Physics

Renormalization

Universality (dynamical systems)

Critical dimension

Mathematical physics

Renormalization group

Statistical physics

Phase transition

Critical exponent

Critical phenomena

Quantum mechanics

Physical review. E

We compute the critical exponents ν, η and ω of O(N) models for various values of N by implementing the derivative expansion of the nonperturbative renormalization group up to next-to-next-to-leading order [usually denoted O(∂^{4})]. We analyze the behavior of this approximation scheme at successive orders and observe an apparent convergence with a small parameter, typically between 1/9 and 1/4, compatible with previous studies in the Ising case. This allows us to give well-grounded error bars. We obtain a determination of critical exponents with a precision which is similar or better than those obtained by most field-theoretical techniques. We also reach a better precision than Monte Carlo simulations in some physically relevant situations. In the O(2) case, where there is a long-standing controversy between Monte Carlo estimates and experiments for the specific heat exponent α, our results are compatible with those of Monte Carlo but clearly exclude experimental values.

Precision calculation of critical exponents in the O(N) universality classes with the nonperturbative renormalization group