Functional RG Research Articles

Scale symmetry breaking and generation of mass at quantum critical points

We study an asymptotically free theory of N relativistic Dirac fermions and a real scalar field coupled by Yukawa and scalar self-interactions in three dimensions using functional renormalisation. In the limit of many fermion flavours, the cubic scalar coupling becomes exactly marginal due to quantum fluctuations, leading to a line of strongly-coupled infrared fixed points. Fermion mass can be generated through a quantum phase transition even if chiral symmetry is absent. The line of fixed points terminates at a critical endpoint due to the loss of vacuum stability. Exactly at the endpoint, scale symmetry is broken spontaneously, leading to the generation of fermion mass. Intriguingly, the absence of chiral symmetry is a prerequisite for the spontaneous generation of fermion mass, and not a consequence thereof. We also highlight close similarities between Gross-Neveu and Gross-Neveu-Yukawa theories at and away from critical points, and establish the large-N equivalence of their functional RG flows and quantum effective actions. Further implications including for conformal field theories are indicated.

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.

The phase diagram of the multi-matrix model with ABAB interaction from functional renormalization

At criticality, discrete quantum-gravity models are expected to give rise to continuum spacetime. Recent progress has established the functional renormalization group method in the context of such models as a practical tool to study their critical properties and to chart their phase diagrams. Here, we apply these techniques to the multi-matrix model with ABAB interaction potentially relevant for Lorentzian quantum gravity in 3 dimensions. We characterize the fixed-point structure and phase diagram of this model, paving the way for functional RG studies of more general multi-matrix or tensor models encoding causality and subjecting the technique to another strong test of its performance in discrete quantum gravity by comparing to known results.

Stochastic renormalization group and gradient flow

A non-perturbative and continuous definition of RG transformations as stochastic processes is proposed, inspired by the observation that the functional RG equations for effective Boltzmann factors may be interpreted as Fokker-Planck equations. The result implies a new approach to Monte Carlo RG that is amenable to lattice simulation. Long-distance correlations of the effective theory are shown to approach gradient-flowed correlations, which are simpler to measure. The Markov property of the stochastic RG transformation implies an RG scaling formula which allows for the measurement of anomalous dimensions when transcribed into gradient flow expectation values.

Fluctuating vector mesons in analytically continued functional RG flow equations

In this work we study contributions due to vector and axial-vector meson fluctuations to their in-medium spectral functions in an effective low-energy theory inspired by the gauged linear sigma model. In particular, we show how to describe these fluctuations in the effective theory by massive (axial-)vector fields in agreement with the known structure of analogous single-particle or resonance contributions to the corresponding conserved currents. The vector and axial-vector meson spectral functions are then computed by numerically solving the analytically continued functional renormalization group flow equations for their retarded two-point functions at finite temperature and density in the effective theory. We identify the new contributions that arise due to the (axial-)vector meson fluctuations, and assess their influence on possible signatures of a QCD critical end point and the restoration of chiral symmetry in thermal dilepton spectra.

Leading order CFT analysis of multi-scalar theories in d>2

We investigate multi-field multicritical scalar theories using CFT constraints on two- and three-point functions combined with the Schwinger–Dyson equation. This is done in general and without assuming any symmetry for the models, which we just define to admit a Landau–Ginzburg description that includes the most general critical interactions built from monomials of the form phi _{i_1} dots phi _{i_m}. For all such models we analyze to the leading order of the epsilon -expansion the anomalous dimensions of the fields and those of the composite quadratic operators. For models with even m we extend the analysis to an infinite tower of composite operators of arbitrary order. The results are supplemented by the computation of some families of structure constants. We also find the equations which constrain the nontrivial critical theories at leading order and show that they coincide with the ones obtained with functional perturbative RG methods. This is done for the case m=3 as well as for all the even models. We ultimately specialize to S_q symmetric models, which are related to the q-state Potts universality class, and focus on three realizations appearing below the upper critical dimensions 6, 4 and frac{10}{3}, which can thus be nontrivial CFTs in three dimensions.

