In this paper, we extend the recent analysis of the new large D limit of matrix models to the cases where the action contains arbitrary multi-trace interaction terms as well as to arbitrary correlation functions. We discuss both the cases of complex and Hermitian matrices, with U(N ) 2 × O(D) and U(N ) × O(D) symmetries respectively. In the latter case, the new large D limit is consistent for planar diagrams; at higher genera, it crucially requires the tracelessness condition. For similar reasons, the large N limit of tensor models with reduced symmetries is typically inconsistent already at leading order without the tracelessness condition. We also further discuss some interesting properties of purely bosonic models pointed out recently and explain that the standard argument predicting a non-trivial IR behaviour in fermionic models à la SYK does not work for bosonic models. Finally, we explain that the new large D scaling is consistent with linearly realized supersymmetry.

We study two-dimensional quantum gravity on arbitrary genus Riemann surfaces in the Kähler formalism where the basic quantum field is the (Laplacian of the) Kähler potential. We do a careful first-principles computation of the fixed-area partition function Z[A] up to and including all two-loop contributions. This includes genuine two-loop diagrams as determined by the Liouville action, one-loop diagrams resulting from the non-trivial measure on the space of metrics, as well as one-loop diagrams involving various counterterm vertices. Contrary to what is often believed, several such counterterms, in addition to the usual cosmological constant, do and must occur. We consistently determine the relevant counterterms from a one-loop computation of the full two-point Green's function of the Kähler field. Throughout this paper we use the general spectral cutoff regularization developed recently and which is well-suited for multi-loop computations on curved manifolds. At two loops, while all "unwanted" contributions to ln(Z[A]/Z[A 0 ]) correctly cancel, it appears that the finite coefficient of ln(A/A 0 ) does depend on the finite part of a certain counterterm coefficient, i.e. on the finite renormalization conditions one has to impose. There exists a choice that reproduces the famous KPZ-scaling, but it seems to be only one consistent choice among others. Maybe, this hints at the possibility that other renormalization conditions could eventually provide a way to circumvent the famous c = 1 barrier.

Abstract:We study the gravitational action induced by coupling two-dimensional nonconformal, massive matter to gravity on a compact Riemann surface. We express this gravitational action in terms of finite and well-defined quantities for any value of the mass. A small-mass expansion gives back the Liouville action in the massless limit, the Mabuchi and Aubin-Yau actions to first order, as well as an infinite series of higher-order contributions written in terms of purely geometric quantities.

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