A perturbative nonequilibrium renormalization group method for dissipative quantum mechanics

We study a generic problem of dissipative quantum mechanics, a small local quantum system with discrete states coupled in an arbitrary way (i.e. not necessarily linear) to several infinitely large particle or heat reservoirs. For both bosonic or fermionic reservoirs we develop a quantum field-theoretical diagrammatic formulation in Liouville space by expanding systematically in the reservoir-system coupling and integrating out the reservoir degrees of freedom. As a result we obtain a kinetic equation for the reduced density matrix of the quantum system. Based on this formalism, we present a formally exact perturbative renormalization group (RG) method from which the kernel of this kinetic equation can be calculated. It is demonstrated how the nonequilibrium stationary state (induced by several reservoirs kept at different chemical potentials or temperatures), arbitrary observables such as the transport current, and the time evolution into the stationary state can be calculated. Most importantly, we show how RG equations for the relaxation and dephasing rates can be derived and how they cut off generically the RG flow of the vertices. The method is based on a previously derived real-time RG technique [1-4] but formulated here in Laplace space and generalized to arbitrary reservoir-system couplings. Furthermore, for fermionic reservoirs with flat density of states, we make use of a recently introduced cutoff scheme on the imaginary frequency axis [5] which has several technical advantages. Besides the formal set-up of the RG equations for generic problems of dissipative quantum mechanics, we demonstrate the method by applying it to the nonequilibrium isotropic Kondo model. We present a systematic way to solve the RG equations analytically in the weak-coupling limit and provide an outlook of the applicability to the strong-coupling case.     

Breakdown of the perturbative renormalization group at certain quantum critical points

It is shown that the presence of multiple time scales at a quantum critical point can lead to a breakdown of the loop expansion for critical exponents, since coefficients in the expansion diverge. Consequently, results obtained from finite-order perturbative renormalization-group treatments may not be an approximation in any sense to the true asymptotic critical behavior. This problem manifests itself as a nonrenormalizable field theory, or, equivalently, as the presence of a dangerous irrelevant variable. The quantum ferromagnetic transition in disordered metals provides an example.     

A proof of the irreversibility of renormalization group flows in four dimensions

We present a proof of the irreversibility of renormalization group flows, i.e. the c-theorem for unitary, renormalizable theories in four (or generally even) dimensions. Using Ward identities for scale transformations and spectral representation arguments, we show that the c-function based on the trace of the energy-momentum tensor (originally suggested by Cardy) decreases monotonically along renormalization group trajectories. At fixed points this c-function is stationary and coincides with the coefficient of the Euler density in the trace anomaly, while away from fixed points its decrease is due to the decoupling of positive-norm massive modes.     

A simple proof of the perturbative uniqueness of the Kerr solution

We present a mathematically simple and coordinate-free proof, based on the GHP spin-coefficient formalism, that a small stationary perturbation of a Kerr solution results in a new Kerr solution. Thus, under physically reasonable assumptions, we give a new and simple proof that a stationary black hole is given by a Kerr solution.     

A renormalization group with periodic behaviour

An explicit example of a renormalization group with periodic behaviour is constructed and analyzed using both truncated recurrence relations and direct numerical computations. This renormalization procedure arises in the context of transition to turbulence.     

Rapidity renormalization group

We introduce a systematic approach for the resummation of perturbative series which involves large logarithms not only due to large invariant mass ratios but large rapidities as well. A series of this form can appear in a variety of gauge theory observables. The formalism is utilized to calculate the jet broadening event shape in a systematic fashion to next-to-leading logarithmic order. An operator definition of the factorized cross section as well as a closed form of the next-to-leading-log cross section are presented. The result agrees with the data to within errors.     

A renormalization group analysis of turbulent transport

The field-theoretic renormalization group is used to derive scaling relations for the transport of passive scalars by an incompressible velocity field with a specified energy spectrum. Results are obtained with the analog of the expansion of critical phenomena and compared to exact results which are available for shear flows in two dimensions.A 1/N expansion is proposed for the regions in which the expansion fails.     

The charge and mass perturbative renormalization in explicitly covariant LFD

We present a study of the flavor asymmetry of polarized anti-quarks in the nucleon using the meson cloud model. We include contributions both from the vector mesons and the interference terms of pseudoscalar and vector mesons. Employing the bag model, we first give the polarized valence quark distribution of the meson and the interference distributions. Our calculations show that the interference effect mildly increases the prediction for at intermediate x region. We also discuss the contribution of “Pauli blocking” to the asymmetry. Received: 12 April 2001 / Revised version: 30 May 2001 / Published online: 19 July 2001     

Renormalization group improved perturbative QCD

The results of perturbative QCD calculations are reformulated as renormalization-scheme independent predictions; in so doing, we obtain a renormalization group improvement of perturbation theory. As an application, we show that asymptotic freedom alone does not give the correct quantitative relation between pseudoscalar charmonium decay and the scaling violations in deep inelastic scattering.     

