Callan-Symanzik equation

The Callan-Symanzik equation states that a renormalized correlation function is independent of the arbitrary renormalization scale after the couplings and field normalization run. For an $n$-point function it has the formup to sign conventions for the anomalous dimension.

For a normalized connected functional obeying $(\mu {\partial }_{\mu }+\hat{\beta }{\partial }_{\lambda }+{\hat{\gamma }}_{h}h{\partial }_h)F=0$, solve the displayed ordinary differential equations and keep $F$ constant along their curves. Where $\hat{\beta }\ne 0$, $\log (\mu /{\mu }_{\ast })={\int }_{{\lambda }_{\ast }}^{\lambda (\mu )}dg/\hat{\beta }(g)$ and $h(\mu )=h_{\ast }\exp {\int }_{{\lambda }_{\ast }}^{\lambda (\mu )}{\hat{\gamma }}_h(g)dg/\hat{\beta }(g)$. For the dimensionless density $f(\lambda ,y)$ of a uniform source, with $y=h/{\mu }^3$, the equation is $[\hat{\beta }{\partial }_{\lambda }+({\hat{\gamma }}_h-3)y{\partial }_y+d]f=0$. Its characteristic invariant is $y\exp [-\int ({\hat{\gamma }}_h-3)dg/\hat{\beta }]$, and its value acquires the factor $\exp [-\int ddg/\hat{\beta }]$. A finite-volume total functional also retains the dimensionless volume argument.

For fixed external momenta, the massless Callan-Symanzik equation is $(\mu {\partial }_{\mu }+\beta (\lambda ){\partial }_{\lambda }+n{\gamma }_{\varphi })G_n=0$. Choose a running coupling satisfying $d\lambda /d\log \mu =\beta (\lambda )$ and $\lambda ({\mu }_0)={\lambda }_0$. The chain rule reduces the equation along this curve to $d{G}_n/d\log \mu =-n{\gamma }_{\varphi }{G}_n$, whose integrating factor gives the displayed solution. The reference correlation function at ${\mu }_0$ supplies boundary data; the renormalization group alone does not determine these data.

If $\beta =b{\lambda }^2$, then $\lambda (\mu )={\lambda }_0/[1-b{\lambda }_0\log (\mu /{\mu }_0)]$. If in addition the anomalous dimension is ${\gamma }_{\varphi }=c{\lambda }^2$, the integral in the exponent is $(c/b)(\lambda (\mu )-{\lambda }_0)$. These formulas use the stipulated truncated renormalization group functions and apply on a branch on which the running solution remains defined.

For $t=\log (|p|/\mu )$ and $d\bar{g}/dt=\beta (\bar{g})$, the displayed characteristic solution follows from $(-{\partial }_t+\beta {\partial }_g+2{\gamma }_{\varphi })d=0$. It separates the running coupling from the accumulated field-renormalization anomalous dimension. The exponent sign is determined by the precise Callan-Symanzik equation convention.

For $\beta =-b{g}^3$, ${\gamma }_{\varphi }=c{g}^2$, and $b>0$, one has ${\bar{g}}^2=g^2/(1+b{g}^2\log z)$. Integrating the field-renormalization anomalous dimension gives the displayed logarithmic factor. At large $z$, a nonzero free matching factor yields $d\sim C(\log z{)}^{c/b}$ in the printed RG sign convention.

For a dimensionless two-point factor obeying $(-2r{\partial }_r+\beta {\partial }_g+2\gamma )C=0$, evolve $g^{\prime }=\beta (g)$ and accumulate the displayed anomalous-dimension multiplier. The flow property verifies the equation: its transport generator is $\beta {\partial }_g+2\gamma$. This fixes a frequent sign ambiguity between raising the physical momentum and changing the reference scale.

An additive subtraction can produce a source in the renormalization-group equation. If $G_R=G_B-a\log ({\Lambda }_0/\Lambda )$ and the bare correlator is invariant under $\mathcal{D}=\Lambda {\partial }_{\Lambda }+\beta (g){\partial }_g$, then $\mathcal{D}{G}_R=a$. A vanishing operator anomalous dimension does not remove this source.