arXiv subjects

Dario Benedetti

Publications and source records attributed to Dario Benedetti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Critical and multicritical Lee-Yang fixed points in the local potential approximation

The multicritical generalizations of the Lee-Yang universality class arise as renormalization-group fixed points of scalar field theories with complex $iφ^{2n+1}$ interaction, $n\in\mathbb{N}$, just below their upper critical dimension. It has been recently conjectured that their continuation to two dimensions corresponds to the non-unitary conformal minimal models $\mathcal{M}(2,2n+3)$. Motivated by that, we revisit the functional renormalization group approach to complex $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetric scalar field theories in the Local Potential Approximation, without or with wavefunction renormalization (LPA and LPA' respectively), aiming to explore the fate of the $iφ^{2n+1}$ theories from their upper critical dimension to two dimensions. The $iφ^{2n+1}$ fixed points are identified using a perturbative expansion of the functional fixed-point equation near their upper critical dimensions, and they are followed to lower dimensions by numerical integration of the full equation. A peculiar feature of the complex $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetric potentials is that the fixed points are characterized by real but negative anomalous dimensions $η$, and in low dimension $d$, this can lead to a change of sign of the scaling dimensions $Δ=(d-2+η)/2$, thus requiring a novel analysis of the analytical properties of the functional fixed-point equations. We are able to follow the Lee-Yang universality class ($n=1$) down to two dimensions, and numerically determine the scaling dimension of the fundamental field as a function of $d$. On the other hand, within the LPA', multicritical Lee-Yang fixed points with $n>1$ cannot be continued to $d=2$ due to the existence of unexpected non-perturbative fixed points that annihilate with the $iφ^{2n+1}$ fixed points.

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arXiv2026

From path integral quantization to stochastic quantization: a pedestrian's journey

We give two novel proofs that the path integral and stochastic quantizations of generic scalar Euclidean quantum field theories are equivalent. Our proofs rely on Taylor interpolations indexed by forests, in the fashion of constructive field theory. The first proof works at the level of individual terms in the Feynman expansion, with the forests appearing as spanning forests in Feynman graphs. The second one works at the level of the path integral and avoids the full expansion of the Feynman perturbation series.

math-ph↗

arXiv2026

Long-range minimal models

We study a class of nonlocal conformal field theories in two dimensions which are obtained as deformations of the Virasoro minimal models. The construction proceeds by coupling a relevant primary operator $ϕ_{r,s}$ of the $m$-th minimal model to a generalized free field, in such a way that the interaction term has scaling dimension $2-δ$. Flowing to the infrared, we reach a new class of CFTs that we call long-range minimal models. In the case $r=s=2$, the resulting line of fixed points, parametrized by $δ$, can be studied using two perturbative expansions with different regimes of validity, one near the mean-field theory end, and one close to the long-range to short-range crossover. This is due to a straightforward generalization of an infrared duality which was proposed for the long-range Ising model ($m = 3$) in 2017. We find that the large-$m$ limit is problematic in both perturbative regimes, hence nonperturbative methods will be required in the intermediate range for all values of $m$. For the models based on $ϕ_{1,2}$, the situation is rather different. In this case, only one perturbative expansion is known but it is well behaved at large $m$. We confirm this with a computation of infinitely many anomalous dimensions at two loops. Their large-$m$ limits are obtained from both numerical extrapolations and a method we develop which carries out conformal perturbation theory using Mellin amplitudes. For minimal models, these can be accessed from the Coulomb gas representations of the correlators. This method reveals analytic expressions for some integrals in conformal perturbation theory which were previously only known numerically.

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arXiv2025

A strong-weak duality for the 1d long-range Ising model

We investigate the one-dimensional Ising model with long-range interactions decaying as $1/r^{1+s}$. In the critical regime, for $1/2 \leq s \leq 1$, this system realizes a family of nontrivial one-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs), whose data vary continuously with $s$. For $s>1$ the model has instead no phase transition at finite temperature, as in the short-range case. In the standard field-theoretic description, involving a generalized free field with quartic interactions, the critical model is weakly coupled near $s=1/2$ but strongly coupled in the vicinity of the short-range crossover at $s=1$. We introduce a dual formulation that becomes weakly coupled as $s \to 1$. Precisely at $s=1$, the dual description becomes an exactly solvable conformal boundary condition of the two-dimensional free scalar. We present a detailed study of the dual model and demonstrate its effectiveness by computing perturbatively the CFT data near $s=1$, up to next-to-next-to-leading order in $1-s$, by two independent approaches: (i) standard renormalization of our dual field-theoretic description and (ii) the analytic conformal bootstrap. The two methods yield complete agreement.

