# Renormalization Definition and 48 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. ### 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
2. ### 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
3. ### 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...
4. ### 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...
5. ### I Pauli-Villars regularization for Vacuum Polarization

Hello! I am currently reading Itzykson Zuber QFT book and on Chapter 7 where for the first time loops are considered. Particular method of dealing with divergences namely Pauli-Villars regularization is considered in section 7-1-1 considering vacuum polarization diagram. I do understand physics...
6. ### RG flow of quadrupole coupling in 6+1 dimension electrostatic problem

I tried to do a Euler Lagrange equation to our Lagrangian: $$\frac{S_\text{eff}}{T}=\int d^6x\left[(\nabla \phi)^2+(\nabla \sigma)^2+\lambda\sigma (\nabla \phi)^2\right]+\frac{S_{p.p}}{T}$$ and then I would like to solve the equation using perturbation theory when ##Q## or somehow...

39. ### ##\overline{MS}## in scalar theory references

Does anyone know any good references for discussion of ##\overline{MS}## theory in phi^4 theory?
40. ### Counterterms in self-energy diagram

I guess my question is pretty basic, and following a procedure in the textbook by Lahiri and Pal. You can see the relevant pages at https://books.google.com/books?id=_UmPP8Yr5mYC&pg=PA245&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false On eqs. (12.84)-(12.86). I don't see how to get from (12.85) to...
41. ### Qualitative explanation of scale dependence

Hi all -- can anyone offer a qualitative explanation of why it is that couplings run with the energy in *relativistic* quantum theory, and not in non-relativistic? Some insight here would be much appreciated. Thanks.
42. ### Why is QFT insensitive to absolute energies?

In the canonical formulation of QFT (to which I've been exposed), it is always argued that only differences in energy are physically observable and so we can deal with the fact that the vacuum energy is infinite by redefining the vacuum such that its energy is zero and we subsequently measure...
43. ### Typical Momentum Invariants of a 3-Point Function

According to Peskin, p.414, at the bottom, as part of calculating the ##\beta## functions of a theory, we need to fix the counter terms by setting the "typical invariants" built from the external leg momenta to be of order ##−M^2##. For a 4-point function, these invariants are s, t and u...
44. ### Trouble Finding Renormalization Conditions in Yukawa Theory

I am trying to calculate the ##\beta## functions of the massless pseudoscalar Yukawa theory, following Peskin & Schroeder, chapter 12.2. The Lagrangian is ##{L}=\frac{1}{2}(\partial_\mu \phi)^2-\frac{\lambda}{4!}\phi^4+\bar{\psi}(i\gamma^\mu \partial_\mu)\psi-ig\bar{\psi}\gamma^5\psi\phi.##...
45. ### Can there by a theory that is both UV and IR stable?

The question is in the title: is it possible for a theory to be both UV and IR stable? And concrete models would be much appreciated!
46. ### Dimension of interaction in a QFT theory

The problem statement. When an exercises say " the interaction in a QFT has dimensions Δ" , what does it mean?, it means the field or the Lagrangian has this mass dimension? In this exercise I'm trying to find the classical beta function (β-function) for the assciated couling.
47. ### Cut-off Regularization of Chiral Perturbation Theory

I was trying to learn renormalization in the context of ChPT using momentum-space cut-off regularization procedure at one-loop order using order of p^2 Lagrangian. So, 1. There are counter terms in ChPT of order of p^4 when calculating in one-loop order using Lagrangian of order p^2 . 2...
48. ### Order in Renormalization Theory

I am currently studying QFT with 'An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory' by peskin. In part 2 (renormalization) of the book, he introduces counterterms and shows how to compute scattering amplitude with them. Below are counterterms of \phi^4 theory: Then he calculates a 2-2 scattering process...