Nonperturbative renormalization group approach to turbulence

We suggest a new, renormalization group (RG) based, nonperturbative method for treating the intermittency problem of fully developed turbulence which also includes the effects of a finite boundary of the turbulent flow. The key idea is not to try to construct an elimination procedure based on some assumed statistical distribution, but to make an ansatz for possible RG transformations and to pose constraints upon those, which guarantee the invariance of the nonlinear term in the Navier-Stokes equation, the invariance of the energy dissipation, and other basic properties of the velocity field. The role of length scales is taken to be inverse to that in the theory of critical phenomena; thus possible intermittency corrections are connected with the outer length scale. Depending on the specific type of flow, we find different sets of admissible transformations with distinct scaling behaviour: for the often considered infinite, isotropic, and homogeneous system K41 scaling is enforced, but for the more realistic plane Couette geometry no restrictions on intermittency exponents were obtained so far. Received: 28 December 1997 / Accepted: 6 August 1998     

Phase boundary of the square-lattice Ising antiferromagnet by real space renormalization group methods

The transition temperature of the square lattice Ising antiferromagnet at finite magnetic field is calculated by three different approximations within the real space renormalization group approach. The most refined approximation is an extension of Kadanoff's potential moving method to a larger cell-size. The results of this approximation are in good agreement with recent Monte Carlo simulations and the Müller-Hartmann/Zittartz conjecture for the phase boundary.     

Bounds for free energy derivatives using renormalization group methods

The free energy of a thermodynamic system is known to be a concave function of the temperature. This fact is used, together with some results due to Fisher, to deduce bounds on the internal energy of the two-dimensional Ising model, given reasonably accurate upper and lower bounds on the free energy. These free energy bounds are derived from renormalization group transformations. Unfortunately, the numerical accuracy of the bounds on the internal energy is poor. The reasons for the failure are discussed.     

Determination of critical points and flow diagrams by Monte Carlo renormalization group methods

A general method for calculating block renormalized coupling constants within the framework of the Monte Carlo renormalization group is presented. The method is applicable for any values of the couplings and in particular for those far from the critical point. A new technique for evaluating separately the derivatives of the block renormalized couplings is also discussed. The utility of these methods is demonstrated on the two-dimensional Ising model, where knowledge of the exact critical point in the multiparameter space of coupling constants results in improved values of the critical exponents.     

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.     

Causality and the renormalization group

We suppose that for the invariant coupling constant (ICC) the spectral representation of the Källen-Lehmann type is valid. By combining this conjecture with the general solution of the functional renormalization group (RG) equation it is possible to analyze the type of singularity in the coupling constant at g=0. For logarithmic models it is of the form exp (-1/g).     

Iron pncitide superconductors studied by the functional renormalization group

We review the functional renormalization group (fRG) approach to the superconducting iron pnictides. We start with simple two-pocket models for the basic weak-coupling picture and then build up the complexity of the many-orbital problem in two steps. In this way we discuss what one can learn about the phase diagrams, superconducting pairing mechanism and competing orders in iron arsenides. Special attention is devoted to where this theoretical approach exposes similarities and differences between the physics of the pnictides and that of the high-T _c cuprates. Finally, we describe some challenges for getting a consistent theoretical understanding of the new iron superconductor material class in a combination of ab-initio and functional renormalization group approaches.     

Finite-size scaling and the renormalization group

Renormalization group calculations ind = 4 andd = 4 – are performed for a system of finite size. A form of mean-field theory is used which yields a rounded transition for a finite system, and this allows a sensible expansion in fluctuations. A combination of Ewald and Poisson sum techniques is used to produce explicit numerical results for the specific heat ind = 4 which, with the setting of two nonuniversal metrical factors and the fourth-order coupling constant may be compared with simulations. The numerical visibility of logarithmic corrections is investigated. The universal scaling function for the specific heat to relativeO() is also evaluated numerically.     

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.     

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.     

Variational numerical renormalization group: bridging the gap between NRG and density matrix renormalization group

The numerical renormalization group (NRG) is rephrased as a variational method with the cost function given by the sum of all the energies of the effective low-energy Hamiltonian. This allows us to systematically improve the spectrum obtained by NRG through sweeping. The ensuing algorithm has a lot of similarities to the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) when targeting many states, and this synergy of NRG and DMRG combines the best of both worlds and extends their applicability. We illustrate this approach with simulations of a quantum spin chain and a single impurity Anderson model where the accuracy of the effective eigenstates is greatly enhanced as compared to the NRG, especially in the transition to the continuum limit.     

Summing perturbation expansions by means of renormalization group considerations

Renormalization group considerations are used to sum divergent perturbation expansions encountered in QCD or other quantum field theories. The method works even in the case when these expansions, considered in a fixed renormalization scheme (RS), are factorially divergent and of asymptotically constant sign. The results assume the form of convergent (under certain circumstances) expansions in a set of functions of a free parameter which specifies the procedure involved. It is argued that the relation of our results to conventional, formal perturbation expansions in a fixed RS in fact suggests the physical interpretation of this parameter and specifies its value.     

Light scattering by electrons and renormalization of the electron spectrum in osmium

The temperature-dependent inelastic light scattering by electrons in osmium is studied at different values and directions of the wave vector. The frequency dependence for the spectra of electronic light scattering is modeled based on the calculated band structure taking properly into account the effects of inelastic scattering. A comparison of the measured and calculated spectra suggests the dominant role of the electron-phonon scattering in the energy range under study. This allows us to estimate the temperature-dependent renormalization of the electron velocity and the decay rate for the electron states.