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C. Bervillier

Publications and source records attributed to C. Bervillier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2014

Structure of Exact Renormalization Group Equations for field theory

It is shown that exact renormalization group (RG) equations (including rescaling and field-renormalization) for respectively the scale-dependent full action $S[ϕ,t]$ and the scale-dependent full effective action $Γ[Φ,t]$ --in which $t$ is the "RG-time" defined as the logarithm of a running momentum scale-- may be linked together by a Legendre transformation as simple as $Γ[Φ,t] -S[ϕ,t] + ϕ\cdot Φ=0$, with $Φ(x) =δS[ϕ] /δϕ(x) $ (resp. $ϕ(x) =-δΓ[Φ]/δΦ(x) $), where $ϕ$ and $Φ$ are dimensionless-renormalized quantities. This result, in which any explicit reference to a "cutoff procedure" is absent, makes sense in the framework of field theory. It may be compared to the dimensional regularization of the perturbative field theory, in which the running momentum scale is a pure scale of reference and not a momentum cutoff. It is built from the Wilson historic first exact RG equation in which the field-renormalization step is realized via an operator which is redundant and exactly marginal at a fixed point, the properties of which are conserved by the Legendre transformation and which modifies the usual removal of the overall UV cutoff $Λ_{0}$ by associating it with the removal of an overall IR cutoff $μ$. Because the final equations do not refer to any true cutoff (even for the scale-dependent $Γ$), it reinforces the idea that one may get rid of the achronistic procedure of "regularizing" the theory via an explicit "cutoff function", procedure which is often seen as an inconvenience to treat modern problems in field theory.

hep-th↗
arXiv2013

Revisiting the local potential approximation of the exact renormalization group equation

The conventional absence of field renormalization in the local potential approximation (LPA) --implying a zero value of the critical exponent η-- is shown to be incompatible with the logic of the derivative expansion of the exact renormalization group (RG) equation. We present a LPA with η\neq 0 that strictly does not make reference to any momentum dependence. Emphasis is made on the perfect breaking of the reparametrization invariance in that pure LPA (absence of any vestige of invariance) which is compatible with the observation of a progressive smooth restoration of that invariance on implementing the two first orders of the derivative expansion whereas the conventional requirement (η=0 in the LPA) precluded that observation.

hep-th↗
arXiv2013

The Wilson exact renormalization group equation and the anomalous dimension parameter

The non-linear way the anomalous dimension parameter has been introduced in the historic first version of the exact renormalization group equation is compared to current practice. A simple expression for the exactly marginal redundant operator proceeds from this non-linearity, whereas in the linear case, first order differential equations must be solved to get it. The role of this operator in the construction of the flow equation is highlighted.

hep-th↗
arXiv2012

Status of the differential transformation method

Further to a recent controversy on whether the differential transformation method (DTM) for solving a differential equation is purely and solely the traditional Taylor series method, it is emphasized that the DTM is currently used, often only, as a technique for (analytically) calculating the power series of the solution (in terms of the initial value parameters). Sometimes, a piecewise analytic continuation process is implemented either in a numerical routine (e.g., within a shooting method) or in a semi-analytical procedure (e.g., to solve a boundary value problem). Emphasized also is the fact that, at the time of its invention, the currently-used basic ingredients of the DTM (that transform a differential equation into a difference equation of same order that is iteratively solvable) were already known for a long time by the "traditional"-Taylor-method users (notably in the elaboration of software packages --numerical routines-- for automatically solving ordinary differential equations). At now, the defenders of the DTM still ignore the, though much better developed, studies of the "traditional"-Taylor-method users who, in turn, seem to ignore similarly the existence of the DTM. The DTM has been given an apparent strong formalization (set on the same footing as the Fourier, Laplace or Mellin transformations). Though often used trivially, it is easily attainable and easily adaptable to different kinds of differentiation procedures. That has made it very attractive. Hence applications to various problems of the Taylor method, and more generally of the power series method (including noninteger powers) has been sketched. It seems that its potential has not been exploited as it could be. After a discussion on the reasons of the "misunderstandings" which have caused the controversy, the preceding topics are concretely illustrated.

math-ph↗
arXiv2011

Analytic continuation of Taylor series and the two-point boundary value problems of some nonlinear ordinary differential equations

