Advanced Quantum Field Theory
(AQFT): Wilsonian Renormalization in
Quantum Field Theory
Thomas Krajewski
[email protected]
Centre de Physique Théorique, Aix-Marseille Université
Presentation of the Master Courses, October 2024
Length scales in Physics
Current physics explores a wide range of length (or energy) scales
▶ Planck scale: ∼ 10−35 m (1019 GeV)
▶ particle physics: ∼ 10−18 m (1 GeV)
▶ nuclear physics: ∼ 10−15 m (1 MeV
▶ atomic physics ∼ 10−10 m (1 eV)
▶ everyday life: ∼ 1 m
▶ stars and galaxies: 1 ly − millions ly
▶ cosmology: millions ly − billions ly
Different descriptions of Nature based on quantum
mechanics/special and general relativity/classical physics are used
at different scales and degrees of freedom living at widely
separated scales usually decouple
short distance physics −→ long distance physics
few parameters
For example, atomic physics do not involve nuclear degrees of
freedom, but the latter yield some parameters pertaining to the
nucleus.
Wilsonian renormalisation in quantum field theory
Decoupling of different scales fails in the following situations
▶ Virtual particles in radiative corrections
▶ Fluctuations at a critical point
Both situations can be described within quantum or statistical field
theory: local degrees of freedom ϕ(x) subject to quantum or
statistical fluctuations based a functional integral
−Ha [ϕ]
Z Z
iSΛ [ϕ]
[Dϕ]Λ exp (quantum) [Dϕ]a exp (statistical)
h kT
with Λ a UV cut-off and a the lattice spacing (limit of validity of
the model) .
Basic idea of Wilsonian renormalization: use scale dependent
microscopic parameters in SΛ or Ha in order to make contact with
low energy or long distance experiments.
Description of the course
This course aims at an introduction to these techniques,
emphasizing general methods and conceptual aspects
▶ Critical phenomena, mean field theory and spin blocking
▶ Functional integral and Feynman graphs
▶ Perturbative renormalization and asymptotic behavior
▶ Effective field theory
The lectures will use the critical phenomena as an illustrative
example but more specialized examples will be treated in a
homework, to be chosen by the students (high energy/gravitation
or condensed matter/statistical physics)
No special prerequisites are needed beyond a standard M1
curriculum in physics, but a positive synergy may occur with any of
the following M2 courses: Relativistic Quantum Field Theory, Out
of Equilbrium Statistical Mechanics, Standard Model and Gauge
Theory,...
Additional ressources
Nobel Prize awards related to renormalization
▶ Feynman, Schwinger, Tomonaga: QED renormalization (1965)
▶ Wilson: renormalization and critical phenomena (1982)
▶ ’t Hooft and Veltman: renormalization of the SM (1999)
▶ Gross, Politzer, Wilczek :asymptotic freedom (2004)
Some interesting books and lectures
▶ book by A. Zee ”Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell”
▶ short lecture by J. Zinn-Justin ”Renormalization and
renormalization group: From the discovery of UV divergences
to the concept of effective field theories”
https://www.ipht.fr/Docspht//search/article.php?IDA=6067
▶ talk of S. Weinberg at CERN ”The Quantum Theory of
Fields: Effective of Fundamental”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mQ0Yu2x9vE&t=159s
Feel free to contact me at
[email protected]
