Omar Zanusso

• PostDoc Position at Friedrich Schiller University Jena

We compute the physical running of a general higher derivative scalar coupled to a nondynamical metric and of higher derivative Weyl invariant gravity with a dynamical metric in four dimensions. In both cases, we find that the physical running differs from the μ -running of dimensional regularization because of infrared divergences which are presen...

A bstract We use the ambient space construction, in which spacetime is mapped into a special lightcone of a higher dimensional manifold, to derive the integrable terms of the trace anomaly in even dimensions. We argue that the natural topological anomaly is the so-called Q -curvature, which, when projected from the ambient space, always comes with...

It is well-known that the results by Bekenstein, Gibbons and Hawking on the thermodynamics of black holes can be reproduced quite simply in the Euclidean path integral approach to quantum gravity. The corresponding partition function is obtained semiclassically, ultimately requiring only the on-shell Einstein–Hilbert action with opportune asymptoti...

We use the ambient space construction, in which spacetime is mapped into a special lightcone of a higher dimensional manifold, to derive the integrable terms of the trace anomaly in even dimensions. We argue that the natural topological anomaly is the so-called $Q$-curvature, which, when projected from the ambient space, always comes with a Weyl co...

We compute the physical running of a general higher derivative scalar coupled to a nondynamical metric and of higher derivative Weyl invariant gravity with a dynamical metric in four dimensions. In both cases, we find that the physical running differs from the $\mu$-running of dimensional regularization because of infrared divergences which are pre...

It is well-known that the results by Bekenstein, Gibbons and Hawking on the thermodynamics of black holes can be reproduced quite simply in the Euclidean path integral approach to Quantum Gravity. The corresponding partition function is obtained semiclassically, ultimately requiring only the on-shell Einstein-Hilbert action with opportune asymptoti...

A bstract We study substructures of the Weyl group of conformal transformations of the metric of (pseudo)Riemannian manifolds. These substructures are identified by differential constraints on the conformal factors of the transformations which are chosen such that their composition is associative. Mathematically, apart from rare exceptions, they ar...

Using cohomological methods, we identify both trivial and nontrivial contributions to the conformal anomaly in the presence of vectorial torsion in $d=2,4$ dimensions. In both cases, our analysis considers two scenarios: one in which the torsion vector transforms in an affine way, i.e., it is a gauge potential for Weyl transformations, and the othe...

We discuss the renormalization of Einstein-Hilbert gravity in d = 2 + ε dimensions. We show that the application of the path-integral approach leads naturally to scheme- and gauge-independent results on shell, but also gives a natural notion of quantum metric off shell, which is the natural argument of the effective action, even at the leading orde...

We discuss the generalization of the local renormalization group approach to theories in which Weyl symmetry is gauged. These theories naturally correspond to scale-invariant—rather than conformal-invariant—models in the flat-space limit. We argue that this generalization can be of use when discussing the issue of scale vs conformal invariance in q...

We compute conformally covariant actions and operators for tensors with mixed symmetries in arbitrary dimension d. Our results complete the classification of conformal actions that are quadratic on arbitrary tensors with three indices, which allows to write corresponding conformal actions for all tensor species that appear in the decomposition of th...

We discuss generalizations of the notions of projective transformations acting on affine model of Riemann–Cartan and Riemann–Cartan–Weyl gravity which preserve the projective structure of the light-cones. We show how the invariance under some projective transformations can be used to recast a Riemann–Cartan–Weyl geometry either as a model in which...

We discuss the renormalization of Einstein-Hilbert's gravity in $d=2+\epsilon$ dimensions. We show that the application of the path-integral approach leads naturally to scheme- and gauge-independent results on-shell, but also gives a natural notion of quantum metric off-shell, which is the natural argument of the effective action, even at the leadi...

We compute conformally covariant actions and operators for tensors with mixed symmetries in arbitrary dimension $d$. Our results complete the classification of conformal actions that are quadratic on arbitrary tensors with three indices, which allows to write corresponding conformal actions for all tensor species that appear in the decomposition of...

We discuss the birth of the non-perturbative approach to quantum gravity known as quantum Einstein gravity, in which the gravitational interactions are conjectured to be asymptotically safe. The interactions are assumed to be finite and consistent at high energies thanks to a scale-invariant ultraviolet completion. We present the framework on the b...

In the first part, we discuss the interplay between local scale invariance and metric-affine degrees of freedom from few distinct points of view. We argue, rather generally, that the gauging of Weyl symmetry is a natural byproduct of requiring that scale invariance is a symmetry of a gravitational theory that is based on a metric and on an independent...