We compare and discuss the respective efficiency of three methods (with two variants for each of them), based respectively on Taylor (Maclaurin) series, Padé approximants and conformal mappings, for solving quasi-analytically a two-point boundary value problem of a nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE). Six configurations of ODE and boundary conditions are successively considered according to the increasing difficulties that they present. After having indicated that the Taylor series method almost always requires the recourse to analytical continuation procedures to be efficient, we use the complementarity of the two remaining methods (Padé and conformal mapping) to illustrate their respective advantages and limitations. We emphasize the importance of the existence of solutions with movable singularities for the efficiency of the methods, particularly for the so-called Padé-Hankel method. (We show that this latter method is equivalent to pushing a movable pole to infinity.) For each configuration, we determine the singularity distribution (in the complex plane of the independent variable) of the solution sought and show how this distribution controls the efficiency of the two methods. In general the method based on Padé approximants is easy to use and robust but may be awkward in some circumstances whereas the conformal mapping method is a very fine method which should be used when high accuracy is required.

math-ph↗
arXiv2008

Conformal mappings versus other power series methods for solving ordinary differential equations: illustration on anharmonic oscillators

The simplicity and the efficiency of a quasi-analytical method for solving nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODE), is illustrated on the study of anharmonic oscillators (AO) with a potential $V(x) =βx^{2}+x^{2m}$ ($m>0$). The method [Nucl. Phys. B801, 296 (2008)], applies a priori to any ODE with two-point boundaries (one being located at infinity), the solution of which has singularities in the complex plane of the independent variable $x$. A conformal mapping of a suitably chosen angular sector of the complex plane of $x$ upon the unit disc centered at the origin makes convergent the transformed Taylor series of the generic solution so that the boundary condition at infinity can be easily imposed. In principle, this constraint, when applied on the logarithmic-derivative of the wave function, determines the eigenvalues to an arbitrary level of accuracy. In practice, for $β\geq 0$ or slightly negative, the accuracy of the results obtained is astonishingly large with regards to the modest computing power used. It is explained why the efficiency of the method decreases as $β$ is more and more negative. Various aspects of the method and comparisons with some seemingly similar methods, based also on expressing the solution as a Taylor series, are shortly reviewed, presented and discussed.

math-ph↗
arXiv2008

Analytical approximation schemes for solving exact renormalization group equations. II Conformal mappings

We present a new efficient analytical approximation scheme to two-point boundary value problems of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) adapted to the study of the derivative expansion of the exact renormalization group equations. It is based on a compactification of the complex plane of the independent variable using a mapping of an angular sector onto a unit disc. We explicitly treat, for the scalar field, the local potential approximations of the Wegner-Houghton equation in the dimension $d=3$ and of the Wilson-Polchinski equation for some values of $d\in ] 2,3] $. We then consider, for $d=3$, the coupled ODEs obtained by Morris at the second order of the derivative expansion. In both cases the fixed points and the eigenvalues attached to them are estimated. Comparisons of the results obtained are made with the shooting method and with the other analytical methods available. The best accuracy is reached with our new method which presents also the advantage of being very fast. Thus, it is well adapted to the study of more complicated systems of equations.

hep-th↗
arXiv2007

Analytical approximation schemes for solving exact renormalization group equations in the local potential approximation

The relation between the Wilson-Polchinski and the Litim optimized ERGEs in the local potential approximation is studied with high accuracy using two different analytical approaches based on a field expansion: a recently proposed genuine analytical approximation scheme to two-point boundary value problems of ordinary differential equations, and a new one based on approximating the solution by generalized hypergeometric functions. A comparison with the numerical results obtained with the shooting method is made. A similar accuracy is reached in each case. Both two methods appear to be more efficient than the usual field expansions frequently used in the current studies of ERGEs (in particular for the Wilson-Polchinski case in the study of which they fail).

hep-th↗
arXiv2005

Wilson-Polchinski exact renormalization group equation for O(N) systems: Leading and next-to-leading orders in the derivative expansion