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arXiv2025

1d Ising model with $1/r^{1.99}$ interaction

We study the 1d Ising model with long-range interactions decaying as $1/r^{1+s}$. The critical model corresponds to a family of 1d conformal field theories (CFTs) whose data depends nontrivially on $s$ in the range $1/2\leq s\leq 1$. The model is known to be described by a generalized free field with quartic interaction, which is weakly coupled near $s=1/2$ but strongly coupled near the short-range crossover at $s=1$. We propose a dual description which becomes weakly coupled at $s=1$. At $s=1$, our model becomes an exactly solvable conformal boundary condition for the 2d free scalar. We perform a number of consistency checks of our proposal and calculate the perturbative CFT data around $s=1$ analytically using both 1) our proposed field theory and 2) the analytic conformal bootstrap. Our results show complete agreement between the two methods.

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arXiv2025

Addendum: Long-range multi-scalar models at three loops

We correct the computation of one Feynman diagram in the three-loop beta functions for the long-range quartic multi-scalar model, originally presented in (2020 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 53 445008) [arXiv:2007.04603]. The correction requires the use of a different method than in the original paper, and we give here full details about the method. We then report the updated numerics for critical exponents of the Ising model, vector model, cubic model and bifundamental model. Mathematica files for the numerical evaluation of the corrected diagram are provided in ancillary.

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arXiv2025

Landau Theory of Causal Dynamical Triangulations

Understanding the continuum limit of a theory of discrete random geometries is a beautiful but difficult challenge. In this optic, we review here the insights that can be obtained for Causal Dynamical Triangulations (CDT) by employing the Landau approach to critical phenomena. In particular, concentrating on the cases of two and three dimensions, we will make the case that the configuration of the volume of spatial slices effectively plays the role of an order parameter, helping us to understand the phase structure of CDT. Moreover, consistency with numerical simulations of CDT provides hints that the effective field theory of the model lives in the space of theories invariant under foliation-preserving diffeomorphisms. Among such theories, Horava-Lifshitz gravity has the special status of being a perturbatively renormalizable theory, while General Relativity sits in a subspace with enhanced symmetry. In order to reach either of them, one would likely need to fine tune some of the parameters in the CDT action, or additional ones from some generalization thereof.

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arXiv2024

Quantum Gravity, Hydrodynamics and Emergent Cosmology: A Collection of Perspectives

This collection of perspective pieces captures recent advancements and reflections from a dynamic research community dedicated to bridging quantum gravity, hydrodynamics, and emergent cosmology. It explores four key research areas: (a) the interplay between hydrodynamics and cosmology, including analog gravity systems; (b) phase transitions, continuum limits and emergent geometry in quantum gravity; (c) relational perspectives in gravity and quantum gravity; and (d) the emergence of cosmological models rooted in quantum gravity frameworks. Each contribution presents the distinct perspectives of its respective authors. Additionally, the introduction by the editors proposes an integrative view, suggesting how these thematic units could serve as foundational pillars for a novel theoretical cosmology framework termed "hydrodynamics on superspace".

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Long-range multi-scalar models at three loops

We compute the three-loop beta functions of long-range multi-scalar models with general quartic interactions. The long-range nature of the models is encoded in a kinetic term with a Laplacian to the power $0<ζ<1$, rendering the computation of Feynman diagrams much harder than in the usual short-range case ($ζ=1$). As a consequence, previous results stopped at two loops, while six-loop results are available for short-range models. We push the renormalization group analysis to three loops, in an $ε=4ζ-d$ expansion at fixed dimension $d<4$, extensively using the Mellin-Barnes representation of Feynman amplitudes in the Schwinger parametrization. We then specialize the beta functions to various models with different symmetry groups: $O(N)$, $(\mathbb{Z}_2)^N \rtimes S_N$, and $O(N)\times O(M)$. For such models, we compute the fixed points and critical exponents.

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arXiv2024

Dynamic critical exponent in quantum long-range models

Quantum long-range models at zero temperature can be described by fractional Lifshitz field theories, that is, anisotropic models whose actions are short-range in time and long-range in space. In this paper we study the renormalization of fractional Lifshitz field theories with weakly relevant cubic or quartic self-interactions. Their nontrivial infrared fixed points exhibit Lifshitz scale invariance, and we compute the lowest-order corrections to the dynamic critical exponent.

