What is Renormalization: Definition and 183 Discussions

Renormalization is a collection of techniques in quantum field theory, the statistical mechanics of fields, and the theory of self-similar geometric structures, that are used to treat infinities arising in calculated quantities by altering values of these quantities to compensate for effects of their self-interactions. But even if no infinities arose in loop diagrams in quantum field theory, it could be shown that it would be necessary to renormalize the mass and fields appearing in the original Lagrangian.For example, an electron theory may begin by postulating an electron with an initial mass and charge. In quantum field theory a cloud of virtual particles, such as photons, positrons, and others surrounds and interacts with the initial electron. Accounting for the interactions of the surrounding particles (e.g. collisions at different energies) shows that the electron-system behaves as if it had a different mass and charge than initially postulated. Renormalization, in this example, mathematically replaces the initially postulated mass and charge of an electron with the experimentally observed mass and charge. Mathematics and experiments prove that positrons and more massive particles like protons exhibit precisely the same observed charge as the electron – even in the presence of much stronger interactions and more intense clouds of virtual particles.
Renormalization specifies relationships between parameters in the theory when parameters describing large distance scales differ from parameters describing small distance scales. Physically, the pileup of contributions from an infinity of scales involved in a problem may then result in further infinities. When describing space-time as a continuum, certain statistical and quantum mechanical constructions are not well-defined. To define them, or make them unambiguous, a continuum limit must carefully remove "construction scaffolding" of lattices at various scales. Renormalization procedures are based on the requirement that certain physical quantities (such as the mass and charge of an electron) equal observed (experimental) values. That is, the experimental value of the physical quantity yields practical applications, but due to their empirical nature the observed measurement represents areas of quantum field theory that require deeper derivation from theoretical bases.
Renormalization was first developed in quantum electrodynamics (QED) to make sense of infinite integrals in perturbation theory. Initially viewed as a suspect provisional procedure even by some of its originators, renormalization eventually was embraced as an important and self-consistent actual mechanism of scale physics in several fields of physics and mathematics.
Today, the point of view has shifted: on the basis of the breakthrough renormalization group insights of Nikolay Bogolyubov and Kenneth Wilson, the focus is on variation of physical quantities across contiguous scales, while distant scales are related to each other through "effective" descriptions. All scales are linked in a broadly systematic way, and the actual physics pertinent to each is extracted with the suitable specific computational techniques appropriate for each. Wilson clarified which variables of a system are crucial and which are redundant.
Renormalization is distinct from regularization, another technique to control infinities by assuming the existence of new unknown physics at new scales.

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  1. E

    I Renormalization Scale in Loop Feynman Amplitudes

    I want some clarification on what is done about the ##\mu^{2\epsilon}## renormalization scale parameter in loop amplitudes. I am under the impression that it shows up to restore the mass dimension of an amplitude when the loop momentum integral is reduced from 4 to ##4-2\epsilon## dimensions. As...
  2. S

    A Relationship between bare and renormalized beta functions

    I'm looking at a proof of beta function universality in ##\phi^4## theory, and at one point they do the following step: after imposing that the renormalized coupling ##\lambda## is independent of the cutoff ##\Lambda##, we have $$0= \Lambda \frac {\text{d} \lambda}{\text{d} \Lambda} = \Lambda...
  3. qft-El

    A Solving renormalization group equation in QFT

    I'm learning about the RG equation and Callan-Symanzik equation. In ref.1 they claim to solve the RG equation via the method of characteristics for PDE. Here's a picture of the relevant part: First, the part I don't understand - the one underlined in red. What does "compatible" mean here...
  4. S

    A Renormalized vertex functions in terms of bare ones

    Let ##\Gamma[\varphi] = \Gamma_0[\sqrt{Z}\varphi ] = \Gamma_0[\varphi_0]## be the generating functional for proper vertex functions for a massless ##\phi##-##4## theory. The ##0## subscripts refer to bare quantities, while the quantities without are renormalized. Then $$\tilde{\Gamma}^{(n)}(p_i...
  5. Ramtin123

