Power-counting theorem for non-local matrix models and renormalisation

Solving the exact renormalisation group equation a la Wilson-Polchinski perturbatively, we derive a power-counting theorem for general matrix models with arbitrarily non-local propagators. The power-counting degree is determined by two scaling dimensions of the cut-off propagator and various topological data of ribbon graphs. As a necessary condition for the renormalisability of a model, the two scaling dimensions have to be large enough relative to the dimension of the underlying space. In order to have a renormalisable model one needs additional locality properties--typically arising from orthogonal polynomials--which relate the relevant and marginal interaction coefficients to a finite number of base couplings. The main application of our power-counting theorem is the renormalisation of field theories on noncommutative R^D in matrix formulation.Comment: 35 pages, 70 figures, LaTeX with svjour macros. v2: proof simplified because a discussion originally designed for \phi^4 on noncommutative R^2 was actually not necessary, see hep-th/0307017. v3: consistency conditions removed because models of interest relate automatically the relevant/marginal interactions to a finite number of base couplings, see hep-th/0401128. v4: integration procedure improved so that the initial cut-off can be directly removed; to appear in Commun. Math. Phy

On membrane interaction in matrix theory

We compute the interaction potential between two parallel transversely boosted wrapped membranes (with fixed momentum $p_-$) in D=11 supergravity with compact light-like direction. We show that the supergravity result is in exact agreement with the potential following from the all-order Born-Infeld-type action conjectured to be the leading planar infra-red part of the quantum super Yang-Mills effective action. This provides a non-trivial test of consistency of the arguments relating Matrix theory to a special limit of type II string theory. We also find the potential between two (2+0) D-brane bound states in D=10 supergravity (corresponding to the case of boosted membrane configuration in 11-dimensional theory compactified on a space-like direction). We demonstrate that the result reduces to the SYM expression for the potential in the special low-energy (\a'\to 0) limit, in agreement with previous suggestions. In appendix we derive the action obtained from the D=11 membrane action by the world-volume duality transformation of the light-like coordinate $x^-$ into a 3-vector.Comment: 18 pages, latex. v2: Some clarifying remarks and references added. v3: Further minor corrections and reference

Renormalization of the energy-momentum tensor in noncommutative complex scalar field theory

We study the renormalization of dimension four composite operators and the energy-momentum tensor in noncommutative complex scalar field theory. The proper operator basis is defined and it is proved that the bare composite operators are expressed via renormalized ones with the help of an appropriate mixing matrix which is calculated in the one-loop approximation. The number and form of the operators in the basis and the structure of the mixing matrix essentially differ from those in the corresponding commutative theory and in noncommutative real scalar field theory. We show that the energy-momentum tensor in the noncommutative complex scalar field theory is defined up to six arbitrary constants. The canonically defined energy-momentum tensor is not finite and must be replaced by the "improved" one, in order to provide finiteness. Suitable "improving" terms are found. Renormalization of dimension four composite operators at zero momentum transfer is also studied. It is shown that the mixing matrices are different for the cases of arbitrary and zero momentum transfer. The energy-momentum vector, unlike the energy-momentum tensor, is defined unambigously and does not require "improving", in order to be conserved and finite, at least in the one-loop approximation.Comment: 23 pages, pictures using axodraw, references are adde

Higher gauge theory -- differential versus integral formulation

The term higher gauge theory refers to the generalization of gauge theory to a theory of connections at two levels, essentially given by 1- and 2-forms. So far, there have been two approaches to this subject. The differential picture uses non-Abelian 1- and 2-forms in order to generalize the connection 1-form of a conventional gauge theory to the next level. The integral picture makes use of curves and surfaces labeled with elements of non-Abelian groups and generalizes the formulation of gauge theory in terms of parallel transports. We recall how to circumvent the classic no-go theorems in order to define non-Abelian surface ordered products in the integral picture. We then derive the differential picture from the integral formulation under the assumption that the curve and surface labels depend smoothly on the position of the curves and surfaces. We show that some aspects of the no-go theorems are still present in the differential (but not in the integral) picture. This implies a substantial structural difference between non-perturbative and perturbative approaches to higher gauge theory. We finally demonstrate that higher gauge theory provides a geometrical explanation for the extended topological symmetry of BF-theory in both pictures.Comment: 26 pages, LaTeX with XYPic diagrams; v2: typos corrected and presentation improve

Seiberg-Witten map for noncommutative super Yang-Mills theory

In this letter we derive the Seiberg-Witten map for noncommutative super Yang-Mills theory in Wess-Zumino gauge. Following (and using results of) hep-th/0108045 we split the observer Lorentz transformations into a covariant particle Lorentz transformation and a remainder which gives directly the Seiberg-Witten differential equations. These differential equations lead to a theta-expansion of the noncommutative super Yang-Mills action which is invariant under commutative gauge transformations and commutative observer Lorentz transformation, but not invariant under commutative supersymmetry transformations: The theta-expansion of noncommutative supersymmetry leads to a theta-dependent symmetry transformation. For this reason the Seiberg-Witten map of super Yang-Mills theory cannot be expressed in terms of superfields.Comment: 9 page

Non-Abelian Wilson Surfaces

A definition of non-abelian genus zero open Wilson surfaces is proposed. The ambiguity in surface-ordering is compensated by the gauge transformations.Comment: JHEP Latex, 10 pages, 6 figures; v2, refs and comments added in sec.