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arXiv2024

Finite-size versus finite-temperature effects in the critical long-range $O(N)$ model

In this paper we consider classical and quantum versions of the critical long-range $O(N)$ model, for which we study finite-size and finite-temperature effects, respectively, at large $N$. First, we consider the classical (isotropic) model, which is conformally invariant at criticality, and we introduce one compact spatial direction. We show that the finite size dynamically induces an effective mass and we compute the one-point functions for bilinear primary operators with arbitrary spin and twist. Second, we study the quantum model, mapped to a Euclidean anisotropic field theory, local in Euclidean time and long-range in space, which we dub \emph{fractional Lifshitz field theory}. We show that this model admits a fixed point at zero temperature, where it displays anisotropic Lifshitz scaling, and show that at finite temperature a thermal mass is induced. We then compute the one-point functions for an infinite family of bilinear scaling operators. In both the classical and quantum model, we find that, as previously noted for the short-range $O(N)$ model in [arXiv:1802.10266], the large-$N$ two-point function contains information about the one-point functions, not only of the bilinear operators, but also of operators that appear in the operator product expansion of two fundamental fields only at subleading order in $1/N$, namely powers of the Hubbard-Stratonovich intermediate field.

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arXiv2022

The small-$N$ series in the zero-dimensional $O(N)$ model: constructive expansions and transseries

We consider the 0-dimensional quartic $O(N)$ vector model and present a complete study of the partition function $Z(g,N)$ and its logarithm, the free energy $W(g,N)$, seen as functions of the coupling $g$ on a Riemann surface. Using constructive field theory techniques we prove that both $Z(g,N)$ and $W(g,N)$ are Borel summable functions along all the rays in the cut complex plane $\mathbb{C}_π =\mathbb{C}\setminus \mathbb{R}_-$. We recover the transseries expansion of $Z(g,N)$ using the intermediate field representation. We furthermore study the small-$N$ expansions of $Z(g,N)$ and $ W(g,N)$. For any $g=|g| e^{\imath φ}$ on the sector of the Riemann surface with $|φ|<3π/2$, the small-$N$ expansion of $Z(g,N)$ has infinite radius of convergence in $N$ while the expansion of $W(g,N)$ has a finite radius of convergence in $N$ for $g$ in a subdomain of the same sector. The Taylor coefficients of these expansions, $Z_n(g)$ and $W_n(g)$, exhibit analytic properties similar to $Z(g,N)$ and $W(g,N)$ and have transseries expansions. The transseries expansion of $Z_n(g)$ is readily accessible: much like $Z(g,N)$, for any $n$, $Z_n(g)$ has a zero- and a one-instanton contribution. The transseries of $W_n(g)$ is obtained using Möebius inversion and summing these transseries yields the transseries expansion of $W(g,N)$. The transseries of $W_n(g)$ and $W(g,N)$ are markedly different: while $W(g,N)$ displays contributions from arbitrarily many multi-instantons, $W_n(g)$ exhibits contributions of only up to $n$-instanton sectors.

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arXiv2022

The F-theorem in the melonic limit

The $F$-theorem states that in three dimensions the sphere free energy of a field theory must decrease between ultraviolet and infrared fixed points of the renormalization group flow, and it has been proven for unitary conformal field theories (CFTs). We consider here the long-range bosonic $O(N)^3$ model on a spherical background, at next-to-next-to-leading order of the $1/N$ expansion. The model displays four large-$N$ fixed points and we test and confirm the $F$-theorem holds in this case. This is non-trivial as one of the couplings is imaginary, and therefore the model is non-unitary at finite $N$. Despite this, several tests indicating that the large-$N$ CFTs are in fact unitary have been performed: for instance all the OPE coefficients computed so far in the large-$N$ limit are real, and the spectrum of bilinear operators is real and above unitarity bounds. Our result, namely that the F theorem holds at large $N$, can be viewed as further indication that such theories are unitary. As an added bonus, we show how conformal partial waves expansions in conformal field theory can be used to resum infinite classes of vacuum diagrams. Non-perturbatively, the jump in the value of the free energy has the interpretation of the inclusion at the ultraviolet fixed point of an extra non-normalizable contribution in the conformal partial wave expansion. This can be seen in perturbation theory as the reversal of the sign of an infinite class of diagrams due to the flow of a coupling constant.

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arXiv2021

Sextic tensor field theories in rank $3$ and $5$

We study bosonic tensor field theories with sextic interactions in $d<3$ dimensions. We consider two models, with rank-3 and rank-5 tensors, and $U(N)^3$ and $O(N)^5$ symmetry, respectively. For both of them we consider two variations: one with standard short-range free propagator, and one with critical long-range propagator, such that the sextic interactions are marginal in any $d<3$. We derive the set of beta functions at large $N$, compute them explicitly at four loops, and identify the respective fixed points. We find that only the rank-3 models admit a melonic interacting fixed points, with real couplings and critical exponents: for the short-range model, we have a Wilson-Fisher fixed point with couplings of order $\sqrtε$, in $d=3-ε$; for the long-range model, instead we have for any $d<3$ a line of fixed points, parametrized by a real coupling $g_1$ (associated to the so-called wheel interaction). By standard conformal field theory methods, we then study the spectrum of bilinear operators associated to such interacting fixed points, and we find a real spectrum for small $ε$ or small $g_1$.

