Nonperturbative dynamics of (2+1)d ϕ⁴-theory from Hamiltonian truncation

We use Lightcone Conformal Truncation (LCT)—a version of Hamiltonian truncation — to study the nonperturbative, real-time dynamics of ϕ⁴-theory in 2+1 dimensions. This theory has UV divergences that need to be regulated. We review how, in a Hamiltonian framework with a total energy cutoff, renormalization is necessarily state-dependent, and UV sensitivity cannot be canceled with standard local operator counter-terms. To overcome this problem, we present a prescription for constructing the appropriate state-dependent counterterms for (2+1)d ϕ⁴-theory in lightcone quantization. We then use LCT with this counterterm prescription to study ϕ⁴-theory, focusing on the ℤ₂ symmetry-preserving phase. Specifically, we compute the spectrum as a function of the coupling and demonstrate the closing of the mass gap at a (scheme-dependent) critical coupling. We also compute Lorentz-invariant two-point functions, both at generic strong coupling and near the critical point, where we demonstrate IR universality and the vanishing of the trace of the stress tensor.