Taming perturbative divergences in asymptotically safe gravity

We use functional renormalization group methods to study gravity minimally coupled to a free scalar field. This setup provides the prototype of a gravitational theory which is perturbatively non-renormalizable at one-loop level, but may possess a non-trivial renormalization group fixed point controlling its UV behavior. We show that such a fixed point indeed exists within the truncations considered, lending strong support to the conjectured asymptotic safety of the theory. In particular, we demonstrate that the counterterms responsible for its perturbative non-renormalizability have no qualitative effect on this feature.     

N-Loop Treatment of Overlapping Diagrams by the Implicit Regularization Technique

We show how the Implicit Regularization Technique (IRT) can be used for the perturbative renormalization of a simple field theoretical model generally used as a test theory for new techniques. While IRT has been applied successfully in many problems involving symmetry-breaking anomalies and nonabelian gauge groups, all at one-loop level, this is the first attempt at a generalization of the technique for perturbative renormalization. We show that the overlapping divergent loops can be given a completely algebraic treatment. We display the connection between renormalization and counterterms in the Lagrangian. The algebraic advantages make IRT worth studying for perturbative renormalization of gauge theories.     

Renormalization of the Quantum Theory of the Solid State

The perturbative structure of a quantum field theory of the solid state, including allradiative corrections, is applied for the calculation of renormaiization factors and counterterms. After a general outline, approximation schemes for the explicit evaluation of renormalization parameters are developed.     

Renormalization Proof for Massive $$\phi_4^4$$ Theory on Riemannian Manifolds

In this paper we present an inductive renormalizability proof for massive theory on Riemannian manifolds, based on the Wegner-Wilson flow equations of the Wilson renormalization group, adapted to perturbation theory. The proof goes in hand with bounds on the perturbative Schwinger functions which imply tree decay between their position arguments. An essential prerequisite is precise bounds on the short and long distance behaviour of the heat kernel on the manifold. With the aid of a regularity assumption (often taken for granted) we also show that for suitable renormalization conditions the bare action takes the minimal form, that is to say, there appear the same counterterms as in flat space, apart from a logarithmically divergent one which is proportional to the scalar curvature.     

Perturbation and renormalization in thermo field dynamics

A systematic renormalization procedure used in the perturbative calculation of the real-time causal Green's functions at finite temperature is presented. The formalism of thermo field dynamics is employed throughout, permitting the use of Feynman diagram techniques. The renormalizability by means of the temperature-independent counterterms is proved.     

A remark on the motivic Galois group and the quantum coadjoint action

It has been suggested that the Grothendieck–Teichmüller group GT should act on the Duflo isomorphism of su(2), but the corresponding realization of GT turned out to be trivial. We show that a solvable quotient of the motivic Galois group – which is supposed to agree with GT – is closely related to the quantum coadjoint action on for q a root of unity, i.e. in the quantum group case one has a nontrivial realization of a quotient of the motivic Galois group. From a discussion of the algebraic properties of this realization we conclude that in more general cases than it should be related to a quantum version of the motivic Galois group. Finally, we discuss the relation of our construction to quantum field and string theory and explain what we believe to be the ‘physical reason’ behind this relation between the motivic Galois group and the quantum coadjoint action. This might be a starting point for the generalization of our construction to more involved examples.     

Renormalization group equations for effective field theories

We derive the renormalization group equations for a generic non-renormalizable theory. We show that the equations allow one to derive the structure of the leading divergences at any loop order in terms of one-loop diagrams only. In chiral perturbation theory, e.g., this means that one can obtain the series of leading chiral logs by calculating only one-loop diagrams. We discuss also the renormalization group equations for the subleading divergences, and the crucial role of counterterms that vanish at the equations of motion. Finally, we show that the renormalization group equations obtained here apply equally well also to renormalizable theories.Received: 5 September 2003, Published online: 20 November 2003     

One-loop-dimensional reduction of the linear σ model

We perform the dimensional reduction of the linear σ model at one-loop level. The effective potential of the reduced theory obtained from the integration over the nonzero Matsubara frequencies is exhibited. Thermal mass and coupling constant renormalization constants are given, as well as the thermal renormalization group equation which controls the dependence of the counterterms on the temperature. We also recover, for the reduced theory, the vacuum unstability of the model for large N.     

Dynamical adjustment of propagators in Renormalization Group flows

A class of continuous renormalization group flows with a dynamical adjustment of the propagator is introduced and studied theoretically for fermionic and bosonic quantum field theories. The adjustment allows to include self–energy effects nontrivially in the denominator of the propagator and to adapt the scale decomposition to a moving singularity, and hence to define flows of Fermi surfaces in a natural way. These flows require no counterterms, but the counterterms used in earlier treatments can be constructed using them. The influence of propagator adjustment on the strong–coupling behaviour of flows is examined for a simple example, and some conclusions about the strong coupling behaviour of renormalization group flows are drawn.     

The symmetry group of Feynman diagrams and consistency of the BPHZ renormalization scheme

We study the relation between the symmetry group of a Feynman diagram and its reduced diagrams.We then prove that the counterterms in the BPHZ renormalization scheme are consistent with adding counterterms to the interaction Hamiltonian in all cases,including that of Feynman diagrams with symmetry factors.     

Modified action glueballs

The mass of the 0⁺ glueball in 4-dimensional lattice gauge theory with a mixed SU(2)-SO(3) action is obtained via Monte Carlo. We work in a region far from the critical end point in the phase diagram, with an action partly motivated by renormalization group flows in the Migdal-Kadanoff approximation. A large-N resummation of perturbation theory is used to show that the mass gap scales as predicted by the perturbative renormalization group. Independent of this, our results show that the ratio of the glueball mass to the square root of the string tension, obtained from a previous Monte Carlo, is a renormalization group invariant.     