With a view to study the convergence properties of the derivative expansion of the exact renormalization group (RG) equation, I explicitly study the leading and next-to-leading orders of this expansion applied to the Wilson-Polchinski equation in the case of the $N$-vector model with the symmetry $\mathrm{O}(N) $. As a test, the critical exponents $% η$ and $ν$ as well as the subcritical exponent $ω$ (and higher ones) are estimated in three dimensions for values of $N$ ranging from 1 to 20. I compare the results with the corresponding estimates obtained in preceding studies or treatments of other $\mathrm{O}(N) $ exact RG equations at second order. The possibility of varying $N$ allows to size up the derivative expansion method. The values obtained from the resummation of high orders of perturbative field theory are used as standards to illustrate the eventual convergence in each case. A peculiar attention is drawn on the preservation (or not) of the reparametrisation invariance.

hep-th↗
arXiv2004

Exact renormalization group equation for the Lifshitz critical point

An exact renormalization equation (ERGE) accounting for an anisotropic scaling is derived. The critical and tricritical Lifshitz points are then studied at leading order of the derivative expansion which is shown to involve two differential equations. The resulting estimates of the Lifshitz critical exponents compare well with the $O(ε^{2}) $ calculations. In the case of the Lifshitz tricritical point, it is shown that a marginally relevant coupling defies the perturbative approach since it actually makes the fixed point referred to in the previous perturbative calculations $O(ε) $ finally unstable.

hep-th↗
arXiv2004

The Wilson-Polchinski exact renormalization group equation

The critical exponent $η$ 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 $η$, 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 $η$ to this order. This paper will help in using more systematically the exact RG equation in various studies.

hep-th↗
arXiv2002

Classical-to-critical crossovers from field theory

We extent the previous determinations of nonasymptotic critical behavior of Phys. Rev B32, 7209 (1985) and B35, 3585 (1987) to accurate expressions of the complete classical-to-critical crossover (in the 3-d field theory) in terms of the temperature-like scaling field (i.e., along the critical isochore) for : 1) the correlation length, the susceptibility and the specific heat in the homogeneous phase for the n-vector model (n=1 to 3) and 2) for the spontaneous magnetization (coexistence curve), the susceptibility and the specific heat in the inhomogeneous phase for the Ising model (n=1). The present calculations include the seventh loop order of Murray and Nickel (1991) and closely account for the up-to-date estimates of universal asymptotic critical quantities (exponents and amplitude combinations) provided by Guida and Zinn-Justin [J. Phys. A31, 8103 (1998)].

hep-th↗
arXiv2001

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.

hep-th↗
arXiv2000

Renormalization group domains of the scalar Hamiltonian

Using the local potential approximation of the exact renormalization group (RG) equation, we show the various domains of values of the parameters of the O(1)-symmetric scalar Hamiltonian. In three dimensions, in addition to the usual critical surface $S_{c}$ (attraction domain of the Wilson-Fisher fixed point), we explicitly show the existence of a first-order phase transition domain $S_{f}$ separated from $S_{c}$ by the tricritical surface $S_{t}$ (attraction domain of the Gaussian fixed point). $S_{f}$ and $S_{c}$ are two distinct domains of repulsion for the Gaussian fixed point, but $S_{f}$ is not the basin of attraction of a fixed point. $S_{f}$ is characterized by an endless renormalized trajectory lying entirely in the domain of negative values of the $ϕ^{4}$-coupling. This renormalized trajectory exists also in four dimensions making the Gaussian fixed point ultra-violet stable (and the $ϕ_{4}^{4}$ renormalized field theory asymptotically free but with a wrong sign of the perfect action). We also show that very retarded classical-to-Ising crossover may exist in three dimensions (in fact below four dimensions). This could be an explanation of the unexpected classical critical behavior observed in some ionic systems.

hep-th↗
arXiv1997

Peculiarity of the Coulombic Criticality ?

We indicate that Coulombic systems could correspond to Wilson effective Hamiltonians similar to that of the ordinary (nonionic) fluids but with a negative $ϕ^4$-coefficient. In that case, solving the ``exact'' renormalization group equation in the local potential approximation, we show that close initial Hamiltonians may lead either to a first order transition or to an Ising-like critical behavior, the partition being formed by the tri-critical surface. Hence the theoretical wavering encountered in the literature concerning the nature of the Coulombic criticality may not appear senseless.

cond-mat↗