Running couplings and unitarity in a 4-derivative scalar field theory

DOI10.1016/J.PHYSLETB.2023.138023zbMATH Open1529.81088arXiv2303.06723OpenAlexW4380854173MaRDI QIDQ6173399FDOQ6173399

Authors: Bob Holdom 

Publication date: 21 July 2023

Published in: Physics Letters B (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We obtain the $$-functions for the two dimensionless couplings of a 4d renormalizable scalar field theory with cubic and quartic 4-derivative interactions. Both couplings can be asymptotically free in the UV, and in some cases also in the IR. This theory illustrates the meaning of unitarity in the presence of a negative norm state. A perturbative calculation that accounts for the new minus signs shows that the optical theorem is identically satisfied. These minus signs also enter a discussion of tree-level scattering. For a certain setup involving colliding beams of particles we find even more intricate cancellations and quite normal behaviour at high energies. The $$-functions for the Stuckelberg gauged version of the theory are also obtained.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.06723

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Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Trees (05C05) Quantum optics (81V80) Perturbations in context of PDEs (35B20) Yang-Mills and other gauge theories in mechanics of particles and systems (70S15) Model quantum field theories (81T10) (2)-body potential quantum scattering theory (81U05) Universality and renormalization of dynamical systems (37E20) Other fundamental interactions in quantum theory (81V19)

Cites Work

• Package-X: a Mathematica package for the analytic calculation of one-loop integrals
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• Photon-photon scattering from a UV-complete gravity QFT
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Cited In (8)

• Running couplings with a vanishing scale anomaly
• Substructures of the Weyl group and their physical applications
• Effective approach to the Antoniadis-Mottola model: quantum decoupling of the higher derivative terms
• Massless and partially massless limits in quadratic gravity
• VANISHING OF THE BARE COUPLING IN FOUR DIMENSIONS
• Comments on a 4-derivative scalar theory in 4 dimensions
• UV-complete 4-derivative scalar field theory
• A systematic expansion of running couplings and masses

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