We consider the initial value problem and its renormalisation in the framework of the two-particle-irreducible (2PI) effective action. We argue that in the case of appropriately chosen self-consistent initial conditions, the counterterms needed to renormalise the system in equilibrium are also sufficient to renormalise its time evolution. In this way we improve on Gaussian initial conditions which have the disadvantage of generically not showing a continuum limit. For a more detailed discussion see arXiv:0809.0496.
Dynamic equations for quantum fields far from equilibrium are derived by use of functional renormalisation group techniques. The obtained equations are non-perturbative and lead substantially beyond mean-field and quantum Boltzmann type approximations. The approach is based on a regularised version of the generating functional for correlation functions where times greater than a chosen cutoff time are suppressed. As a central result, a time evolution equation for the non-equilibrium effective action is derived, and the time-evolution of the Green functions is computed within a vertex expansion…
We study the non-equilibrium dynamics of a system of coupled scalar fields in a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) universe. We consider the evolution of spatially homogeneous "classical" fields and of their quantum fluctuations including the quantum backreaction in the one-loop approximation. We discuss in particular the dimensional regularisation of the coupled system and a special subtraction procedure in order to obtain the renormalised equations of motion and the renormalised energy-momentum tensor and ensure that the energy is well-defined and covariantly conserved. These results represent…
We discuss the far-from-equilibrium evolution of $ϕ^3$-theory in $1+1$ dimensions with the temporal functional renormalisation group \cite{Gasenzer:2007za, Gasenzer:2010rq}. In particular, we show that this manifestly causal approach leads to novel one-loop exact equations for fully dressed correlation functions. Within this setup, we numerically compute the dynamical propagator. Its behaviour suggests self-similarity far from equilibrium in a restricted momentum regime. We discuss the scaling exponents for our solution, as well as the numerical satisfaction of energy and particle number conse…
In a series of papers Boyanovsky et al. have studied the evolution of an inflaton with a negative mass squared and a quartic self coupling using the Closed Time Path (CTP) formalism relevant for out-of-equilibrium dynamics. In this paper we comment on various aspects of these works. We first compare their approach to alternate approaches to study inflaton dynamics and point out that the use of the CTP formalism gives the same results as standard field theory in the Hartree and leading order large N approximations. We then rederive using the WKB approximation the large momentum mode functions o…
We study the effects of holographic renormalisation on an AdS/QCD inspired description of dynamical electroweak symmetry breaking. Our model is a 5D slice of AdS_5 geometry containing a bulk scalar and SU(2) times SU(2) gauge fields. The scalar field obtains a VEV which represents a condensate that triggers electroweak symmetry breaking. Fermion fields are constrained to live on the UV brane and do not propagate in the bulk. The two-point functions are holographically renormalised through the addition of boundary counterterms. Measurable quantities are then expressed in terms of well defined p…
When solving renormalisation group equations in a quantum field theory, one often specifies the boundary conditions at multiple renormalisation scales, such as the weak and grand-unified scales in a theory beyond the standard model. A point in the parameter space of such a model is usually specified by the values of couplings at these boundaries of the renormalisation group flow, but there is no theorem guaranteeing that such a point has a unique solution to the associated differential equations, and so there may exist multiple, phenomenologically distinct solutions, all corresponding to the s…
We outline a separable matrix ansatz for the potentials in effective field theories of nonrelativistic two-body systems with short-range interactions. We use this ansatz to construct new fixed points of the renormalisation-group equation for these potentials. New fixed points indicate a much richer structure than previously recognized in the RG flows of simple short-range potentials.
Functional renormalisation group approach is applied to a system of kaons with finite chemical potential. A set of approximate flow equations for the effective couplings is derived and solved. At high scale the system is found to be at the normal phase whereas at some critical value of the running scale it undergoes the phase transition (PT) to the phase with a spontaneously broken symmetry with the kaon condensate as an order parameter. The value of the condensate turns out to be quite sensitive to the kaon-kaon scattering length.
