Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2015 / iii / Paper 45 / 2

For the Gaussian critical exponents, use dimensionless statistical-action conventions, with the Boltzmann factor $e^{-H}$. If $H$ is an energy, apply the following to $H/(k_{B}T)$ and absorb that smooth factor into the couplings. Choose the Fourier transform conventionReality gives $\tilde{\varphi }(-p)=\tilde{\varphi }(p{)}^{\ast }$. The Fourier-space statistical Hamiltonian isThe source term is not multiplied by one half. Completing the Gaussian functional integral gives $⟨\tilde{\varphi }(p)⟩=\tilde{J}(p)/({\kappa }^{-1}{p}^2+m^2)$ and the connected Fourier-space two-point correlation functionAssume $m^2>0$ for the stable massive Gaussian field theory. In the continuum long-distance theory, the real-space correlation function is the Green kernel of $-{\kappa }^{-1}{\nabla }^2+m^2$. Away from its source, a radial ansatz $G(R)\sim R^{-(D-1)/2}{e}^{-R/\xi }$ gives, at large $R$, $m^2-{\kappa }^{-1}{\xi }^{-2}=0$. Equivalently the propagator pole is at $p^2=-\kappa m^2$. Thus the exponential correlation length isAt $m=0$ the correlation length diverges. A sharp momentum regulator itself introduces artificial oscillatory long-distance tails; this length describes the physical continuum pole or a local/smoothly regulated model on distances large compared with $a$.

For a momentum-shell renormalization group step with $b>1$, split the Fourier modes into retained modes $|p|<\Lambda /b$ and eliminated modes $\Lambda /b<|p|<\Lambda$. Define ${\tilde{\varphi }}_B(p)$ as the retained field. Integrating the eliminated modes is exact for a Gaussian field theory; a uniform source acts only on the zero mode, so this integration produces a field-independent free-energy term. Rescale $q=bp$ and set ${\tilde{\varphi }}_B(p)=\tilde{Z}{\tilde{\varphi }}^{\prime }(q)$. The retained quadratic action becomesKeeping the gradient coefficient fixed requires $b^{-D-2}{\tilde{Z}}^2=1$. For $J=h$, the source term is $-h{\tilde{\varphi }}_B(0)$, so the complete Gaussian rescaling isThe corresponding real-space field obeys ${\varphi }_B(x)=b^{(2-D)/2}{\varphi }^{\prime }(x/b)$; confusing that real-space factor with $\tilde{Z}$ would change the source exponent incorrectly.

Let $F$ be free energy per original volume, with $t$ proportional to $m^2$. Rescaled volume is $V^{\prime }=V/b^D$, so the Gaussian free-energy scaling relation isA field-normalisation Jacobian can be included in the field-independent shell term. For any finite step on positive-mass modes, that background is analytic near $t=0$. Subtract regular backgrounds and choose $b=t^{-1/2}$ on the massive side. The usual homogeneous singular scaling then givesThese are Gaussian critical exponents for the stipulated Gaussian approximation. A useful check is its source-dependent contribution $-h^2/(2m^2)$: $D/2-2\Delta =-1$ gives precisely that power of $t$.

There is a qualification to a strictly pure-power singular free energy. The Gaussian free-energy logarithm at effective dimension two in $D=2$ contains $t\log t$ after subtracting analytic terms. Thus the displayed exponent assignments remain the formal power indices, but at $D=2$ the advertised homogeneous expression needs this additive logarithmic term. A purely quadratic theory also cannot stabilise the ordered $t<0$ phase or the zero-mass zero mode at nonzero $h$; the scaling calculation is taken from $t>0$, and an ordered-phase continuation requires stabilising interactions.

At a uniaxial Lifshitz point, the quadratic kernel instead isThe vanishing coefficient of $p_{\parallel }^2$ is an additional tuning that distinguishes this Lifshitz point from an ordinary critical point. Use a factorised cutoff, retain $|p_{\perp }|<{\Lambda }_{\perp }/b$ and $|p_{\parallel }|<{\Lambda }_{\parallel }/c$, and integrate its complement. A rectangular or cylindrical retained region is suitable; its precise boundary is not an exponent. This is a uniaxial Lifshitz Gaussian renormalization step.

Set $q_{\perp }=b{p}_{\perp }$, $q_{\parallel }=c{p}_{\parallel }$, and ${\tilde{\varphi }}_B=\tilde{Z}{\tilde{\varphi }}^{\prime }$. The momentum measure acquires $b^{-(D-1)}{c}^{-1}$. Keeping both kinetic coefficients fixed requiresTherefore the anisotropic blocking and source factors areThe anisotropic effective dimension is $d_{\mathrm{eff}}=D-1+1/2=D-1/2$: one parallel coordinate contributes half the scaling weight of a perpendicular coordinate. The rescaled-volume factor is $b^{-d_{\mathrm{eff}}}$, soChoosing $b=t^{-1/2}$ gives the requested Lifshitz Gaussian exponents:Again $(D-1/2)/2-2\Delta =-1$, checking the uniform-source susceptibility. The associated length powers are ${\xi }_{\perp }\sim t^{-1/2}$ and ${\xi }_{\parallel }\sim t^{-1/4}$. A Gaussian determinant has the analogous logarithmic exception if its effective dimension equals 2. Interactions can alter these exponents; dimensional rescaling here solves the specified Gaussian model.