    A Renormalisation of the Fermionic triangle loop

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  6. E

    A The μ in dimensional regularization

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  7. AndreasC

    A Main Theorem of Renormalization, but in physicist-speak

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  8. T

    I QED Renormalization Counterterm Confusion

    Hey all, When looking at the renormalization conditions for QED (see page 332, equation 10.40 from Peskin), there is a condition that requires the photon propagator at ##q^2 = 0## to evaluate to 0. But looking at the expression for the photon propagator counterterm: ##-i(g^{\mu\nu}q^2 -...
  9. S

    I 1-loop Fermion mass correction in toy EFT

    Where does the ##m## in ##(3.2)## come from? It doesn’t seem to enter anywhere in Feynman rules for the given diagram
  10. S

    I Expansion at first order in QCD counterterm

    What is the meaning of the expansion at first order in ##\delta_2## and ##\delta_3## at the second step in the last line? These quantities are not "small" - on the contrary, the entire point is to then take the ##\epsilon \to 0## limit and the counterterms blow up
  11. G

    A Relationship between Wilson's RG and the Callan-Symanzik Equation

    I have taken a Quantum Field Theory course recently in which we first derived the Callan-Symanzik equation and then discussed Wilson's Renormalization. However, I don't think I have a clear understanding of the procedures and how they relate to each other. For the sake of this question, let's...
  12. L

    Renormalization Group:NiemeijerVan Leeuwen Method-Ising Square Lattice

    Hello, I have to solve this problem. I will apply the Niemeijer Van Leeuwen method once I have the probability distribution proper to the renormalization group ,P(s,s'). For example, in the case of a triangular lattice, this distribution is: where I is the block index. However, it is very...
  13. Diracobama2181

    A Perturbative Renormalization in Phi 4 Theory

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  14. theittsco

    A Renormalization with hard cutoff of a loop diagram with single vertex

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  15. P

    A $\phi^4$ in $4 - \epsilon$ dimension renormalization beta function

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  16. R

    I Recommendations for learning renormalization?

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  17. K

    I Pauli-Villars regularization for Vacuum Polarization

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  18. J

    A Connection between QFT renormalization and field regularization?

    While in QFT we remove infinite energy problem with renormalization procedure, asking e.g. "what is mean energy density in given distance from charged particle", electric filed alone would say $$\rho \propto |E|^2 \propto 1/r^4 $$ But such energy density would integrate to infinity due to...
  19. DaniV

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  20. M

    Mass correction in ##\phi^4##-theory

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  21. M

    A Understanding Counter Term Renormalization in Quantum Field Theory

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  22. tomdodd4598

    I QED - running of coupling (beta function)

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  23. S

    I Wilson's RG trajectories, Lagrangians and many worlds?

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  24. W

    I Renormalization of scalar field theory

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  25. tomdodd4598

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  26. Diracobama2181

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  27. S

    A Confusions on QED renormalization

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  28. G

    A Renormalization Conditions of QED

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  29. M

    I Field Renormalization vs. Interaction Picture

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  30. bhobba

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  31. G

    A Is renormalization the ideal solution?

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  32. R

    I Young physicist in seek of guidance

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  33. M

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  34. A

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  35. A

    On-shell renormalization scheme

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  36. Angel Kld

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  37. A

    I What is the point of regularization?

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  38. Ken Gallock

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  39. ohwilleke

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  40. MathematicalPhysicist

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  41. ohwilleke

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  42. Giulio Prisco

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  43. D

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  44. Urs Schreiber

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  45. hilbert2

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  46. A

    I IR divergences and total energies....

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  47. diegzumillo

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  48. T

    A Quantum Gravity: Renormalization vs. Effective Field Theory

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  49. J

    A How are renormalizability and locality connected?

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  50. J

    A Why do we need to renormalize in QFT, really?

    There are several reasons given in the literature, why UV infinities arise in QFT in the first place. My problem is putting them together, i.e. understand how they are related to each other. So... UV divergences arise and thus we need to renormalize, because: We have infinite number of...
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