A functional RG approach for the BFKL Pomeron

In this paper we encode the perturbative BFKL leading logarithmic resummation, relevant for the Regge limit behavior of QCD scattering amplitudes, in the IR-regulated effective action which satisfies exact functional renormalization group equations. This is obtained using a truncation with a specific infinite set of non local vertices describing the multi-Regge kinematics (MRK). The goal is to use this framework to study, in the high energy limit and at larger transverse distances the transition to a much simpler effective local reggeon field theory, whose critical properties were recently investigated in the same framework. We perform a numerical analysis of the spectrum of the BFKL Pomeron deformed by the introduction of a Wilsonian infrared regulator to understand the properties of the leading poles (states) contributing to the high energy scattering.

Fermion-induced quantum criticality with two length scales in Dirac systems

The quantum phase transition to a $\mathbb{Z}_3$-ordered Kekul\'e valence bond solid in two-dimensional Dirac semimetals is governed by a fermion-induced quantum critical point, which renders the putatively discontinuous transition continuous. We study the resulting universal critical behavior in terms of a functional RG approach, which gives access to the scaling behavior on the symmetry-broken side of the phase transition, for general dimension and number of Dirac fermions. In particular, we investigate the emergence of the fermion-induced quantum critical point for space-time dimensions $2<d<4$. We determine the integrated RG flow from the Dirac semi-metal to the symmetry-broken regime and analyze the underlying fixed point structure. We show that the fermion-induced criticality leads to a scaling form with two divergent length scales, due to the breaking of the discrete $\mathbb{Z}_3$ symmetry. This provides another source of scaling corrections, besides the one stemming from being in the proximity to the first order transition.

Exact RG flow equations and quantum gravity

We discuss the different forms of the functional RG equation and their relation to each other. In particular we suggest a generalized background field version that is close in spirit to the Polchinski equation as an alternative to the Wetterich equation to study Weinberg’s asymptotic safety program for defining quantum gravity, and argue that the former is better suited for this purpose. Using the heat kernel expansion and proper time regularization we find evidence in support of this program in agreement with previous work.

Functional perturbative RG and CFT data in the epsilon -expansion

We show how the use of standard perturbative RG in dimensional regularization allows for a renormalization group-based computation of both the spectrum and a family of coefficients of the operator product expansion (OPE) for a given universality class. The task is greatly simplified by a straightforward generalization of perturbation theory to a functional perturbative RG approach. We illustrate our procedure in the epsilon -expansion by obtaining the next-to-leading corrections for the spectrum and the leading corrections for the OPE coefficients of Ising and Lee-Yang universality classes and then give several results for the whole family of renormalizable multi-critical models phi ^{2n}. Whenever comparison is possible our RG results explicitly match the ones recently derived in CFT frameworks.

Functional RG approach to the Potts model

The critical behavior of the -states Potts model in d-dimensions is studied with functional renormalization group techniques. We devise a general method to derive β-functions for continuous values of d and n and we write the flow equation for the effective potential (LPA’) when instead n is fixed. We calculate several critical exponents, which are found to be in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations and ϵ-expansion results available in the literature. In particular, we focus on Percolation and Spanning Forest which are the only non-trivial universality classes in d = 4,5 and where our methods converge faster.

Physics and the choice of regulators in functional renormalisation group flows

The Renormalisation Group is a versatile tool for the study of many systems where scale-dependent behaviour is important. Its functional formulation can be cast into the form of an exact flow equation for the scale-dependent effective action in the presence of an infrared regularisation. The functional RG flow for the scale-dependent effective action depends explicitly on the choice of regulator, while the physics does not. In this work, we systematically investigate three key aspects of how the regulator choice affects RG flows: (i) We study flow trajectories along closed loops in the space of action functionals varying both, the regulator scale and shape function. Such a flow does not vanish in the presence of truncations. Based on a definition of the length of an RG trajectory, we suggest a constructive procedure for devising optimised regularisation schemes within a truncation. (ii) In systems with various field variables, a choice of relative cutoff scales is required. At the example of relativistic bosonic two-field models, we study the impact of this choice as well as its truncation dependence. We show that a crossover between different universality classes can be induced and conclude that the relative cutoff scale has to be chosen carefully for a reliable description of a physical system. (iii) Non-relativistic continuum models of coupled fermionic and bosonic fields exhibit also dependencies on relative cutoff scales and regulator shapes. At the example of the Fermi polaron problem in three spatial dimensions, we illustrate such dependencies and show how they can be interpreted in physical terms.

