arXiv subjects

Michael M. Scherer

Publications and source records attributed to Michael M. Scherer.

77 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

Phase transition and critical behavior of d=3 chiral fermion models with left/right asymmetry

We investigate the critical behavior of three-dimensional relativistic fermion models with a U(N_L)_L x U(1)_R chiral symmetry reminiscent of the Higgs-Yukawa sector of the standard model of particle physics. We classify all possible four-fermion interaction terms and the corresponding discrete symmetries. For sufficiently strong correlations in a scalar parity-conserving channel, the system can undergo a second-order phase transition to a chiral-symmetry broken phase which is a 3d analog of the electroweak phase transition. We determine the critical behavior of this phase transition in terms of the critical exponent $ν$ and the fermion and scalar anomalous dimensions for N_L >= 1. Our models define new universality classes that can serve as prototypes for studies of strongly correlated chiral fermions.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

An asymptotic-safety mechanism for chiral Yukawa systems

We introduce Weinberg's idea of asymptotic safety and pave the way towards an asymptotically safe chiral Yukawa system with a $U(N_L)_L \otimes U(1)_R$ symmetry in a leading-order derivative expansion using nonperturbative functional RG equations. As a toy model sharing important features with the standard model we explicitely discuss N_L=10 for which we find a non-Gaussian fixed point and compute its critical exponents. We observe a reduced hierarchy problem as well as predictions for the toy Higgs and the toy top mass.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

Asymptotically free scalar curvature-ghost coupling in Quantum Einstein Gravity

We consider the asymptotic-safety scenario for quantum gravity which constructs a non-perturbatively renormalisable quantum gravity theory with the help of the functional renormalisation group. We verify the existence of a non-Gaussian fixed point and include a running curvature-ghost coupling as a first step towards the flow of the ghost sector of the theory. We find that the scalar curvature-ghost coupling is asymptotically free and RG relevant in the ultraviolet. Most importantly, the property of asymptotic safety discovered so far within the Einstein-Hilbert truncation and beyond remains stable under the inclusion of the ghost flow.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

Towards an Asymptotic-Safety Scenario for Chiral Yukawa Systems

We search for asymptotic safety in a Yukawa system with a chiral $U(N_L)_L\otimes U(1)_R$ symmetry, serving as a toy model for the standard-model Higgs sector. Using the functional RG as a nonperturbative tool, the leading-order derivative expansion exhibits admissible non-Ga\ssian fixed-points for $1 \leq N_L \leq 57$ which arise from a conformal threshold behavior induced by self-balanced boson-fermion fluctuations. If present in the full theory, the fixed-point would solve the triviality problem. Moreover, as one fixed point has only one relevant direction even with a reduced hierarchy problem, the Higgs mass as well as the top mass are a prediction of the theory in terms of the Higgs vacuum expectation value. In our toy model, the fixed point is destabilized at higher order due to massless Goldstone and fermion fluctuations, which are particular to our model and have no analogue in the standard model.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

Asymptotic safety of simple Yukawa systems

We study the triviality and hierarchy problem of a Z_2-invariant Yukawa system with massless fermions and a real scalar field, serving as a toy model for the standard-model Higgs sector. Using the functional RG, we look for UV stable fixed points which could render the system asymptotically safe. Whether a balancing of fermionic and bosonic contributions in the RG flow induces such a fixed point depends on the algebraic structure and the degrees of freedom of the system. Within the region of parameter space which can be controlled by a nonperturbative next-to-leading order derivative expansion of the effective action, we find no non-Gaussian fixed point in the case of one or more fermion flavors. The fermion-boson balancing can still be demonstrated within a model system with a small fractional flavor number in the symmetry-broken regime. The UV behavior of this small-N_f system is controlled by a conformal Higgs expectation value. The system has only two physical parameters, implying that the Higgs mass can be predicted. It also naturally explains the heavy mass of the top quark, since there are no RG trajectories connecting the UV fixed point with light top masses.

hep-th↗