We solve analytically the renormalization-group equation for the potential of the O(N)-symmetric scalar theory in the large-N limit and in dimensions 2<d<4, in order to look for nonperturbative fixed points that were found numerically in a recent study. We find new real solutions with singularities in the higher derivatives of the potential at its minimum, and complex solutions with branch cuts along the negative real axis.
The large-n expansion is developed for the study of critical behaviour of d-dimensional systems at m-axial Lifshitz points with an arbitrary number m of modulation axes. The leading non-trivial contributions of O(1/n) are derived for the two independent correlation exponents eta_{L2} and eta_{L4}, and the related anisotropy index theta. The series coefficients of these 1/n corrections are given for general values of m and d with 0<m<d and 2+m/2<d<4+m/2 in the form of integrals. For special values of m and d such as (m,d)=(1,4), they can be computed analytically, but in general their evaluation requires numerical means. The 1/n corrections are shown to reduce in the appropriate limits to those of known large-n expansions for the case of d-dimensional isotropic Lifshitz points and critical points, respectively, and to be in conformity with available dimensionality expansions about the upper and lower critical dimensions. Numerical results for the 1/n coefficients of eta_{L2}, eta_{L4} and theta are presented for the physically interesting case of a uniaxial Lifshitz point in three dimensions, as well as for some other choices of m and d. A universal coefficient associated with the energy-density pair correlation function is calculated to leading order in 1/n for general values of m and d.
Recently it was shown that the scaling dimension of the operator $phi^n$ in $lambda(phi^*phi)^2$ theory may be computed semi-classically at the Wilson-Fisher fixed point in $d=4-epsilon$, for generic values of $lambda n$ and this was verified to two loop order in perturbation theory at leading and sub-leading $n$. In subsequent work, this result was generalised to operators of fixed charge $Q$ in $O(N)$ theory and verified up to three loops in perturbation theory at leading and sub-leading order. Here we extend this verification to four loops in $O(N)$ theory, once again at leading and sub-leading order. We also investigate the strong-coupling regime.
The critical behaviour of the O(n)-symmetric model with two n-vector fields is studied within the field-theoretical renormalization group approach in a D=4-2 epsilon expansion. Depending on the coupling constants the beta-functions, fixed points and critical exponents are calculated up to the one- and two-loop order, resp. (eta in two- and three-loop order). Continuous lines of fixed points and O(n)*O(2) invariant discrete solutions were found. Apart from already known fixed points two new ones were found. One agrees in one-loop order with a known fixed point, but differs from it in two-loop order.
Using numerical simulations, a vortex is studied in the broken phase of the $(2+1)$-d $O(2)$-symmetric scalar field theory in the vicinity of the Wilson-Fisher fixed point. The vortex is an infraparticle that is surrounded by a cloud of Goldstone bosons. The $L$-dependence of the vortex mass in a finite $C$-periodic volume $L^2$ leads to the determination of the renormalized vortex charge.
Inspired by the corresponding problem in QCD, we determine the pressure of massless O(N) scalar field theory up to order g^6 in the weak-coupling expansion, where g^2 denotes the quartic coupling constant. This necessitates the computation of all 4-loop vacuum graphs at a finite temperature: by making use of methods developed by Arnold and Zhai at 3-loop level, we demonstrate that this task is manageable at least if one restricts to computing the logarithmic terms analytically, while handling the ``constant 4-loop contributions numerically. We also inspect the numerical convergence of the weak-coupling expansion after the inclusion of the new terms. Finally, we point out that while the present computation introduces strategies that should be helpful for the full 4-loop computation on the QCD-side, it also highlights the need to develop novel computational techniques, in order to be able to complete this formidable task in a systematic fashion.