We discuss generalizations of the notions of projective transformations acting on affine model of Riemann-Cartan and Riemann-Cartan-Weyl gravity which preserve the projective structure of the light-cones. We show how the invariance under some projective transformations can be used to recast a Riemann-Cartan-Weyl geometry either as a model in which...

We present a generalization of the string’s Polyakov action that describes a conformally invariant four-dimensional brane. The new extended object is very different from the traditional D-branes of string theory, but, nevertheless, shares some structural similarities with the string, especially when it comes to the low-energy limit of small tension...

A bstract Energy momentum tensors of higher-derivative free scalar conformal field theories in flat spacetime are discussed. Two algorithms for the computation of energy momentum tensors are described, which accomplish different goals: the first is brute-force and highlights the complexity of the energy momentum tensors, while the second displays s...

In the first part, we discuss the interplay between local scale invariance and metric-affine degrees of freedom from few distinct points of view. We argue, rather generally, that the gauging of Weyl symmetry is a natural byproduct of requiring that scale invariance is a symmetry of a gravitational theory that is based on a metric and on an independ...

A bstract The critical behavior of infinite families of shift symmetric interacting theories with higher derivative kinetic terms (non unitary) is considered. Single scalar theories with shift symmetry are classified according to their upper critical dimensions and studied at the leading non trivial order in perturbation theory. For two infinite fa...

The critical behavior of infinite families of shift symmetric interacting theories with higher derivative kinetic terms (non unitary) is considered. Single scalar theories with shift symmetry are classified according to their upper critical dimensions and studied at the leading non trivial order in perturbation theory. For two infinite families, on...

We present a generalization of the string's Polyakov action that describes a conformally invariant four dimensional brane. The new extended object is very different from the traditional D-branes of string theory, but, nevertheless, shares some structural similarities with the string, especially when it comes to the low-energy limit of small tension...

On the basis of a limited number of reasonable axioms, we discuss the classification of all the possible universality classes of diffeomorphisms invariant metric theories of quantum gravity. We use the language of the renormalization group and adopt several ideas which originate in the context of statistical mechanics and quantum field theory. Our...

On the basis of a limited number of reasonable axioms, we discuss the classification of all the possible universality classes of diffeomorphisms invariant metric theories of quantum gravity. We use the language of the renormalization group and adopt several ideas which originate in the context of statistical mechanics and quantum field theory. Our...

On the basis of a limited number of reasonable axioms, we discuss the classification of all the possible universality classes of diffeomorphisms invariant metric theories of quantum gravity. We use the language of the renormalization group and adopt several ideas which originate in the context of statistical mechanics and quantum field theory. Our...

We study renormalization group multicritical fixed points in the $\epsilon$-expansion of scalar field theories characterized by the symmetry of the (hyper)cubic point group $H_N$. After reviewing the algebra of $H_N$-invariant polynomials and arguing that there can be an entire family of multicritical (hyper)cubic solutions with $\phi^{2n}$ interac...

We discuss two distinct realizations of the diffeomorphism group for metric gravity, which give rise to theories that are classically equivalent, but quantum mechanically distinct. We renormalize them in $d=2+\epsilon$ dimensions, developing a new procedure for dimensional continuation of metric theories and highlighting connections with the constr...

We investigate a perturbatively renormalizable Sq invariant model with N=q−1 scalar field components below the upper critical dimension dc=10/3. Our results hint at the existence of multicritical generalizations of the critical models of spanning random clusters and percolations in three dimensions. We also discuss the role of our multicritical mod...

We compute the crossover exponents of all quadratic and cubic deformations of critical field theories with permutation symmetry $$S_q$$ S q in $$d=6-\epsilon $$ d = 6 - ϵ (Landau–Potts field theories) and $$d=4-\epsilon $$ d = 4 - ϵ (hypertetrahedral models) up to three loops. We use our results to determine the $$\epsilon $$ ϵ -expansion of the fr...

We investigate a perturbatively renormalizable $S_{q}$ invariant model with $N=q-1$ scalar field components below the upper critical dimension $d_c=\frac{10}{3}$. Our results hint at the existence of multicritical generalizations of the critical models of spanning random clusters and percolations in three dimensions. We also discuss the role of our...

We compute the crossover exponents of all quadratic and cubic deformations of critical field theories with permutation symmetry $S_q$ in $d=6-\epsilon$ (Landau-Potts field theories) and $d=4-\epsilon$ (hypertetrahedral models) up to three loops.We use our results to determine the $\epsilon$-expansion of the fractal dimension of critical clusters in...

