Renormalization of pionless effective field theory in the A-body sector
Mehdi Drissi, Thomas Duguet, Vittorio Soma
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14 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables. Contribution to the EPJA topical issue: "The tower of effective (field) theories and the emergence of nuclear phenomena"
Current models of inter-nucleon interactions are built within the frame of Effective Field Theories (EFTs). Contrary to traditional nuclear potentials, EFT interactions require a renormalization of their parameters in order to derive meaningful estimations of observable. In this paper, a renormalization procedure is designed in connection with many-body approximations applicable to large-A systems and formulated within the frame of many-body perturbation theory. The procedure is shown to generate counterterms that are independent of the targeted A-body sector. As an example, the procedure is applied to the random phase approximation. This work constitutes one step towards the design of a practical EFT for many-body systems.
We consider the NN interaction in pionless effective field theory (EFT) up to next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) and use a recursive subtractive renormalization scheme to describe NN scattering in the 1S0 channel. We fix the strengths of the contact interactions at a reference scale, chosen to be the one that provides the best fit for the phase-shifts, and then slide the renormalization scale by evolving the driving terms of the subtracted Lippmann-Schwinger equation through a non-relativistic Callan-Symanzik equation. The results show that such a systematic renormalization scheme with multi…
In this article I summarize recent progress in the effective field theory approach to low energy nuclear systems, with a focus on the power counting issue. In the pionless sector, where the power counting is quite well understood at the nucleon-nucleon (NN) level, I discuss some recent developments toward few- and many-body calculations. In the pionful sector, I focus on the actively debated issue of power counting in the NN sector and some recent developments toward a model-independent NN interaction. Finally, the scenario that the power counting might depend on the number of particles is dis…
The pionless effective field theory (EFT) is the appropriate low-energy EFT for short-range interactions that display a large scattering length. It has been successfully applied in atomic, nuclear and particle physics. We give an overview over recent calculations employing the pionless effective field theory and lay emphasis on applications in the three- and four-body sector where the most exciting developments have occurred.
Investigations of three-body nuclear systems using pionless effective field theory ($\mathrm{EFT}_{\notπ}$) are reviewed. The history of $\mathrm{EFT}_{\notπ}$ in $nd$ and $pd$ scattering is briefly discussed and emphasis put on the use of strict perturbative techniques. In addition renormalization issues appearing in $pd$ scattering are also presented. Bound state calculations are addressed and new perturbative techniques for describing them are highlighted. Three-body breakup observables in $nd$ scattering are also considered and the utility of $\mathrm{EFT}_{\notπ}$ for addressing them.
The rigorous on-shell $T$-matrices for $NN$ scattering in the coupled channels $^3S_1$$-$$^3D_1$ are briefly presented in the context of EFT($\notπ$) with the contact potentials truncated at order $Δ=4$. The nonperturbative features of renormalization are highlighted and elaborated. A simple scenario for EFT power counting's and renormalization prescriptions is also presented with its consequences being roughly analyzed and discussed.
We extend from operators with one derivative to operators with three derivatives the analysis of two-body hadronic parity violation in a combined pionless effective field theory (EFT$_{π\!/}$) and large-$N_c$ expansion, where $N_c$ is the number of colors in quantum chromodynamics (QCD). In elastic scattering, these operators contribute to $S$-$P$ and $P$-$D$ wave transitions, with five operators and their accompanying low energy coefficients (LECs) characterizing the $S$-$P$ transitions and six operators and LECs those in $P$-$D$ transitions. We show that the large-$N_c$ analysis separates th…
We study the three-body systems of ${}^{3}\mathrm{He}$ and $pd$ scattering and demonstrate, both analytically and numerically, that a new $pd$ three-body force is needed at next-to-leading order in pionless effective field theory. We also show that at leading order these observables require no new three-body force beyond what is necessary to describe $nd$ scattering. We include electromagnetic effects by iterating only diagrams that involve a single photon exchange in the three-body sector.