On Motives Associated to Graph Polynomials

The appearance of multiple zeta values in anomalous dimensions and β-functions of renormalizable quantum field theories has given evidence towards a motivic interpretation of these renormalization group functions. In this paper we start to hunt the motive, restricting our attention to a subclass of graphs in four dimensional scalar field theory which give scheme independent contributions to the above functions.     

Improving jet distributions with effective field theory

We obtain perturbative expressions for jet distributions using soft-collinear effective theory (SCET). By matching SCET onto QCD at high energy, tree level matrix elements and higher order virtual corrections can be reproduced in SCET. The resulting operators are then evolved to lower scales, with additional operators being populated by required threshold matchings in the effective theory. We show that the renormalization group evolution and threshold matchings reproduce the Sudakov factors and splitting functions of QCD, and that the effective theory naturally combines QCD matrix elements and parton showers. The effective theory calculation is systematically improvable and any higher order perturbative effects can be included by a well-defined procedure.     

A systematic extended iterative solution for quantum chromodynamics

An outline is given of an extended perturbative solution of Euclidean QCD which systematically accounts for a class of nonperturbative effects, while still allowing renormalization by the perturbative counterterms. Euclidean proper verticesΓ are approximated by a double sequenceΓ ^[r,p] , wherer denotes the degree of rational approximation with respect to the spontaneous mass scaleΛ _QCD, nonanalytic in the couplingg ², whilep represents the order of perturbative corrections ing ² calculated fromΓ ^[r,0]-rather than from the perturbative Feynman rulesΓ ^(0)pert-as a starting point. The mechanism allowing the nonperturbative terms to reproduce themselves in the Dyson-Schwinger equations preserves perturbative renormalizability and is intimately tied to the divergence structure of the theory. As a result, it restricts the self-consistency problem for theΓ ^[r,0] rigorously — i.e. without decoupling approximations — to the seven superficially divergent vertices. An interesting aspect of the solution is that rational-function sequences for the QCD propagators contain subsequences describing short-lived elementary excitations. The method is calculational, in that it allows the known techniques of loop computation to be used while dealing with integrands of truly nonperturative content.     

Polymers in a weak random potential in dimension four: Rigorous renormalization group analysis

Correlation functions of the Edwards model of polymers at weak coupling are defined and studied at the critical point, in dimension four, by a rigorous renormalization group method which validates, at any order, perturbative renormalization group results on their behaviour at large distances. Remainders are controlled by a new argument which enlarges the use of methods of constructive field theory to models of statistical physics.A large part of this work has also included the collaboration of D. Arnaudon     

Renormalization of non-abelian gauge theories in curved space-time

We use indirect, renormalization group arguments to calculate the gravitational counterterms needed to renormalize an interacting non-abelian gauge theory in curved space-time. This method makes it straightforward to calculate terms in the trace anomaly which first appear at high order in the coupling constant, some of which would need a 4-loop calculation to find directly. The role of gauge invariance in the theory is considered, and we discuss briefly the effect of using coordinate-dependent gauge-fixing terms. We conclude by suggesting possible applications of this work to models of the very early universe.     

The background field method and the ultraviolet structure of the supersymmetric nonlinear σ-model

Calculations of the ultraviolet counterterms of the bosonic and supersymmetric nonlinear σ-models in two space-time dimensions are undertaken in order to verify conclusions of a recent argument based on differential geometry in the supersymmetric case. The background field method and the normal coordinate expansion are discussed in detail, and the generalized renormalization group pole equations applicable to the nonlinear σ-model are derived. Both component and superfield calculations of the counterterms are presented.     

The Langlands program and string modular K3 surfaces

A number theoretic approach to string compactification is developed for Calabi–Yau hypersurfaces in arbitrary dimensions. The motivic strategy involved is illustrated by showing that the Hecke eigenforms derived from Galois group orbits of the holomorphic two-form of a particular type of K3 surface can be expressed in terms of modular forms constructed from the worldsheet theory. The process of deriving string physics from spacetime geometry can be reversed, allowing the construction of K3 surface geometry from the string characters of the partition function. A general argument for K3 modularity is given by combining mirror symmetry with the proof of the Shimura–Taniyama conjecture.     

Lectures on renormalization and asymptotic safety

A short introduction is given on the functional renormalization group method, putting emphasis on its nonperturbative aspects. The method enables to find nontrivial fixed points in quantum field theoretic models which make them free from divergences and leads to the concept of asymptotic safety. It can be considered as a generalization of the asymptotic freedom which plays a key role in the perturbative renormalization. We summarize and give a short discussion of some important models, which are asymptotically safe such as the Gross–Neveu model, the nonlinear σ$\sigma$ model, the sine–Gordon model, and we consider the model of quantum Einstein gravity which seems to show asymptotic safety, too. We also give a detailed analysis of infrared behavior of such scalar models where a spontaneous symmetry breaking takes place. The deep infrared behavior of the broken phase cannot be treated within the framework of perturbative calculations. We demonstrate that there exists an infrared fixed point in the broken phase which creates a new scaling regime there, however its structure is hidden by the singularity of the renormalization group equations. The theory spaces of these models show several similar properties, namely the models have the same phase and fixed point structure. The quantum Einstein gravity also exhibits similarities when considering the global aspects of its theory space since the appearing two phases there show analogies with the symmetric and the broken phases of the scalar models. These results be nicely uncovered by the functional renormalization group method.