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arXiv2021

Instability of complex CFTs with operators in the principal series

We prove the instability of $d$-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs) having in the operator-product expansion of two fundamental fields a primary operator of scaling dimension $h=d/2+i r$, with non-vanishing $ r\in\mathbb{R}$. From an AdS/CFT point of view, this corresponds to a well-known tachyonic instability, associated to a violation of the Breitenlohner-Freedman bound in AdS${}_{d+1}$; we derive it here directly for generic $d$-dimensional CFTs that can be obtained as limits of multiscalar quantum field theories, by applying the harmonic analysis for the Euclidean conformal group to perturbations of the conformal solution in the two-particle irreducible (2PI) effective action. Some explicit examples are discussed, such as melonic tensor models and the biscalar fishnet model.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Remarks on a melonic field theory with cubic interaction

We revisit the Amit-Roginsky (AR) model in the light of recent studies on Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) and tensor models, with which it shares some important features. It is a model of $N$ scalar fields transforming in an $N$-dimensional irreducible representation of $SO(3)$. The most relevant (in renormalization group sense) invariant interaction is cubic in the fields and mediated by a Wigner $3jm$ symbol. The latter can be viewed as a particular rank-3 tensor coupling, thus highlighting the similarity to the SYK model, in which the tensor coupling is however random and of even rank. As in the SYK and tensor models, in the large-$N$ limit the perturbative expansion is dominated by melonic diagrams. The lack of randomness, and the rapidly growing number of invariants that can be built with $n$ fields, makes the AR model somewhat closer to tensor models. We review the results from the old work of Amit and Roginsky with the hindsight of recent developments, correcting and completing some of their statements, in particular concerning the spectrum of the operator product expansion of two fundamental fields. For $5.74<d<6$ the fixed-point theory defines a real CFT, while for smaller $d$ complex dimensions appear, after a merging of the lowest dimension with its shadow. We also introduce and study a long-range version of the model, for which the cubic interaction is exactly marginal at large $N$, and we find a real and unitary CFT for any $d<6$, both for real and imaginary coupling constant, up to some critical coupling.

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arXiv2020

The tri-fundamental quartic model

We consider a multi-scalar field theory with either short-range or long-range free action and with quartic interactions that are invariant under $O(N_1)\times O(N_2) \times O(N_3)$ transformations, of which the scalar fields form a tri-fundamental representation. We study the renormalization group fixed points at two loops at finite $N$ and in various large-$N$ scaling limits for small $ε$, the latter being either the deviation from the critical dimension or from the critical scaling of the free propagator. In particular, for the homogeneous case $N_i = N$ for $i=1,2,3$, we study the subleading corrections to previously known fixed points. In the short-range model, for $εN^2\gg 1$, we find complex fixed points with non-zero tetrahedral coupling, that at leading order reproduce the results of arXiv:1707.03866 ; the main novelty at next-to-leading order is that the critical exponents acquire a real part, thus allowing a correct identification of some fixed points as IR stable. In the long-range model, for $εN \ll 1 $, we find again complex fixed points with non-zero tetrahedral coupling, that at leading order reproduce the line of stable fixed points of arXiv:1903.03578; at next-to-leading order, this is reduced to a discrete set of stable fixed points. One difference between the short-range and long-range cases is that, in the former the critical exponents are purely imaginary at leading-order and gain a real part at next-to-leading order, while for the latter the situation is reversed.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Multiple scaling limits of $\mathrm{U}(N)^2 \times \mathrm{O}(D)$ multi-matrix models

We study the double- and triple-scaling limits of a complex multi-matrix model, with $\mathrm{U}(N)^2\times \mathrm{O}(D)$ symmetry. The double-scaling limit amounts to taking simultaneously the large-$N$ (matrix size) and large-$D$ (number of matrices) limits while keeping the ratio $N/\sqrt{D}=M$ fixed. The triple-scaling limit consists in taking the large-$M$ limit while tuning the coupling constant $λ$ to its critical value $λ_c$ and keeping fixed the product $M(λ_c-λ)^α$, for some value of $α$ that depends on the particular combinatorial restrictions imposed on the model. Our first main result is the complete recursive characterization of the Feynman graphs of arbitrary genus which survive in the double-scaling limit. Next, we classify all the dominant graphs in the triple-scaling limit, which we find to have a plane binary tree structure with decorations. Their critical behavior belongs to the universality class of branched polymers. Lastly, we classify all the dominant graphs in the triple-scaling limit under the restriction to three-edge connected (or two-particle irreducible) graphs. Their critical behavior falls in the universality class of Liouville quantum gravity (or, in other words, the Brownian sphere).

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