We adopt a combination of analytical and numerical methods to study the renormalization group flow of the most general field theory with quartic interaction in $d=4-\epsilon$ with $N=3$ and $N=4$ scalars. For $N=3$, we find that it admits only three non-decomposable critical points: the Wilson-Fisher with $O(3)$ symmetry, the cubic with $H_3=(\math...

We discuss how a spin system, which is subject to quenched disorder, might exhibit multicritical behaviors at criticality if the distribution of the impurities is arbitrary. In order to provide realistic candidates for such multicritical behaviors, we discuss several generalization of the standard randomly diluted Ising's universality class adoptin...

We determine the scaling properties of geometric operators such as lengths, areas, and volumes in models of higher derivative quantum gravity by renormalizing appropriate composite operators. We use these results to deduce the fractal dimensions of such hypersurfaces embedded in a quantum spacetime at very small distances.

We outline a general strategy developed for the analysis of critical models, which we apply to obtain a heuristic classification of all universality classes with up to three field-theoretical scalar order parameters in d=6−ε dimensions. As expected by the paradigm of universality, each class is uniquely characterized by its symmetry group and by a...

We give a heuristic classification of all universality classes of critical models with up to three field-theoretical scalar order parameters in $6\!-\!\epsilon$ dimensions. Each class is uniquely characterized by its symmetry group and by the set of its universal scaling properties, neither of which are built-in by the formalism but instead emerge...

We present some general results for the multi-critical multi-field models in d > 2 recently obtained using conformal field theory (CFT) and Schwinger–Dyson methods at the perturbative level without assuming any symmetry. Results in the leading non trivial order are derived consistently for several conformal data in full agreement with functional pe...

We present some general results for the multi-critical multi-field models in d>2 recently obtained using CFT and Schwinger-Dyson methods at perturbative level without assuming any symmetry. Results in the leading non trivial order are derived consistently for several conformal data in full agreement with functional perturbative RG methods. Mechanis...

We investigate multi-field multicritical scalar theories using CFT constraints on two- and three-point functions combined with the Schwinger–Dyson equation. This is done in general and without assuming any symmetry for the models, which we just define to admit a Landau–Ginzburg description that includes the most general critical interactions built...

We extend previous calculations of the non-local form factors of semiclassical gravity in 4D to include the Einstein–Hilbert term. The quantized fields are massive scalar, fermion and vector fields. The non-local form factor in this case can be seen as the sum of a power series of total derivatives, but it enables us to derive the beta function of...

We consider the leading order perturbative renormalization of the multicritical \(\phi ^{2n}\) models and some generalizations in curved space. We pay particular attention to the nonminimal interaction with the scalar curvature \(\frac{1}{2}\xi \phi ^2 R\) and discuss the emergence of the conformal value of the coupling \(\xi \) as the renormalizat...

We review past and present results on the non-local form-factors of the effective action of semiclassical gravity in two and four dimensions computed by means of a covariant expansion of the heat kernel up to the second order in the curvatures. We discuss the importance of these form-factors in the construction of mass-dependent beta functions for...

We review past and present results on the non-local form-factors of the effective action of semiclassical gravity in two and four dimensions computed by means of a covariant expansion of the heat kernel up to the second order in the curvatures. We discuss the importance of these form-factors in the construction of mass-dependent beta functions for...

We extend previous calculations of the non-local form factors of semiclassical gravity in $4D$ to include the Einstein-Hilbert term. The quantized fields are massive scalar, fermion and vector fields. The non-local form factor in this case can be seen as the sum of a power series of total derivatives, but it enables us to derive the beta function o...

We consider the leading order perturbative renormalization of the multicritical $\phi^{2n}$ models and some generalizations in curved space. We pay particular attention to the nonminimal interaction with the scalar curvature $\frac{1}{2}\xi \phi^2 R$ and discuss the emergence of the conformal value of the coupling $\xi$ as the renormalization group...

We investigate multi-field multicritical scalar theories using CFT constraints on two- and three-point functions combined with the Schwinger-Dyson equation. This is done in general and without assuming any symmetry for the models, which we just define to admit a Landau-Ginzburg description that includes the most general critical interactions built...

We calculate and analyse non-local gravitational form factors induced by quantum matter fields in curved two-dimensional space. The calculations are performed for scalars, spinors and massive vectors by means of the covariant heat kernel method up to the second order in the curvature and confirmed using Feynman diagrams. The analysis of the ultravi...

