Relative entropy in Field Theory, the H theorem and the renormalization group

Abstract

We consider relative entropy in Field Theory as a well defined (non-divergent) quantity of interest. We establish a monotonicity property with respect to the couplings in the theory. As a consequence, the relative entropy in a field theory with a hierarchy of renormalization group fixed points ranks the fixed points in decreasing order of criticality. We argue from a generalized $H$ theorem that Wilsonian RG flows induce an increase in entropy and propose the relative entropy as the natural quantity which increases from one fixed point to another in more than two dimensions.