Line of Fixed Points in Gross-Neveu Theories

Abstract

In the limit of many fermion flavors it is demonstrated that the sextic Gross-Neveu theory in three dimensions displays a line of interacting UV fixed points, characterised by an exactly marginal sextic interaction. We determine the conformal window of UV-complete theories, universal scaling dimensions, and the phase diagram using renormalisation group methods. Massless theories arise naturally, and the generation of mass proceeds without the breaking of a discrete symmetry. Striking similarities with critical scalar theories at large $N$ are highlighted, and implications from the viewpoint of conformal field theory and the AdS/CFT conjecture are indicated.