We calculate and analyse non-local gravitational form factors induced by quantum matter fields in curved two-dimensional space. The calculations are performed for scalars, spinors and massive vectors by means of the covariant heat kernel method up to the second order in the curvature and confirmed using Feynman diagrams. The analysis of the ultravi...

Using covariant methods, we construct and explore the Wetterich equation for a non-minimal coupling $F(\phi)R$ of a quantized scalar field to the Ricci scalar of a prescribed curved space. This includes the often considered non-minimal coupling $\xi \phi^2 R$ as a special case. We consider the truncations without and with scale- and field-dependent...

Using covariant methods, we construct and explore the Wetterich equation for a non-minimal coupling $F(\phi)R$ of a quantized scalar field to the Ricci scalar of a prescribed curved space. This includes the often considered non-minimal coupling $\xi \phi^2 R$ as a special case. We consider the truncations without and with scale- and field-dependent...

We study the Blume-Capel universality class in $d=\frac{10}{3}-\epsilon$ dimensions. The RG flow is extracted by looking at poles in fractional dimension of three loop diagrams using $\overline{\rm MS}$. The theory is the only non-trivial universality class which admits an expansion to three dimensions with $\epsilon=\frac{1}{3}<1$. We compute the...

We study the Blume-Capel universality class in $d=\frac{10}{3}-\epsilon$ dimensions. The RG flow is extracted by looking at poles in fractional dimension of three loop diagrams using $\overline{\rm MS}$. The theory is the only nontrivial universality class which admits an expansion to three dimensions with $\epsilon=\frac{1}{3}<1$. We compute the r...

We investigate the emergence of ${\cal N}=1$ supersymmetry in the long-range behavior of three-dimensional parity-symmetric Yukawa systems. We discuss a renormalization approach that manifestly preserves supersymmetry whenever such symmetry is realized, and use it to prove that supersymmetry-breaking operators are irrelevant, thus proving that such...

We investigate the emergence of ${\cal N}=1$ supersymmetry in the long-range behavior of three-dimensional parity-symmetric Yukawa systems. We discuss a renormalization approach that manifestly preserves supersymmetry whenever such symmetry is realized, and use it to prove that supersymmetry-breaking operators are irrelevant, thus proving that such...

We show how the use of standard perturbative RG allows for a renormalization group based computation of both the spectrum and the coefficients of the operator product expansion (OPE) for a given universality class. The task is greatly simplified by a straightforward generalization of perturbation theory to a functional perturbative RG approach. We...

We show how the use of standard perturbative RG in dimensional regularization allows for a renormalization group based computation of both the spectrum and a family of coefficients of the operator product expansion (OPE) for a given universality class. The task is greatly simplified by a straightforward generalization of perturbation theory to a fu...

We consider the family of renormalizable scalar QFTs with self-interacting potentials of highest monomial $\phi^{m}$ below their upper critical dimensions $d_c=\frac{2m}{m-2}$, and study them using a combination of CFT constraints, Schwinger-Dyson equation and the free theory behavior at the upper critical dimension. For even integers $m \ge 4$ the...

We consider the family of renormalizable scalar QFTs with self-interacting potentials of highest monomial $\phi^{m}$ below their upper critical dimensions $d_c=\frac{2m}{m-2}$, and study them using a combination of CFT constraints, Schwinger-Dyson equation and the free theory behavior at the upper critical dimension. For even integers $m \ge 4$ the...

We investigate the critical properties of the Lee-Yang model in less than six spacetime dimensions using truncations of the functional renormalization group flow. We give estimates for the critical exponents, study the dependence on the regularization scheme, and show the convergence of our results for increasing size of the truncations in four and...

We investigate the critical properties of the Lee-Yang model in less than six spacetime dimensions using truncations of the functional renormalization group flow. We give estimates for the critical exponents, study the dependence on the regularization scheme, and show the convergence of our results for increasing size of the truncations in four and...

Realizing a quantum theory for gravity based on Asymptotic Safety hinges on the existence of a non-Gaussian fixed point of the theory’s renormalization group flow. In this work, we use the functional renormalization group equation for the effective average action to study the fixed point underlying Quantum Einstein Gravity at the functional level i...

We construct a novel Wetterich-type functional renormalization group equation for gravity which encodes the gravitational degrees of freedom in terms of gauge-invariant fluctuation fields. Applying a linear-geometric approximation the structure of the new flow equation is considerably simpler than the standard Quantum Einstein Gravity construction...

We use the Wetterich-equation to study the renormalization group flow of f (R)-gravity in a three-dimensional, conformally reduced setting. Building on the exact heat kernel for maximally symmetric spaces, we obtain a partial differential equation which captures the scale-dependence of f (R) for positive and, for the first time, negative scalar cur...