Non-equilibrium scaling properties of a double quantum dot system: Comparison between perturbative renormalization group and flow equation approach

Since the experimental realization of Kondo physics in quantum dots, its far-from-equilibrium properties have generated considerable theoretical interest. This is due to the interesting interplay of non-equilibrium physics and correlation effects in this model, which has now been analyzed using several new theoretical methods that generalize renormalization techniques to non-equilibrium situations. While very good agreement between these methods has been found for the spin-1/2 Kondo model, it is desirable to have a better understanding of their applicability for more complicated impurity models. In this paper the differences and commons between two such approaches, namely the flow equation method out of equilibrium and the frequency-dependent poor man's scaling approach are presented for the non-equilibrium double quantum dot system. This will turn out to be a particularly suitable testing ground while being experimentally interesting in its own right. An outlook is given on the quantum critical behavior of the double quantum dot system and its accessibility with the two methods.     

A renormalization group analysis of the Kosterlitz-Thouless phase

We consider a classical Coulomb gas with a short distance cutoff in two dimensions; equivalently a Sine-Gordon field theory. For low temperature β^-1 and low activityz the gas is in a multipole phase, the Kosterlitz-Thouless phase. For β>8π andz sufficiently small we give a complete renormalization group analysis for this phase and show that the flow of the effective measures is toward a free field (infrared asymptotic freedom). This should lead to control over the long distance behavior of the theory. Research supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council     

Analyticity and renormalization group

We prove the inequalities ψ(y, α) ?α, |α_s(d/dα_s)(β(α_s)/α_s| ? 1 (for the Paterman-Stueckelberg-Gell-Mann-Low functions in QED and QCD) and γ₀(α_s ? 1 (for the anomalous dimension of the gauge-invariant operator O(x)). The consequences of the inequalities are discussed: for modern energies, comparison of theoretical and experimental moments of deep inelastic structure functions has a meaning only for N ? 7 (singlet case) and N ? 50 (non-singlet case); perturbation theory in QCD has a meaning only for α_rms ? 0.45.     

The eigenvalue-matching renormalization group

The eigenvalue-matching renormalization-group method is extended to the computation of the universal rescaling factors in addition to the universal bifurcation rate. Both the one-dimensional quadratic map and the two-dimensional area-preserving Hénon map are studied. The computation has been carried to very high orders: eleventh in the one-dimensional case and eighth in the two-dimensional case. The accuracy is so high and the algorithm so efficient that it may be used as an alternative to the direct numerical procedure.     

Supersymmetric renormalization group flows

The functional renormalization group equation for the quantum effective action is a powerful tool to investigate non-perturbative phenomena in quantum field theories. We discuss the application of manifest supersymmetric flow equations to the N = 1 Wess-Zumino model in two and three dimensions and the linear O(N) sigma model in three dimensions in the large-N limit. The former is a toy model for dynamical supersymmetry breaking, the latter for an exactly solvable field theory.     

Monte Carlo renormalization group

Monte Carlo computer simulations have long been used to obtain information on the behavior of thermodynamic systems. The method has the advantages of being applicable to a very large class of models and of using only systematically improvable approximations (finite size of system, statistical errors, etc.). However, in the critical region, finite-size effects mask the critical singularities, and put severe practical limits onto the accuracy to which the true critical behavior can be determined. By combining Monte Carlo simulations with a real-space renormalization-group analysis, a large increase in efficiency and accuracy can be achieved—without the uncertainties of the usual truncation approximations. The methods are illustrated by explicit calculations on models exhibiting critical and tricritical behavior.     

The equations of Wilson's renormalization group and analytic renormalization

In the present series of two papers we solve exactly Wilson's equations for a long-range effective hamiltonian. These equations arise when one seeks a fixed point of the Wilson's renormalization group transformations in the formulation of perturbation theory. The first paper has a general character. Wilson's renormalization transformation and its modifications are defined and the group property for them is established. Some topological aspects of the renormalization transformations are discussed. A space of projection hamiltonians is introduced and a theorem on the invariance of this space with respect to the renormalization transformations is proved.     

Dynamically driven renormalization group

We present a detailed discussion of a novel dynamical renormalization group scheme: the dynamically driven renormalization group (DDRG). This is a general renormalization method developed for dynamical systems with non-equilibrium critical steady state. The method is based on a real-space renormalization scheme driven by a dynamical steady-state condition which acts as a feedback on the transformation equations. This approach has been applied to open nonlinear systems such as self-organized critical phenomena, and it allows the analytical evaluation of scalling dimensions and critical exponents. Equilibrium models at the critical point can also be considered. The explicit application to some models and the corresponding results are discussed.     

A new proposal for the determination of the renormalization group trajectories by the Monte Carlo renormalization group method

We present a new method for calculating block renormalized couplings by Monte Carlo renormalization group. This method has several advantages with respect to the existing ones and can be applied for any value of the coupling constants. A preliminary numerical study of the 2-dimensional O(3) non linear σ-model is also presented.     

Singularities of renormalization group flows

We discuss singularity formation in certain renormalization group flows. Special cases are the Ricci Yang–Mills and B$B$-field flows. We point out some results suggesting that topological hypotheses can make RG flows much less singular than Ricci flow. In particular we show that for rotationally symmetric initial data on S²×S¹$S^2\times S^1$ one gets long time existence and convergence of RYM flow, in stark contrast to the case for Ricci flow [S. Angenent, D. Knopf, An example of neckpinching for Ricci flow on Sⁿ⁺¹$S^{n+1}$, Math. Res. Lett. 11 (4) (2004) 493–518]. Other results are given which allow one to rule out many singularity models under strictly topological hypotheses. A conjectural picture of singularity formation for RG flow on 3-manifolds is given.