Covariant and background independent functional RG flow for the effective average action

We extend our prescription for the construction of a covariant and background-independent effective action for scalar quantum field theories to the case where momentum modes below a certain scale are suppressed by the presence of an infrared regulator. The key step is an appropriate choice of the infrared cutoff for which the Ward identity, capturing the information from single-field dependence of the ultraviolet action, continues to be exactly solvable, and therefore, in addition to covariance, manifest background independence of the effective action is guaranteed at any scale. A practical consequence is that in this framework one can adopt truncations dependent on the single total field. Furthermore we discuss the necessary and sufficient conditions for the preservation of symmetries along the renormalization group flow.

The unitary conformal field theory behind 2D Asymptotic Safety

Being interested in the compatibility of Asymptotic Safety with Hilbert space positivity (unitarity), we consider a local truncation of the functional RG flow which describes quantum gravity in $d>2$ dimensions and construct its limit of exactly two dimensions. We find that in this limit the flow displays a nontrivial fixed point whose effective average action is a non-local functional of the metric. Its pure gravity sector is shown to correspond to a unitary conformal field theory with positive central charge $c=25$. Representing the fixed point CFT by a Liouville theory in the conformal gauge, we investigate its general properties and their implications for the Asymptotic Safety program. In particular, we discuss its field parametrization dependence and argue that there might exist more than one universality class of metric gravity theories in two dimensions. Furthermore, studying the gravitational dressing in 2D asymptotically safe gravity coupled to conformal matter we uncover a mechanism which leads to a complete quenching of the a priori expected Knizhnik-Polyakov-Zamolodchikov (KPZ) scaling. A possible connection of this prediction to Monte Carlo results obtained in the discrete approach to 2D quantum gravity based upon causal dynamical triangulations is mentioned. Similarities of the fixed point theory to, and differences from, non-critical string theory are also described. On the technical side, we provide a detailed analysis of an intriguing connection between the Einstein-Hilbert action in $d>2$ dimensions and Polyakov's induced gravity action in two dimensions.

Scaling and renormalization in two dimensional quantum gravity

We study scaling and renormalization in two dimensional quantum gravity in a covariant framework. After reviewing the definition of a proper path integral measure, we use scaling arguments to rederive the KPZ relations, the fractal dimension of the theory and the scaling of the reparametrization-invariant two point function. Then we compute the scaling exponents entering in this relations by means of the functional RG. We show that a key ingredient to obtain the correct results already known from Liouville theory is the use of the exponential parametrization for metric fluctuations. We also show that with this parametrization we can recover the correct finite part of the effective action as the $\epsilon \to 0$ continuation of gravity in $d=2+\epsilon$ dimensions.

Convergence of derivative expansion in supersymmetric functional RG flows

We confirm the convergence of the derivative expansion in two supersymmetric models via the functional renormalization group method. Using pseudo-spectral methods, high-accuracy results for the lowest energies in supersymmetric quantum mechanics and a detailed description of the supersymmetric analogue of the Wilson-Fisher fixed point of the three-dimensional Wess-Zumino model are obtained. The superscaling relation proposed earlier, relating the relevant critical exponent to the anomalous dimension, is shown to be valid to all orders in the supercovariant derivative expansion and for all $d \ge 2$.