We calculate the $β$-decay of tritium at next-to-leading order in pionless effective field theory. At this order, a low-energy parameter $L_{1, A}$ enters the calculation that is also relevant for a high-accuracy prediction of the solar proton-proton fusion rate. We use the tritium half-life to determine this parameter and provide uncertainty estimates. We show proper renormalization of our calculation analyzing the residual cutoff dependence of observables. We find that next-to-leading order corrections contribute about $4\%$ to the triton decay Gamow-Teller strength. We show that these concl…
We point out a redundancy in the operator structure of the pionless effective field theory which dramatically simplifies computations. This redundancy is best exploited by using dibaryon fields as fundamental degrees of freedom. In turn, this suggests a new power counting scheme which sums range corrections to all orders. We explore this method with a few simple observables: the deuteron charge form factor, n p -> d gamma, and Compton scattering from the deuteron. Higher dimension operators involving electroweak gauge fields are not renormalized by the s-wave strong interactions, and therefore…
Ever since quantum field theory was first applied to the derivation of nuclear forces in the mid-20th century, the renormalization of pion exchange with realistic couplings has presented a challenge. The implementation of effective field theories (EFTs) in the 1990s promised a solution to this problem but unexpected obstacles were encountered. The response of the nuclear community has been to focus on "chiral potentials" with regulators chosen to produce a good description of data. Meanwhile, a successful EFT without explicit pion exchange --- Pionless EFT --- has been formulated where renorma…
We calculate the structure of three-body hypernuclei with $S=-1$ using pionless effective field theory at leading order in the isospin $I=0$ and $I=1$ sectors. In both sectors, three-body hypernuclei arise naturally from the Efimov effect and a three-body parameter is required at leading order. We apply our theory to the hypertriton and the hypothetical $Λnn$ bound state and calculate the corresponding scaling factors. Moreover, we discuss constraints on the existence of the $Λnn$ bound state. In particular, we elucidate universal correlations between different observables and provide explicit…
The pion contributions to the coupling $C_0$ of pionless EFT are studied via both non-relativistic and relativistic forms of chiral effective field theory for nuclear forces. A definite item in the $2N$-reducible component of the box diagram is shown to be dominant over the $2N$-irreducible (potential) ones due to the pinching of low-lying nucleon poles, and this anomalous mapping between pionless and pionfull EFT's occurs right within the non-relativistic regime. A natural strategy for renormalization of the pionfull theory emerges as a byproduct through the interactive analysis of the box di…
The contents of renormalization group invariance and equations under tight constraints are explored and demonstrated with closed-form on-shell $T$ matrices of pionless effective field theory for nuclear forces right within the effective field theory philosophy. The 'running' couplings under such tight constraints are presented in $^1S_0$ and uncoupled $P$ channels up to truncation order $\mathcal{O}(Q^4)$. Some linear relations are exposed and in turn employed in the pursuit of nonperturbative 'running' solutions which serves as an alternative choice without resorting to special prescription a…
We compare the subtractive renormalization and the Wilsonian renormalization group approaches in the context of an effective field theory for the two-nucleon system. Based on an exactly solvable model of contact interactions, we observe that the standard Wilsonian renormalization group approach with a single cutoff parameter does not cover the whole space spanned by the renormalization scale parameters of the subtractive formalism. In particular, renormalization schemes corresponding to Weinberg's power counting in the case of an unnaturally large scattering length are beyond the region covere…
Pionful nuclear effective field theory (NEFT) in the two-nucleon sector is examined from the Wilsonian renormalization group point of view. The pion exchange is cut off at the floating cutoff scale, $Λ$, with the short-distance part being represented as contact interactions in accordance with the general principle of renormalization. We derive the nonperturbative renormalization group equations in the leading order of the nonrelativistic approximation in the operator space including up to $\mathcal{O}(p^2)$ and find the nontrivial fixed points in the $^1S_0$ and $^3S_1$--$^3D_1$ channels which…
