Renormalization in quantum field theory and the Riemann-Hilbert problem II: the $\beta$-function, diffeomorphisms and the renormalization group

TL;DR

This paper explores the mathematical structure of renormalization in quantum field theory using the Riemann-Hilbert problem, revealing how the renormalization group and beta function relate to complex Lie groups and diffeomorphisms.

Contribution

It establishes a connection between the renormalization group, beta function, and the action of a complex Lie group on coupling constants via the Riemann-Hilbert decomposition.

Findings

Renormalization corresponds to the asymptotic scaling in a complex Lie group.

The effective coupling constant can be derived from the Riemann-Hilbert decomposition.

A scattering formula for counterterms is derived from the residue of the loop.

Abstract

We showed in part I (hep-th/9912092) that the Hopf algebra ${\cal H}$ of Feynman graphs in a given QFT is the algebra of coordinates on a complex infinite dimensional Lie group $G$ and that the renormalized theory is obtained from the unrenormalized one by evaluating at $\ve=0$ the holomorphic part $\gamma_+(\ve)$ of the Riemann-Hilbert decomposition $\gamma_-(\ve)^{-1}\gamma_+(\ve)$ of the loop $\gamma(\ve)\in G$ provided by dimensional regularization. We show in this paper that the group $G$ acts naturally on the complex space $X$ of dimensionless coupling constants of the theory. More precisely, the formula $g_0=gZ_1Z_3^{-3/2}$ for the effective coupling constant, when viewed as a formal power series, does define a Hopf algebra homomorphism between the Hopf algebra of coordinates on the group of formal diffeomorphisms to the Hopf algebra ${\cal H}$. This allows first of all to read off directly, without using the group $G$, the bare coupling constant and the renormalized one from the Riemann-Hilbert decomposition of the unrenormalized effective coupling constant viewed as a loop of formal diffeomorphisms. This shows that renormalization is intimately related with the theory of non-linear complex bundles on the Riemann sphere of the dimensional regularization parameter $\ve$. It also allows to lift both the renormalization group and the $\beta$-function as the asymptotic scaling in the group $G$. This exploits the full power of the Riemann-Hilbert decomposition together with the invariance of $\gamma_-(\ve)$ under a change of unit of mass. This not only gives a conceptual proof of the existence of the renormalization group but also delivers a scattering formula in the group $G$ for the full higher pole structure of minimal subtracted counterterms in terms of the residue.