Thermodynamics in the vicinity of a relativistic quantum critical point in 2+1 dimensions

Precision calculation of universal amplitude ratios in O(N) universality classes: Derivative expansion results at order O(∂^{4})

In the last few years the derivative expansion of the nonperturbative renormalization group has proven to be a very efficient tool for the precise computation of critical quantities. In particular, recent progress in the understanding of its convergence properties allowed for an estimate of the error bars as well as the precise computation of many critical quantities. In this work we extend previous studies to the computation of several universal amplitude ratios for the critical regime of O(N) models using the derivative expansion of the nonperturbative renormalization group at order O(∂^{4}) for three-dimensional systems.

Universal Location of the Yang-Lee Edge Singularity in O(N) Theories

We determine a previously unknown universal quantity, the location of the Yang-Lee edge singularity for the O(N) theories in a wide range of N and various dimensions. At large N, we reproduce the N→∞ analytical result on the location of the singularity and, additionally, we obtain the mean-field result for the location in d=4 dimensions. In order to capture the nonperturbative physics for arbitrary N, d and complex-valued external fields, we use the functional renormalization group approach.

Quantum criticality at the superconductor-insulator transition revealed by specific heat measurements

The superconductor-insulator transition (SIT) is considered an excellent example of a quantum phase transition that is driven by quantum fluctuations at zero temperature. The quantum critical point is characterized by a diverging correlation length and a vanishing energy scale. Low-energy fluctuations near quantum criticality may be experimentally detected by specific heat, cp, measurements. Here we use a unique highly sensitive experiment to measure cp of two-dimensional granular Pb films through the SIT. The specific heat shows the usual jump at the mean field superconducting transition temperature marking the onset of Cooper pairs formation. As the film thickness is tuned towards the SIT, is relatively unchanged, while the magnitude of the jump and low-temperature specific heat increase significantly. This behaviour is taken as the thermodynamic fingerprint of quantum criticality in the vicinity of a quantum phase transition.

Flat phase of quantum polymerized membranes

We investigate the flat phase of quantum polymerized phantom membranes by means of a nonperturbative renormalization group approach. We first implement this formalism for general quantum polymerized membranes and derive the flow equations that encompass both quantum and thermal fluctuations. We then deduce and analyze the flow equations relevant to study the flat phase and discuss their salient features: quantum to classical crossover and, in each of these regimes, strong to weak coupling crossover. We finally illustrate these features in the context of free-standing graphene physics.