In the strangeness $S=-2$ sector, we study the $Ξ^{-}nn$ ($I=3/2, J^P={1/2}^+$) three-body system using pionless halo effective field theory (EFT), which provides a systematic model independent framework for assessing the feasibility of light particle-stable three-body bound states, utilizing low-energy universality. Here we take recourse to a simplistic speculation of the three-body system by eliminating the repulsive spin-singlet $Ξ^- n$ sub-system, while retaining the predominantly attractive (possibly bound) spin-triplet $Ξ^{-}n$ and the virtual bound spin-singlet $nn$ sub-system. In parti…
Two-neutrino double-beta decay of certain nuclear isotopes is one of the rarest Standard Model processes observed in nature. Its neutrinoless counterpart is an exotic lepton-number nonconserving process that is widely searched for to determine if the neutrinos are Majorana fermions. In order to connect the rate of these processes to the Standard Model and beyond the Standard Model interactions, it is essential that the corresponding nuclear matrix elements are constrained reliably from theory. Lattice quantum chromodynamics (LQCD) and low-energy effective field theories (EFTs) are expected to …
We report on recent progress of the implementation of the similarity renormalization group (SRG) for three-body interactions in a one-dimensional, bosonic model system using the plane wave basis. We discuss our implementation of the flow equations and show results that confirm that results in the three-body sector remain unchanged by the transformation of the Hamiltonian. We also show how the SRG transformation decouples low- from high-momentum nodes in the three-body sector and therefore simplifies the numerical calculation of observables.
We first examine how T-matrix equivalence drives the flow of similarity renormalization group (SRG) evolved potential matrix elements to a universal form, with the ultimate goal of gaining insight into universality for three-nucleon forces. In agreement with observations made previously for Lee-Suzuki transformations, regions of universal potential matrix elements are restricted to where half-on-shell T-matrix equivalence holds, but the potentials must also reproduce binding energies. We find universality in local energy regions, reflecting a local decoupling by the SRG. To continue the study …
Quantum chromodynamics and the electroweak theory at low energies are prominent instances of the combination of a short-range and a long-range interaction. For the description of light nuclei, the large nucleon-nucleon scattering lengths produced by the strong interaction, and the reduction of the weak interaction to the Coulomb potential, play a crucial role. Helium-3 is the first bound nucleus comprised of more than one proton in which this combination of forces can be studied. We demonstrate a proper renormalization of Helium-3 using the pionless effective field theory as the formal represe…
We study the regularization and renormalization of a finite range inverse cube potential in the two- and three-body sectors. Specifically, we compare and contrast three different regulation schemes frequently used to study few-body systems as well as the associated renormalization group flows. We also calculate bound state and scattering observables over a wide range of cutoffs, demonstrating the sufficiency of a two-body contact interaction to renormalize two- and three-body observables. We supplement these plots with quantified analyses of the observables' residual cutoff dependence.
We consider two nonperturbative methods originally used to derive shell model effective interactions in nuclei. These methods have been applied to the two nucleon sector to obtain an energy independent effective interaction V_{low k}, which preserves the low momentum half-on-shell T matrix and the deuteron pole, with a sharp cutoff imposed on all intermediate state momenta. We show that V_{low k} scales with the cutoff precisely as one expects from renormalization group arguments. This result is a step towards reformulating traditional model space many-body calculations in the language of effe…
In a Wilsonian renormalization group (RG) analysis, redundant operators, which may be eliminated by using field redefinitions, emerge naturally. It is therefore important to include them. We consider a nonrelativisitic effective theory (the so-called ``pionless'' Nuclear Effective Field Theory) as a concrete example and show that the off-shell amplitudes cannot be renormalized if the redundant operators are not included. The relation between the theories with and without such redundant operators is established in the low-energy expansion. We perform a Wilsonian RG analysis for the \textit{off-…
The quenched scalar Yukawa theory is solved in the light-front Tamm-Dancoff approach including up to four constituents (one scalar nucleon, three scalar pions). The Fock sector dependent renormalization is implemented. By studying the Fock sector norms, we find that the lowest two Fock sectors dominate the state even in the large-coupling region. The one-body sector shows convergence with respect to the Fock sector truncation. However, the four-body norm exceeds the three-body norm at the coupling $α\approx 1.7$.
