On the Large N Limit of 3D and 4D Hermitian Matrix Models

The large N limit of the hermitian matrix model in three and four Euclidean space-time dimensions is studied with the help of the approximate Renormalization Group recursion formula. The planar graphs contributing to wave function, mass and coupling constant renormalization are identified and summed in this approximation. In four dimensions the model fails to have an interacting continuum limit, but in three dimensions there is a non trivial fixed point for the approximate RG relations. The critical exponents of the three dimensional model at this fixed point are $\nu = 0.665069$ and $\eta=0.19882$. The existence (or non existence) of the fixed point and the critical exponents display a fairly high degree of universality since they do not seem to depend on the specific (non universal) assumptions made in the approximation.Comment: Number 0.519689 in eqs (36) and (37) should be replaced by 0.303152. The critical exponents were computed with the correct number entry and are therefore UNCHANGE

Momentum Scale Expansion of Sharp Cutoff Flow Equations

We show how the exact renormalization group for the effective action with a sharp momentum cutoff, may be organised by expanding one-particle irreducible parts in terms of homogeneous functions of momenta of integer degree (Taylor expansions not being possible). A systematic series of approximations -- the $O(p^M)$ approximations -- result from discarding from these parts, all terms of higher than the $M^{\rm th}$ degree. These approximations preserve a field reparametrization invariance, ensuring that the field's anomalous dimension is unambiguously determined. The lowest order approximation coincides with the local potential approximation to the Wegner-Houghton equations. We discuss the practical difficulties with extending the approximation beyond $O(p^0)$.Comment: 31 pages including 5 eps figures, uses harvmac and epsf. Minor additions -- not worth the bandwidth if you already have a cop

Derivative expansion of the renormalization group in O(N) scalar field theory

We apply a derivative expansion to the Legendre effective action flow equations of O(N) symmetric scalar field theory, making no other approximation. We calculate the critical exponents eta, nu, and omega at the both the leading and second order of the expansion, associated to the three dimensional Wilson-Fisher fixed points, at various values of N. In addition, we show how the derivative expansion reproduces exactly known results, at special values N=infinity,-2,-4, ... .Comment: 29 pages including 4 eps figures, uses LaTeX, epsfig, and latexsy

Polchinski equation, reparameterization invariance and the derivative expansion

The connection between the anomalous dimension and some invariance properties of the fixed point actions within exact RG is explored. As an application, Polchinski equation at next-to-leading order in the derivative expansion is studied. For the Wilson fixed point of the one-component scalar theory in three dimensions we obtain the critical exponents \eta=0.042, \nu=0.622 and \omega=0.754.Comment: 28 pages, LaTeX with psfig, 12 encapsulated PostScript figures. A number wrongly quoted in the abstract correcte

The Wilson-Polchinski exact renormalization group equation

The critical exponent $\eta$ is not well accounted for in the Polchinski exact formulation of the renormalization group (RG). With a particular emphasis laid on the introduction of the critical exponent $\eta$, I re-establish (after Golner, hep-th/9801124) the explicit relation between the early Wilson exact RG equation, constructed with the incomplete integration as cutoff procedure, and the formulation with an arbitrary cutoff function proposed later on by Polchinski. I (re)-do the analysis of the Wilson-Polchinski equation expanded up to the next to leading order of the derivative expansion. I finally specify a criterion for choosing the ``best'' value of $\eta$ to this order. This paper will help in using more systematically the exact RG equation in various studies.Comment: Some minor changes, a reference added, typos correcte

Epsilon Expansion for Multicritical Fixed Points and Exact Renormalisation Group Equations

The Polchinski version of the exact renormalisation group equations is applied to multicritical fixed points, which are present for dimensions between two and four, for scalar theories using both the local potential approximation and its extension, the derivative expansion. The results are compared with the epsilon expansion by showing that the non linear differential equations may be linearised at each multicritical point and the epsilon expansion treated as a perturbative expansion. The results for critical exponents are compared with corresponding epsilon expansion results from standard perturbation theory. The results provide a test for the validity of the local potential approximation and also the derivative expansion. An alternative truncation of the exact RG equation leads to equations which are similar to those found in the derivative expansion but which gives correct results for critical exponents to order $\epsilon$ and also for the field anomalous dimension to order $\epsilon^2$. An exact marginal operator for the full RG equations is also constructed.Comment: 40 pages, 12 figures version2: small corrections, extra references, final appendix rewritten, version3: some corrections to perturbative calculation

The Critical Exponents Of The Matrix Valued Gross-Neveu Model

We study the large N limit of the MATRIX valued Gross-Neveu model in 2<d<4 dimensions. The method employed is a combination of the approximate recursion formula of Polyakov and Wilson with the solution to the zero dimensional large N counting problem of Makeenko and Zarembo. The model is found to have a phase transition at a finite value for the critical temperature and the critical exponents are approximated by nu = 1/(2(d-2)) and eta=d-2. We test the validity of the approximation by applying it to the usual vector models where it is found to yield exact results to leading order in 1/N.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX.2e + macro epsfig. Two eps figures, four LeTeX picture

Exact Five-Loop Renormalization Group Functions of ϕ4\phi^4-Theory with O(N)-Symmetric and Cubic Interactions. Critical Exponents up to \ep^5

The renormalization group functions are calculated in $D=4-\epsilon$ dimensions for the $\phi^4$-theory with two coupling constants associated with an ${O}(N)$-symmetric and a cubic interaction. Divergences are removed by minimal subtraction. The critical exponents $\eta$, $\nu$, and $\omega$ are expanded up to order $\epsilon^5$ for the three nontrivial fixed points O(N)-symmetric, Ising, and cubic. The results suggest the stability of the cubic fixed point for $N\geq3$, implying that the critical exponents seen in the magnetic transition of three-dimensional cubic crystals are of the cubic universality class. This is in contrast to earlier three-loop results which gave $N > 3$, and thus Heisenberg exponents. The numerical differences, however, are less than a percent making an experimental distinction of the universality classes very difficult.Comment: PostScript fil

Exact Renormalization Group Equations. An Introductory Review

We critically review the use of the exact renormalization group equations (ERGE) in the framework of the scalar theory. We lay emphasis on the existence of different versions of the ERGE and on an approximation method to solve it: the derivative expansion. The leading order of this expansion appears as an excellent textbook example to underline the nonperturbative features of the Wilson renormalization group theory. We limit ourselves to the consideration of the scalar field (this is why it is an introductory review) but the reader will find (at the end of the review) a set of references to existing studies on more complex systems.Comment: Final version to appear in Phys. Rep.; Many references added, section 4.2 added, minor corrections. 65 pages, 6 fig