Renormalization group flows from the Hessian geometry of quantum effective actions

Abstract

Abstract We explore a geometric perspective on quantum field theory by considering the configuration space spanned by the correlation functions. Employing n-particle irreducible effective actions constructed via Legendre transforms of the Schwinger functional, this configuration space can be associated with a Hessian manifold. This allows for various properties and uses of the n-particle irreducible effective actions to be re-cast in geometrical terms. In the 2PI case, interpreting the two-point source as a regulator, this approach can be readily connected to the functional renormalization group. Renormalization group flows are then understood in terms of geodesics on this Hessian manifold.