For non-relativistic quantum field theory in the few-body limit with instantaneous interactions it is shown within the functional renormalization group formalism that propagators are not renormalized and that the renormalization group equations of one-particle irreducible vertex functions are governed by a hierarchical structure. This hierarchy allows to solve the equations in the n-body sector without knowledge or assumptions about the m-body sectors where m>n.
We apply a field-theoretic functional renormalization group technique to the few-body (vacuum) physics of non-relativistic atoms near a Feshbach resonance. Three systems are considered: one-component bosons with U(1) symmetry, two-component fermions with U(1)\times SU(2) symmetry and three-component fermions with U(1) \times SU(3) symmetry. We focus on the scale invariant unitarity limit for infinite scattering length. The exact solution for the two-body sector is consistent with the unitary fixed point behavior for all considered systems. Nevertheless, the numerical three-body solution in the…
Binding energies of light, $A\leq 6$, $ΛΛ$ hypernuclei are calculated using the stochastic variational method in a pionless effective field theory (EFT) approach at leading order with the purpose of assessing critically the onset of binding in the strangeness S=-2 hadronic sector. The EFT input in this sector consists of (i) a $ΛΛ$ contact term constrained by the $ΛΛ$ scattering length $a_{ΛΛ}$, using a range of values compatible with $ΛΛ$ correlations observed in relativistic heavy ion collisions, and (ii) a $ΛΛN$ contact term constrained by the only available $A\leq 6$ $ΛΛ$ hypernucler bindi…
Low-energy effective field theory describing a nonrelativistic three-body system is analyzed in the Wilsonian renormalization group (RG) method. No effective auxiliary field (dimeron) that corresponds to two-body propagation is introduced. The Efimov effect is expected in the case of an infinite two-body scattering length, and is believed to be related to the limit cycle behavior in the three-body renormalization group equations (RGEs). If the one-loop property of the RGEs for the nonrelativistic system without the dimeron field, which is essential in deriving RGEs in the two-body sector, pers…
We give a short overview of the theory of the muon anomalous magnetic moment with emphasis on the hadronic light-by-light and the pion loop contribution. We explain the difference between the hidden local symmetry and full VMD pion loop and discuss leading logarithms in the anomalous sector of 2-flavour chiral perturbation theory.
These lectures are a pedagogical -- not comprehensive -- introduction to the applications of effective field theory in the context of nuclear and atomic physics. A common feature of these applications is the interplay between nonperturbative physics (needed at leading order to produce nonrelativistic bound states and resonances) and controlled perturbative corrections (crucial for predictive power). The essential ideas are illustrated with the simplest nuclear EFT, Pionless EFT, which contains only contact interactions and, with minor changes, can be adapted to certain atomic systems. This EFT…
Formulating the QFT's as coarse grained 'low' energy sectors of a postulated complete quantum theory of everything with the 'high' energy modes integrated out or 'clustering' into 'low' energy objects, we can evaluate the Feynman amplitudes by solving a series of natural differential equations which automatically dissolves the necessity of infinity subtraction and the associated subtleties. This new strategy has direct implications to the scheme dependence problem.
A non-perturbative approach based on the Fock decomposition of the state vector and its truncation is discussed. In order the non-perturbative renormalization procedure after truncation could eliminate infinities, it should be the sector dependent. We clarify the meaning of this procedure in a toy model. Then we demonstrate stability, relative to the increasing cutoff, of the anomalous magnetic moment found using the sector dependent renormalization scheme in Yukawa model.
Resonant P-wave interactions can be described by a minimal zero-range model defined by a truncated effective range expansion, so that the only 2-body interaction parameters are the inverse scattering volume 1/a_P and the P-wave effective range r_P. This minimal model can be formulated as a local quantum field theory with a P-wave interaction between atom fields and a molecular field. In the two-atom sector, the model is renormalizable, but it has unphysical behavior at high energies, because there are negative-probability states with momentum scale r_P. In the sector with three atoms, two of w…