Langevin field equations: Properties and renormalization

Langevin equations for fields have been proposed to describe the dynamics of critical phenomena, or as an alternative method of quantization, which could be useful in cases where ordinary methods lead to difficulties, like in gauge theories. Some of their general properties will be described here. For a number of problems, in particular related to perturbation theory, it is more convenient to work with an action and a field integral than with the equation directly, because standard methods of quantum field theory (QFT) then become available. For this purpose, one can associate a field integral representation, involving a dynamic action to the Langevin equation. The dynamic action can be interpreted as generated by the Langevin equation, considered as a constraint equation. Quite generally, the integral representation of constraint equations, including stochastic equations, leads to an action that has a Slavnov–Taylor (ST) symmetry and, in a different form, has an anticommuting type Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) symmetry, a symmetry that involves anticommuting parameters. This symmetry has no geometric origin, but is merely a consequence of associating a specific form of integral representations to the constraint equations. This symmetry is used in a number of different examples to prove the renormalizability of non-Abelian gauge theories, or to prove the geometric stability of models defined on homogeneous spaces under renormalization. In this chapter, it is used to prove Ward-Takahashi (WT) identities, and to determine how the Langevin equation renormalizes.