Simple non-perturbative resummation schemes beyond mean-field II: thermodynamics of scalar $\phi^4$ theory in 1+1 dimensions at arbitrary coupling

Abstract

Recently, non-perturbative approximate solutions were presented that go beyond the well-known mean-field resummation. In this work, these non-perturbative approximations are used to calculate finite temperature equilibrium properties for scalar $\phi^4$ theory in two dimensions such as the pressure, entropy density and speed of sound. Unlike traditional approaches, it is found that results are well-behaved for arbitrary temperature/coupling strength, are independent of the choice of the renormalization scale $\bar\mu^2$, and are apparently converging as the resummation level is increased. Results also suggest the presence of a possible analytic cross-over from the high-temperature to the low-temperature regime based on the change in the thermal entropy density.