We continue to study out of equilibrium TFT with switching on the interaction occurring at finite time. We exploit the concept of projected function (PF) and Wigner transform of projected function (WTPF). WTPF's are bare propagators, one-loop self-energies, retarded and advanced components of the resummed propagator. Among WTPF's convolution product is very simple, one does not need gradient expansion. However, WTPF's are completely determined by their infinite time limit and, thus, cannot be the carriers of relaxation phenomena. Furthermore, we observe that the functions capable of carrying r…
Gauge theories are characterised by long range interactions. Neglecting these interactions at large times, and identifying the Lagrangian matter fields with the asymptotic physical fields, leads to the infra-red problem. In this paper we study the perturbative applications of a construction of physical charges in QED, where the matter fields are combined with the associated electromagnetic clouds. This has been formally shown, in a companion paper, to include these asymptotic interactions. It is explicitly demonstrated that the on-shell Green's functions and S-matrix elements describing these …
A perturbative SU(2)_L X U(1)_Y electroweak theory containing W, Z, photon, ghost, lepton and quark fields, but no Higgs or other fields, gives masses to W, Z and the non-neutrino fermions by means of an unconventional choice for the unperturbed Lagrangian and a novel method of renormalisation. The renormalisation extends to all orders. The masses emerge on renormalisation to one loop. To one loop the neutrinos are massless, the A -> Z transition drops out of the theory, the d quark is unstable and S-matrix elements are independent of the gauge parameter xi.
We discuss the renormalisation of the initial value problem in quantum field theory using the two-particle irreducible (2PI) effective action formalism. The nonequilibrium dynamics is renormalised by counterterms determined in equilibrium. We emphasize the importance of the appropriate choice of initial conditions and go beyond the Gaussian initial density operator by defining self-consistent initial conditions. We study the corresponding time evolution and present a numerical example which supports the existence of a continuum limit for this type of initial conditions.
We study the equilibrium and near-equilibrium properties of a holographic five-dimensional model consisting of Einstein gravity coupled to a scalar field with a non-trivial potential. The dual four-dimensional gauge theory is not conformal and, at zero temperature, exhibits a renormalisation group flow between two different fixed points. We quantify the deviations from conformality both in terms of thermodynamic observables and in terms of the bulk viscosity of the theory. The ratio of bulk over shear viscosity violates Buchel's bound. We study relaxation of small-amplitude, homogeneous pertur…
The appearance of large logarithmic corrections is a well-known phenomenon in the presence of widely separated mass scales. In this work, we point out the existence of large Sudakov-like logarithmic contributions related to external-leg corrections of heavy scalar particles which cannot be resummed straight-forwardly using renormalisation group equations. Based on a toy model, we discuss in detail how these corrections appear in theories containing at least one light and one heavy particle that couple to each other with a potentially large trilinear coupling. We show how the occurrence of the …
We study the simplest viable dark matter (DM) model with a real singlet scalar, vector-like singlet, and doublet fermions. The Yukawa couplings associated with the fermion sector are important in obtaining the current DM relic density through Freeze-out and Freeze-in mechanisms. In addition to the standard model-like high scale minima along the Higgs field, we find other high scale minima along the singlet scalar field direction. The other minima appears due to the renormalisation group evolutions of the couplings involving the gauge sector, Higgs portal, and the new Yukawa sector. A detailed …
The renormalisation group flow of the chiral Nambu--Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model with one fermion flavor is mapped out in the symmetric phase with the help of the Functional Renormalisation Group (FRG) method using a physically motivated non-local trial effective action. The well-known infrared unstable strongly coupled fixed point characterized by a set of pointlike four-fermion couplings is reproduced. The Gaussian infrared end-point of the flow of the four-fermion couplings is now accompanied by non-zero limiting composite couplings characteristic for interacting two-particle states with finite…
I review arguments for the existence of a critical point E in the QCD phase diagram as a function of temperature T and baryon chemical potential μ. I describe how heavy ion collision experiments at the SPS and RHIC can discover the tell-tale signatures of such a critical point, thus mapping this region of the QCD phase diagram. I contrast the different ways in which the matter produced in a heavy ion collision can be driven out of equilibrium: quenching out of equilibrium (possible, but not guaranteed, if the transition region is traversed at μ<< μ_E) vs. slowing out of equilibrium (guaranteed…
We study the production of photons through the non-equilibrium relaxation of a disoriented chiral condensate. We propose that to search for non-equilibrium photons in the direct photon measurements of heavy-ion collisions can be a potential test of the formation of disoriented chiral condensates.
We analytically compute the out-of-equilibrium direct photon production rate and electric conductivity, in a strongly coupled and expanding Bjorken plasma, from holography. Our results are valid at late times where the expanding plasma asymptotes Bjorken hydrodynamics. The out-of-equilibrium rates are substantially harder and larger, early on in the Bjorken expansion phase.
