover exponent $\Phi$ and related ones are determined to first order in $\epsilon=4+\case{m}{2}-d$. Unlike the bulk critical exponents and the surface critical exponents of the ordinary transition, $\Phi$ is $m$-dependent already at first order in $\epsilon$. The $\Or(\epsilon)$ term of $\eta_\|^{\rm sp}$ is found to vanish, which implies that the difference of $\beta_1^{\rm sp}$ and the bulk exponent $\beta$ is of order $\epsilon^2$.

Bulk and boundary critical behavior at Lifshitz points

Lifshitz points are multicritical points at which a disordered phase, a homogeneous ordered phase, and a modulated ordered phase meet. Their bulk universality classes are described by natural generalizations of the standard $\phi^4$ model. Analyzing these models systematically via modern field-theoretic renormalization group methods has been a long-standing challenge ever since their introduction in the middle of the 1970s. We survey the recent progress made in this direction, discussing results obtained via dimensionality expansions, how they compare with Monte Carlo results, and open problems. These advances opened the way towards systematic studies of boundary critical behavior at $m$-axial Lifshitz points. The possible boundary critical behavior depends on whether the surface plane is perpendicular to one of the $m$ modulation axes or parallel to all of them. We show that the semi-infinite field theories representing the corresponding surface universality classes in these two cases of perpendicular and parallel surface orientation differ crucially in their Hamiltonian's boundary terms and the implied boundary conditions, and explain recent results along with our current understanding of this matter.

Renormalization Methods---A Guide For Beginners

The stated goal of this book is to fill a perceived gap between undergraduate texts on critical phenomena and advanced texts on quantum field theory, in the general area of renormalization methods. It is debatable whether this gap really exists nowadays, as a number of books have appeared in which it is made clear that field-theoretic renormalization group methods are not the preserve of particle theory, and indeed are far more easily appreciated in the contexts of statistical and condensed matter physics. Nevertheless, this volume does have a fresh aspect to it, perhaps because of the author's background in fluid dynamics and turbulence theory, rather than through the more traditional migration from particle physics. The book begins at a very elementary level, in an effort to motivate the use of renormalization methods. This is a worthy effort, but it is likely that most of this section will be thought too elementary by readers wanting to get their teeth into the subject, while those for whom this section is apparently written are likely to find the later chapters rather challenging. The author's particular approach then leads him to emphasise the role of renormalized perturbation theory (rather than the renormalization group) in a number of problems, including non-linear systems and turbulence. Some of these ideas will be novel and perhaps even surprising to traditionally trained field theorists. Most of the rest of the book is on far more familiar territory: the momentum-space renormalization group, epsilon-expansion, and so on. This is standard stuff, and, like many other textbooks, it takes a considerable chunk of the book to explain all the formalism. As a result, there is only space to discuss the standard 4 field theory as applied to the Ising model (even the N-vector model is not covered) so that no impression is conveyed of the power and extent of all the applications and generalizations of the techniques. It is regrettable that so much space is spent on rather oversimplified and unrelated models in the first part of the book that, in the end, the reader is left breathless on the threshold of the really interesting material. Despite the earlier emphasis on the application of renormalization ideas in dynamics, in the end the full power of the field-theoretical approach is not applied to the obvious arena of dynamic critical phenomena (where there certainly is currently a gap in the literature) but to the Navier--Stokes equations. The development of the book is somewhat illogical in places. Mean field theory interrupts discussion of block spin methods and scaling arguments---the two are distinct approaches. The Callan--Symanzik equation is introduced before Feynman diagrams are explained, so that there is a hiatus before the actual results for the critical exponents can be found. I think this book is too broad in some respects, and too limited in others, to be a really useful textbook for a course on renormalization methods. Those who have learned these ideas either from field theory, or from nonlinear systems, will find it more rewarding for the sections covering the topics with which they are less familiar. For this reason alone, the book should at least find a place on most library reference shelves.