Exact Renormalization Group in Algebraic Noncovariant Gauges

I study a class of Wilsonian formulations of non-Abelian gauge theories in algebraic noncovariant gauges where the Wilsonian infrared cutoff $\Lambda$ is inserted as a mass term for the propagating fields. In this way the Ward-Takahashi identities are preserved to all scales. Nevertheless the BRS-invariance in broken and the theory is gauge-dependent and unphysical at $\Lambda\neq0$. Then I discuss the infrared limit $\Lambda\to0$. I show that the singularities of the axial gauge choice are avoided in planar gauge and in light-cone gauge. Finally the rectangular Wilson loop of size $2L\times 2T$ is evaluated at lowest order in perturbation theory and a noncommutativity between the limits $\Lambda\to0$ and $T\to\infty$ is pointed out.Comment: 6 pages, latex2e, Proceeding of the Second Conference on the Exact R

Gauge-Invariant Renormalization Group at Finite Temperature

We propose a gauge-invariant version of Wilson Renormalization Group for thermal field theories in real time. The application to the computation of the thermal masses of the gauge bosons in an SU(N) Yang-Mills theory is discussed.Comment: 23 pages, latex2e, 1 EPS figure. The discussions of BRS identities and of the RG kernel have been modified. Final version, to appear on Nucl. Phys.

Axial anomalies in gauge theory by exact renormalization group method

The global chiral symmetry of a $SU(2)$ gauge theory is studied in the framework of renormalization group (RG). The theory is defined by the RG flow equations in the infrared cutoff \L and the boundary conditions for the relevant couplings. The physical theory is obtained at \L=0. In our approach the symmetry is implemented by choosing the boundary conditions for the relevant couplings not at the ultraviolet point \L=\L_0\to\infty but at the physical value \L=0. As an illustration, we compute the triangle axial anomalies.Comment: 11 pages + 1 appended EPS figure, LaTeX, UPRF 94-39

Background field method in the Wilson formulation

A cutoff regularization for a pure Yang-Mills theory is implemented within the background field method keeping explicit the gauge invariance of the effective action. The method has been applied to compute the beta function at one loop order.Comment: LaTex 13 pages, 1 figure; to appear in Nucl.Phys.

Spontaneous symmetry breaking with Wilson renormalization group

We study the conditions under which a symmetry is spontaneously broken in the Wilson renormalization group formulation. Both for a global and local symmetry, the result is that in perturbation theory one has to perform a fine tuning of the boundary conditions for the flow of the relevant couplings. We consider in detail the discrete $Z_2$ case and the Abelian Higgs model.Comment: 19 pages, latex, no figure

Gauge invariance and background field formalism in the exact renormalisation group

We discuss gauge symmetry and Ward-Takahashi identities for Wilsonian flows in pure Yang-Mills theories. The background field formalism is used for the construction of a gauge invariant effective action. The symmetries of the effective action under gauge transformations for both the gauge field and the auxiliary background field are separately evaluated. We examine how the symmetry properties of the full theory are restored in the limit where the cut-off is removed.Comment: version to be published in PL