We have calculated continuum limit step scaling functions of bilinear and four-fermion operators renormalized in a Rome-Southampton scheme using various smearing prescriptions for the gauge field. Also, for the first time, we have calculated non-pert
urbative anomalous dimensions of operators renormalized in a Rome-Southampton scheme. The effect of such smearing first enters connected fermionic correlation functions via radiative corrections. We use off-shell renormalisation as a probe, and observe that the upper edge of the Rome-Southampton window is reduced by link smearing. This can be interpreted as arising due to the fermions decoupling from the high momentum gluons and we observe that the running of operators with the scale at large lattice momenta shows enhanced lattice artefacts. We find that the effect is greater for HEX smearing than for Stout smearing, but that in both cases additional care must be taken when using off-shell renormalisation with smeared gauge fields compared to thin link simulations.
A method for computing renormalization constants in the Rome Southampton scheme with volume sources and arbitrary momenta is described. This new method is found to enable controlled and precise continuum extrapolations and opens the way to compute th
e running of operators nonperturbatively in the Rome Southampton scheme. We describe this in detail and exhibit several examples of lattice step scaling functions.
