The stability or lack thereof of nonrelativistic fermionic systems to interactions is studied within the renormalization-group (RG) framework, in close analogy with the study of critical phenomena using ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{4}$ scalar field theory. A brief introduction to ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{4}$ theory in four dimensions and the path-integral formulation for fermions is given before turning to the problem at hand. As for the latter, the following procedure is used. First, the modes on either side of the Fermi surface within a cutoff $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ are chosen for study, in analogy with the modes near the origin in ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{4}$ theory, and a path integral is written to describe them. Next, an RG transformation that eliminates a part of these modes, but preserves the action of the noninteracting system, is identified. Finally the possible perturbations of this free-field fixed point are classified as relevant, irrelevant or marginal. A
d=1 warmup calculation involving a system of fermions shows how, in contrast to mean-field theory, which predicts a charge-density wave for arbitrarily weak repulsion, and superconductivity for arbitrarily weak attraction, the renormalization-group approach correctly yields a scale-invariant system (Luttinger liquid) by taking into account both instabilities. Application of the renormalization group in
d=2and3, for rotationally invariant Fermi surfaces, automatically leads to Landau's Fermi-liquid theory, which appears as a fixed point characterized by an effective mass and a Landau function
F, with the only relevant perturbations being of the superconducting (BCS) type. The functional flow equations for the BCS couplings are derived and separated into an infinite number of flows, one for each angular momentum. It is shown that similar results hold for rotationally noninvariant (but time-reversal-invariant) Fermi surfaces also, with obvious loss of rotational invariance in the parametrization of the fixed-point interactions. A study of a nested Fermi surface shows an additional relevant flow leading to charge-density-wave formation. It is pointed out that, for small $\frac{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}{{K}_{F}}$, a
N1 expansion emerges, with $N=\frac{{K}_{F}}{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$, which explains why one is able to solve the narrow-cutoff theory. The search for non-Fermi liquids in
d=2 using the RG is discussed. Bringing a variety of phenomena (Landau theory, charge-density waves, BCS instability, nesting, etc.) under the one unifying principle of the RG not only allows us to better understand and unify them, but also paves the way for generalizations and extensions. The article is pedagogical in nature and is expected to be accessible to any serious graduate student. On the other hand, its survey of the vast literature is mostly limited to the RG approach.
The functional renormalization group is applied to the effective action for scattering of two nonrelativistic fermions. The resulting physical effective action is shown to contain the correct threshold singularity. The corresponding ``bare'' action respects Galilean invariance up to second order in momenta. Beyond that order it contains terms that violate this symmetry and, for the particular regulator considered, nonanalytic third-order terms. The corresponding potential can be expanded around a nontrivial fixed point using the power counting appropriate to a system with large scattering length.
We consider a very straightforward extension of the usual self-adjoint techniques to solve the quantum mechanical problem of contact interaction potentials (i.e., infinite walls with different boundary conditions and point interactions) moving with constant velocity. From these calculations we obtain general expressions that describe the scattering of wavepackets. Furthermore, we also discuss the cases where the potentials oscillate with constant velocity or have time dependent strengths. Finally, we show, with an explicit example, that the prescription used is not the only possibility to implement self-adjoint extensions for contact interactions. Thus, in principle different models can be realized from such moving systems. Throughout the work we propose some simple physical applications of our results.
Low-energy effective field theory describing a nonrelativistic three-body system is analyzed in the Wilsonian renormalization group method. No effective auxiliary field (dimeron) that corresponds to two-body propagation is introduced. The Efimov effect is expected in the case of an infinite two-body scattering length and is believed to be related to the limit cycle behavior in the three-body renormalization group equations (RGEs). If the one-loop property of the RGEs for the nonrelativistic system without the dimeron field, which is essential in deriving RGEs in the two-body sector, persists in the three-body sector, it appears to prevent the emergence of limit cycle behavior. We explain how the multiloop diagrams contribute in the three-body sector without contradicting the one-loop property of the RGEs and derive the correct RGEs, which lead to the limit cycle behavior. The Efimov parameter,
s0, is obtained within a few percent error in the leading orders. We also remark on the correct use of the dimeron formulation. We find rich renormalization group flow structure in the three-body sector. In particular, a novel nontrivial fixed point of the three-body couplings is found when the two-body interactions are absent. We also find, on the two-body nontrivial fixed point, the limit cycle is realized as a loop of finite size in the space of three-body coupling constants when terms with derivatives are included.