A functional RG equation for the c-function

After showing how to prove the integrated c-theorem within the functional RG framework based on the effective average action, we derive an exact RG flow equation for Zamolodchikov's c-function in two dimensions by relating it to the flow of the effective average action. In order to obtain a non-trivial flow for the c-function, we will need to understand the general form of the effective average action away from criticality, where nonlocal invariants, with beta functions as coefficients, must be included in the ansatz to be consistent. We then apply our construction to several examples: exact results, local potential approximation and loop expansion. In each case we construct the relative approximate c-function and find it to be consistent with Zamolodchikov's c-theorem. Finally, we present a relation between the c-function and the (matter induced) beta function of Newton's constant, allowing us to use heat kernel techniques to compute the RG running of the c-function.

Iterative path integral summation for nonequilibrium quantum transport

We have developed a numerically exact approach to compute real‐time path integral expressions for quantum transport problems out of equilibrium. The scheme is based on a deterministic iterative summation of the path integral (ISPI) for the generating function of nonequilibrium observables of interest. We apply the scheme to compute the charge current or dynamical quantities of small strongly correlated quantum systems as a quantum dot or molecules that are tunnel coupled to leads. Self‐energies due to the leads, being nonlocal in time, are fully taken into account within a finite memory time, thereby including non‐Markovian effects. Numerical results are extrapolated first to vanishing (Trotter) time discretization and, second, to infinite memory time. The method is applied to nonequilibrium transport through a single‐impurity Anderson dot in the first place. We benchmark our results in various regimes of the rich parameter space. In the respective regime of validity, iterative summation of real‐time path integrals (ISPI) results are shown to match those of other state‐of‐the art methods. Especially, we have chosen the mixed valence regime of the Anderson model to compare ISPI to time dependent density matrix renormalization group (tDMRG) and functional RG calculations. Secondly, we determine the nonequilibrium current through a molecular junction in presence of a vibrational mode. We have found an exact mapping of the single impurity Anderson–Holstein model to an effective spin‐1 problem. In analytically tractable regimes, as the adiabatic phonon or weak molecule‐lead coupling regime, we reproduce known perturbative results. Studying the crossover regime between those limits shows that the Franck–Condon blockade persists in the quantum limit. At low temperature, the Franck–Condon steps in the characteristics are smeared due to nonequilibrium conditions. The third system under investigation here is the magnetic Anderson model which consists of a spinful single‐orbital quantum dot with an incorporated quantum mechanical spin–1/2 magnetic impurity. Coulomb interaction together with the exchange coupling of the magnetic impurity with the electron spins strongly influence the dynamics. We investigate the nonequilibrium tunneling current through the system as a function of exchange and Coulomb interaction as well as the real‐time impurity polarization. From the real‐time evolution of physical observables, we are able to determine characteristics of the time‐dependent nonequilibrium current and the relaxation dynamics of the impurity. These examples illustrate that the ISPI technique is particularly well suited for the quantum regime, when all time and energy scales are of the same order of magnitude.

Self-energy flows in the two-dimensional repulsive Hubbard model

We study the two-dimensional repulsive Hubbard model by functional RG methods, using our recently proposed channel decomposition of the interaction vertex. The main technical advance of this work is that we calculate the full Matsubara frequency dependence of the self-energy and the interaction vertex in the whole frequency range without simplifying assumptions on its functional form, and that the effects of the self-energy are fully taken into account in the equations for the flow of the two-body vertex function. At Van Hove filling, we find that the Fermi surface deformations remain small at fixed particle density and have a minor impact on the structure of the interaction vertex. The frequency dependence of the self-energy, however, turns out to be important, especially at a transition from ferromagnetism to d-wave superconductivity. We determine non-Fermi-liquid exponents at this transition point.

Fluid membranes and2dquantum gravity

We study the RG flow of two dimensional (fluid) membranes embedded in Euclidean D-dimensional space using functional RG methods based on the effective average action. By considering a truncation ansatz for the effective average action with both extrinsic and intrinsic curvature terms we derive a system of beta functions for the running surface tension, bending rigidity and Gaussian rigidity. We look for non-trivial fixed points but we find no evidence for a crumpling transition at $T\neq0$. Finally, we propose to identify the $D\rightarrow 0$ limit of the theory with two dimensional quantum gravity. In this limit we derive new beta functions for both cosmological and Newton's constants.