Introduction to the renormalization group

1973
26 pages
Published in:
  • Rev.Mod.Phys. 45 (1973) 589-614

Citations per year

19741987200020132025051015
Abstract: (APS)
The basic idea of the renormalization group is introduced and illustrative examples are presented. Emphasis is put on the application to the theory of critical phenomena. This article is prepared for pedagogical purposes. It is written at a level that a second-year graduate student in physical sciences can understand. No previous knowledge of critical phenomena or field theory is needed. We make no attempt to survey the field or cover a wide range of subjects. On the contrary, we limit the scope to the most basic aspects. We choose to elaborate at length to make the basic idea clear and the definitions precise, and to go through the examples very carefully. We feel that once these basic aspect are understood, there will be no difficulty in confronting the rapidly expanding literature on this subject.
  • inspirereview:I-c-7
  • review
  • renormalization group
  • critical phenomena
  • statistical mechanics
  • epsilon expansion
  • Landau-Ginzburg model
  • transformation: fixed point
  • correlation function
  • bibliography