Multi-critical point principle as the origin of classical conformality and its generalizations

Multi-critical point principle (MPP) is one of the interesting theoretical possibilities that can explain the fine-tuning problems of the Universe. It simply claims that “the coupling constants of a theory are tuned to one of the multi-critical points, where some of the extrema of the effective potential are degenerate.” One of the simplest examples is the vanishing of the second derivative of the effective potential around a minimum. This corresponds to the so-called classical conformality, because it implies that the renormalized mass m2 vanishes. More generally, the form of the effective potential of a model depends on several coupling constants, and we should sweep them to find all the multi-critical points. In this paper, we study the multi-critical points of a general scalar field φ at one-loop level under the circumstance that the vacuum expectation values of the other fields are all zero. For simplicity, we also assume that the other fields are either massless or so heavy that they do not contribute to the low energy effective potential of φ. This assumption makes our discussion very simple because the resultant one-loop effective potential is parametrized by only four effective couplings. Although our analysis is not completely general because of the assumption, it still can be widely applicable to many models of the Coleman-Weinberg mechanism and its generalizations. After classifying the multi-critical points at low-energy scales, we will briefly mention the possibility of criticalities at high-energy scales and their implications for cosmology.

From amplitudes to contact cosmological correlators

Our understanding of quantum correlators in cosmological spacetimes, including those that we can observe in cosmological surveys, has improved qualitatively in the past few years. Now we know many constraints that these objects must satisfy as consequences of general physical principles, such as symmetries, unitarity and locality. Using this new understanding, we derive the most general scalar four-point correlator, i.e., the trispectrum, to all orders in derivatives for manifestly local contact interactions. To obtain this result we use techniques from commutative algebra to write down all possible scalar four-particle amplitudes without assuming invariance under Lorentz boosts. We then input these amplitudes into a contact reconstruction formula that generates a contact cosmological correlator in de Sitter spacetime from a contact scalar or graviton amplitude. We also show how the same procedure can be used to derive higher-point contact cosmological correlators. Our results further extend the reach of the boostless cosmological bootstrap and build a new connection between flat and curved spacetime physics.

Towards general scalar-Yukawa renormalisation group equations at three-loop order

For arbitrary four-dimensional quantum field theories with scalars and fermions, renormalisation group equations in the $$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$ MS ¯ scheme are investigated at three-loop order in perturbation theory. Collecting literature results, general expressions are obtained for field anomalous dimensions, Yukawa interactions, as well as fermion masses. The renormalisation group evolution of scalar quartic, cubic and mass terms is determined up to a few unknown coefficients. The combined results are applied to compute the renormalisation group evolution of the gaugeless Litim-Sannino model.

Metastable vacua in quantum field theory (QFT)

The methods to evaluate barrier penetration effects, in the semi-classical limit are generalized to quantum field theory (QFT). Since barrier penetration is associated with classical motion in imaginary time, the QFT is considered in its Euclidean formulation. In the representation of QFT in terms of field integrals, in the semi-classical limit, barrier penetration is related to finite action solutions (instantons) of the classical field equations. The evaluation of instanton contributions at leading order is explained, the main new problem arising from ultraviolet divergences. The lifetime of metastable states is related to the imaginary part of the ‘ground state’ energy. However, for later purpose, it is useful to calculate the imaginary part not only of the vacuum amplitude, but also of correlation functions. In the case of the vacuum amplitude, the instanton contribution is proportional to the space–time volume. Therefore, dividing by the volume, one obtains the probability per unit time and unit volume of a metastable pseudo-vacuum to decay. A scalar field theory with a φ4 interaction, generalization of the quartic anharmonic oscillator is discussed in two and three dimensions, dimensions in which the theory is super-renormalizable, then more general scalar field theories are considered.

Derivative-Free Multiobjective Trust Region Descent Method Using Radial Basis Function Surrogate Models

We present a local trust region descent algorithm for unconstrained and convexly constrained multiobjective optimization problems. It is targeted at heterogeneous and expensive problems, i.e., problems that have at least one objective function that is computationally expensive. Convergence to a Pareto critical point is proven. The method is derivative-free in the sense that derivative information need not be available for the expensive objectives. Instead, a multiobjective trust region approach is used that works similarly to its well-known scalar counterparts and complements multiobjective line-search algorithms. Local surrogate models constructed from evaluation data of the true objective functions are employed to compute possible descent directions. In contrast to existing multiobjective trust region algorithms, these surrogates are not polynomial but carefully constructed radial basis function networks. This has the important advantage that the number of data points needed per iteration scales linearly with the decision space dimension. The local models qualify as fully linear and the corresponding general scalar framework is adapted for problems with multiple objectives.

Six-loop beta functions in general scalar theory

We consider general renormalizable scalar field theory and derive six-loop beta functions for all parameters in d = 4 dimensions within the $$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$ MS ¯ -scheme. We do not explicitly compute relevant loop integrals but utilize O(n)-symmetric model counter-terms available in the literature. We consider dimensionless couplings and parameters with a mass scale, ranging from the trilinear self-coupling to the vacuum energy. We use obtained results to extend renormalization-group equations for several vector, matrix, and tensor models to the six-loop order. Also, we apply our general expressions to derive new contributions to beta functions and anomalous dimensions in the scalar sector of the Two-Higgs-Doublet Model.

New heat kernel method in Lifshitz theories

We develop a new heat kernel method that is suited for a systematic study of the renormalization group flow in Hořava gravity (and in Lifshitz field theories in general). This method maintains covariance at all stages of the calculation, which is achieved by introducing a generalized Fourier transform covariant with respect to the nonrelativistic background spacetime. As a first test, we apply this method to compute the anisotropic Weyl anomaly for a (2 + 1)-dimensional scalar field theory around a z = 2 Lifshitz point and corroborate the previously found result. We then proceed to general scalar operators and evaluate their one-loop effective action. The covariant heat kernel method that we develop also directly applies to operators with spin structures in arbitrary dimensions.

Inflation with non-minimal kinetic and Gauss–Bonnet couplings

The Mukhanov–Sasaki equation is deduced from linear perturbations for a general scalar-tensor model with non-minimal coupling to curvature, to the Gauss–Bonnet invariant and non-minimal kinetic coupling to curvature. The general formulas for the power spectra of the primordial scalar and tensor fluctuations are obtained for arbitrary coupling functions. The results have been applied to models with power-law, exponential, natural and double-well potentials. It was found that the presence of these non-minimal couplings affect the inflationary observables leading to values favored by the latest observations, while some interesting results like sub-planckian symmetry breaking scale in natural inflation and sub-planckian v.e.v. of the scalar filed in the double-well potential were obtained. The consistency with the reheating process was discussed and some numerical cases were shown. The equivalence of the model to a sector of generalized Galileons was shown and the functions that establish the correspondence were found.

General scalar renormalisation group equations at three-loop order

For arbitrary scalar QFTs in four dimensions, renormalisation group equations of quartic and cubic interactions, mass terms, as well as field anomalous dimensions are computed at three-loop order in the $$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$ MS ¯ scheme. Utilising pre-existing literature expressions for a specific model, loop integrals are avoided and templates for general theories are obtained. We reiterate known four-loop expressions, and from those derive β functions for scalar masses and cubic interactions. As an example, the results are applied to compute all renormalisation group equations in U(n) × U(n) scalar theories.