Abstract We use a post-Gaussian variational approach to non-perturbatively study a general class of interacting bosonic quantum field theories with generalized dipole symmetries and fractonic behavior. We find that while a Gaussian approach allows to carry out a consistent renormalization group (RG) flow analysis of these theories, this only grasps the interaction terms associated with the longitudinal motion of dipoles, which is consistent with previous analysis using large N techniques. Remarkably, our post-Gaussian proposal, by providing a variational improved effective potential, can capture the transverse part of the interaction between dipoles in such a way that a non-trivial RG flow for this term is obtained and analyzed. Our results suggest that dipole symmetries that manifest due to the strong coupling of dipoles, may robustly emerge at low energies from short-distance models without that symmetry.
Abstract We use a post-Gaussian variational approach to non-perturbatively study a general class of interacting bosonic quantum field theories with generalized dipole symmetries and fractonic behavior. We find that while a Gaussian approach allows to carry out a consistent renormalization group (RG) flow analysis of these theories, this only grasps the interaction terms associated with the longitudinal motion of dipoles, which is consistent with previous analysis using large N techniques. Remarkably, our post-Gaussian proposal, by providing a variational improved effective potential, can capture the transverse part of the interaction between dipoles in such a way that a non-trivial RG flow for this term is obtained and analyzed. Our results suggest that dipole symmetries that manifest due to the strong coupling of dipoles, may robustly emerge at low energies from short-distance models without that symmetry.
Higher rank symmetry and higher moment conservation have been drawn considerable attention from, e.g., subdiffusive transport to fracton topological order. In this paper, we perform a one-loop renormalization group (RG) analysis and show how these phenomena emerge at low energies. We consider a d-dimensional model of interacting bosons of d components. At higher rank-symmetric points with conserved angular moments, the ath bosons have kinetic energy only along the ${\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{x}}^{a}$ direction. Therefore, the symmetric points look highly anisotropic and fine-tuned. By studying RG in a wide vicinity of the symmetric points, we find that symmetry-disallowed kinetic terms tend to be irrelevant within the perturbative regime, which potentially leads to emergent higher rank symmetry and higher moment conservation at the deep infrared limit. While nonperturbative analysis is called for in the future, by regarding higher rank symmetry as an emergent phenomenon, the RG analysis presented in this paper holds alternative promise for realizing higher rank symmetry and higher moment conservation in experimentally achievable systems.
Numerical fluid dynamics for FRG flow equations: Zero-dimensional QFTs as numerical test cases - Part I: The O(N) model
The functional renormalization group (FRG) approach is a powerful tool for studies of a large variety of systems, ranging from statistical physics over the theory of the strong interaction to gravity. The practical application of this approach relies on the derivation of so-called flow equations, which describe the change of the quantum effective action under the variation of a coarse-graining parameter. In the present work, we discuss in detail a novel approach to solve such flow equations. This approach relies on the fact that RG equations can be rewritten such that they exhibit similarities with the conservation laws of fluid dynamics. This observation can be exploited in different ways. First of all, we show that this allows to employ powerful numerical techniques developed in the context of fluid dynamics to solve RG equations. In particular, it allows to reliably treat the emergence of non-analytic behavior in the RG flow of the effective action as it is expected to occur in studies of, e.g., spontaneous symmetry breaking. Second, the analogy between RG equations and fluid dynamics offers the opportunity to gain novel insights into RG flows and their interpretation in general, including the irreversibility of RG flows. We work out this connection in practice by applying it to zero-dimensional quantum-field theoretical models. The generalization to higher-dimensional models is also discussed. Our findings are expected to help improving future FRG studies of quantum field theories in higher dimensions both on a qualitative and quantitative level.
We consider theories of fractons with N fields. These theories have exotic spacetime symmetries, including a conserved dipole moment. Using collective fields we solve these models to leading order in large N. The large N solution reveals that these models are strongly correlated, and that interactions generate a momentum-dependent self-energy. Dipole symmetry is spontaneously broken throughout the phase diagram of these models, leading to a low-energy Goldstone description of what we dub "dipole superfluids."
The functional renormalization group (FRG) approach is a powerful tool for studies of a large variety of systems, ranging from statistical physics over the theory of the strong interaction to gravity. The practical application of this approach relies on the derivation of so-called flow equations, which describe the change of the quantum effective action under the variation of a coarse-graining parameter. In the present work, we discuss in detail a novel approach to solve such flow equations. This approach relies on the fact that RG equations can be rewritten such that they exhibit similarities with the conservation laws of fluid dynamics. This observation can be exploited in different ways. First of all, we show that this allows to employ powerful numerical techniques developed in the context of fluid dynamics to solve RG equations. In particular, it allows us to reliably treat the emergence of nonanalytic behavior in the RG flow of the effective action as it is expected to occur in studies of, e.g., spontaneous symmetry breaking. Second, the analogy between RG equations and fluid dynamics offers the opportunity to gain novel insights into RG flows and their interpretation in general, including the irreversibility of RG flows. We work out this connection in practice by applying it to zero-dimensional quantum-field theoretical models. The generalization to higher-dimensional models is also discussed. Our findings are expected to help improving future FRG studies of quantum field theories in higher dimensions both on a qualitative and quantitative level.
Fractonic superfluids are featured by the interplay of spontaneously broken charge symmetry and mobility constraints on single-particle kinematics due to the conservation of higher moments, such as dipoles, angular charge moments, and quadrupoles. Building on prior studies by Yuan [] and Chen [], we study a class of fractonic superfluids, termed (HFS), in which bosons of multiple species interact while moment hybridization is conserved. We explore the consequences of hybridization via two model series: , conserving total moments of the same order across species, and , conserving total moments of different orders. In Model Series A, we analyze dipole moment hybridization and extend the discussion to higher-order moments, examining the ground state, Goldstone modes, correlation functions, and so on. We compute the minimal spatial dimensions, where the total charge symmetry begins to get partially broken via particle-hole condensation, leading to true off-diagonal long-range order. In Model Series B, we focus on HFS with hybrid dipole-quadrupole conservation. For both series, we introduce Bose-Hubbard–type lattice models that reduce to either of both series in the weak Hubbard interaction regime. We perform a mean-field analysis on the global phase diagram and discuss experimental realizations in strongly tilted optical lattices via a third-order perturbation theory. This work, alongside prior studies, completes a trilogy on fractonic superfluids, uncovering symmetry-breaking physics emerging from higher moment conservation, leaving various promising studies for future investigation.
Strongly correlated quantum field theories present a formidable challenge to conventional theoretical methods, particularly those rooted in perturbative expansions. The breakdown of perturbation theory in regimes where interaction strengths are comparable to or exceed kinetic energies necessitates the development of non-perturbative approaches. This paper introduces and elaborates on a novel framework for diagrammatic renormalization specifically designed for strongly correlated quantum fields, moving beyond the limitations inherent in iterative or weak-coupling expansions. We explore how a systematic resummation of infinite classes of diagrams, guided by a functional renormalization group perspective, can capture the complex interplay of quantum fluctuations and emergent phenomena characteristic of these systems. Our approach leverages a self-consistent treatment of Green's functions and self-energies, allowing for the faithful description of spectral functions, phase transitions, and exotic ground states in a manner that traditional perturbation theory cannot. We discuss the theoretical underpinnings, computational strategies, and potential applications across diverse domains, including condensed matter physics, quantum chromodynamics, and ultracold atomic systems. The methodology aims to provide a robust, diagrammatically transparent pathway to understanding the non-trivial fixed points and scaling behaviors that govern strongly correlated phenomena, offering a powerful alternative where standard approximations fail.