We prove that the functional renormalization group flow equation admits a perturbative solution and show explicitly that this solution is related to the standard schemes of perturbation theory by a scheme transformation that violates universality of the beta functions. We then define a scheme within the functional renormalization group which restor...

We calculate the one-loop quantum corrections in the cubic Galileon theory, using cutoff regularization. We confirm the expected form of the one-loop effective action and that the couplings of the Galileon theory do not get renormalized. However, new terms, not included in the tree-level action, are induced by quantum corrections. We also consider...

We investigate hexatic membranes embedded in Euclidean D-dimensional space using a reparametrization invariant formulation combined with exact renormalization group (RG) equations. An XY-model coupled to a fluid membrane, when integrated out, induces long-range interactions between curvatures described by a Polyakov term in the effective action. We...

We investigate hexatic membranes embedded in Euclidean D-dimensional space using a reparametrization invariant formulation combined with exact renormalization group (RG) equations. An XY-model coupled to a fluid membrane, when integrated out, induces long-range interactions between curvatures described by a Polyakov term in the effective action. We...

We summarize the status of constructing fixed functionals within the f(R)-truncation of Quantum Einstein Gravity in three spacetime dimensions. Focusing on curvatures much larger than the IR-cutoff scale, it is shown that the fixed point equation admits three different scaling regimes: for classical and quantum dominance the equation becomes linear...

We consider the renormalization of d-dimensional hypersurfaces (branes) embedded in flat (d+1)-dimensional space. We parametrize the truncated effective action in terms of geometric invariants built from the extrinsic and intrinsic curvatures. We study the renormalization-group running of the couplings and explore the fixed-point structure. We find...

We study the non-perturbative renormalization group flow of f(R)-gravity in three-dimensional Asymptotically Safe Quantum Einstein Gravity. Within the conformally reduced approximation, we derive an exact partial differential equation governing the RG-scale dependence of the function f(R). This equation is shown to possess two isolated and one cont...

We study the renormalization group flow of the O(N) non-linear sigma model in arbitrary dimensions. The effective action of the model is truncated to fourth order in the derivative expansion and the flow is obtained by combining the non-perturbative renormalization group and the background field method. We investigate the flow in three dimensions a...

We propose a novel derivation of the non-local heat kernel expansion, first studied by Barvinsky, Vilkovisky, and Avramidi, based on simple diagrammatic equations satisfied by the heat kernel. For Laplace-type differential operators, we obtain the explicit form of the non-local heat kernel form factors to second order in the curvatures. Our method...

The off-diagonal heat-kernel expansion of a Laplace operator including a general gauge-connection is computed on a compact manifold without boundary up to third order in the curvatures. These results are used to study the early-time expansion of the traced heat-kernel on the space of transverse vector fields satisfying the differential constraint $...

We study the renormalization group flow of higher derivative gravity, utilizing the functional renormalization group equation for the average action. Employing a recently proposed algorithm, termed the universal renormalization group machine, for solving the flow equation, all the universal features of the one-loop beta-functions are recovered. Whi...

We study the RG flow of two dimensional (fluid) membranes embedded in Euclidean D-dimensional space using functional RG methods based on the effective average action. By considering a truncation ansatz for the effective average action with both extrinsic and intrinsic curvature terms we derive a system of beta functions for the running surface tens...

Within the functional renormalization group approach we study the effective quantum field theory of Einstein gravity and one self-interacting scalar coupled to N(f) Dirac fermions. We include in our analysis the matter anomalous dimensions induced by all the interactions and analyze the highly nonlinear beta functions determining the renormalizatio...

We study the beta functions of the leading, two-derivative terms of the left-gauged SU(N) nonlinear sigma-model in d dimensions. In d>2, we find the usual Gaussian ultraviolet fixed point for the gauge coupling and an attractive non-Gaussian fixed point for the Goldstone boson coupling. The position of the latter fixed point controls the chiral exp...

We compute the gravitational corrections to the running of couplings in a scalar-fermion system, using the Wilsonian approach. Our discussion is relevant for symmetric as well as for broken scalar phases. We find that the Yukawa and quartic scalar couplings become irrelevant at the Gaussian fixed point.

We calculate the one loop beta functions for nonlinear sigma models in four dimensions containing general two and four derivative terms. In the O(N) model there are four such terms and nontrivial fixed points exist for all N \geq 4. In the chiral SU(N) models there are in general six couplings, but only five for N=3 and four for N=2; we find fixed...