Critical exponents from optimised renormalisation group flows

Within the exact renormalisation group, the scaling solutions for O(N) symmetric scalar field theories are studied to leading order in the derivative expansion. The Gaussian fixed point is examined for d > 2 dimensions and arbitrary infrared regularisation. The Wilson-Fisher fixed point in d = 3 is studied using an optimised flow. We compute critical exponents and subleading corrections-to-scaling to high accuracy from the eigenvalues of the stability matrix at criticality for all N. We establish that the optimisation is responsible for the rapid convergence of the flow and polynomial truncations thereof. The scheme dependence of the leading critical exponent is analysed. For all N greater than or equal to 0, it is found that the leading exponent is bounded. The upper boundary is achieved for a Callan-Symanzik flow and corresponds, for all N, to the large-N limit. The lower boundary is achieved by the optimised flow and is closest to the physical value. We show the reliability of polynomial approximations, even to low orders, if they are accompanied by an appropriate choice for the regulator. Possible applications to other theories are outlined. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.