1. Basics
Consider the case where one has to explicitly find a real, sign-definite, positive-valued function
of a real variable
x, when the function possesses the power-law asymptotic behavior characterized by the large-variable (critical) exponent
and (critical) amplitude
BWe consider the case where the critical exponent is known and
. The case of
has to be reduced to the former by considering the inverse of
. The case of
can be treated along the same lines, but requires some special care as explained in
Section 8. Thus, we are interested in finding the amplitude
B. The power-law property means that the sought function is asymptotically scale-invariant, or simply retains its shape under a simple scale transformation, with a change only in the magnitude, as discussed recently in [
1].
Granted, to find
directly and explicitly from the governing equations is very difficult. It can be considered as a true achievement when truncated asymptotic expansion
at small variables could be extracted in the form of a finite truncated series
Here,
. From such expansion, we can try to restore the amplitude
B. The scale-invariance symmetry of the sought functions puts certain constraints on the various transformations to be imposed on the known truncations. In particular, fractional derivatives when considered jointly with the Borel transformation should be modified to respect the symmetry.
The problem of reconstruction of the amplitude
B in the (
1), from the asymptotic series (
3) stands for a long time [
2]. It arises often in physics and applied mathematics. Borel summation, Borel–Leroy and Mittag–Leffler summations are applied for an accurate summation of the truncations (
3) at small
x [
1,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
9].
The hypergeometric approximants [
10,
11,
12,
13] can be combined with the Borel summation. Such technique leads to the hypergeometric-Meijer approximants [
12,
13]. The techniques are quite involved technically with a fitting required to determine the parameters [
14,
15]. The results are non-unique and “only” numerical.
The simpler method of Padé approximants should be considered when possible, at least as a good reference method [
16]. Modified Padé approximants and, based on them, Padé–Borel methods [
17] also allow for analytical calculation of the amplitudes. Some synthesis of various approaches was suggested recently in [
18].
The approximants to be employed in the current paper are called self-similar iterated root approximants, see
Section 1.1. They respect the asymptotic scaling by design. The iterated roots were derived from the requirement of functional self-similarity. It is yet another symmetry widely used in various renormalization groups applied in the quantum field theory and critical phenomena [
19,
20,
21]. V.I. Yukalov pioneered application of the self-similarity in the framework of approximation theory.
We focus here on analytical techniques and will look only for the amplitudes at infinity. Of course, such an approach could be extended to calculation of the critical indices at infinity. The calculations can be performed either directly or by resorting to a diff-Log-transformation.
The Borel transformation of the series with
containing a factorial dependence on
n is rather well-known [
22]:
The resulting series can be summed by means of self-similar iterated roots
[
23,
24]. Such approximants are chosen because they respect the asymptotic scale-invariance and the power-law (
1) for any
k in the expansion (
3). They are exceptionally easy to handle analytically. Then, the sought function is approximated by the expression
However, if we assume that coefficients
depend on
n not just as a factorial, but as
, motivated by the extensive field-theoretical argumentation [
4], the more general Borel-type transformation can be written down following the paper [
25]:
Additionally, let us introduce the operator
. The result of application of operator
to the power-law
is a simple multiplication of the
by the factor
. The operator
is designed specifically to respect the asymptotic power-law (
1) or the so-called asymptotic scale-invariance of the sought functions.
Let us define then, for
, a sequential operation of applying
u-times the operator
The result of application of operator
to the power-law
is a simple multiplication of the
by the factor
. As
, the operator
, and we return to the Borel-transform. Below, we suggest generalizing such operators to the case of arbitrary (fractional)
. The parameter
u corresponds to the order of fractional derivatives, but when the derivative is applied in combination with the power, it leaves the index at infinity unchanged.
The operator
can be used to define an inverse transformation to (
5) [
25]. Then, the sought function is approximated by the expression
The Borel transform
at large
x behaves as
where the concrete expressions
for the amplitude of the iterated roots are known in a closed form. They will be presented below for convenience.
Thus, application of the operator (
6) does not change the critical index in the power-law. However, it has an impact on the expressions for the critical amplitudes. The sought function in the limit of large
x reduces to
As a result, the large-variable behavior of the function acquires the form of a power-law
with the amplitude
The applied transformations, thus, do respect the asymptotic scale-invariance of the original functions. The sought amplitudes are given in explicit form depending on the fractional
u. The marginal amplitude
is multiplied by the correcting factor in the same form as the assumed dependence of
on
n, but with the critical index
put in place of
n. Thus,
takes the role of an effective number
n picked from the expansion at small
x to gauge the large
x behavior of amplitudes.
The complete amplitude
consists of three factors. The first factor, marginal amplitude
, originates from the application of the resummation procedure to the Borel-type transformed series and taking the limit of very large variables. The second factor,
, is due to the differential operator applied
u-times. The third factor is “Borelian”, and is due to the pure factorial behavior of
. Of course, the very possibility of such factorization of amplitudes emerges due to a power-law behavior of the sought function as
. The second factor may be viewed as the correction to the pure case of Borel summation. Note also that various summations discussed in [
1,
9] would try to modify the third,
-factor, while leaving aside the possibility of a more complicated form.
Let us consider
u, the order of the operator in (
6), as a continuous control parameter. As the integrals required for calculating (
11) are relatively easy to define for integers
u, introducing continuous
u means to interpolate smoothly between the values of integral for discrete
u. Such an approach is similar to the way the
-function generalizes the factorial defined for discrete numbers.
Formally, with arbitrary u, we are confronted with the rather complicated task of how to define fractional differentiation. However, in the case considered above, we are able to approach the problem constructively using explicit u analytical results for the integer number of differentiation u to interpolate to continuous (fractional) u. Such an approach works only asymptotically in the limit-case of large x.
By introducing the continuous
u, we acquire a technical advantage, since it becomes possible to find
u from some optimization conditions of the type employed in [
1]. The main tenets of such optimizations will be recapitulated below in application to variable
u.
Previously, we suggested considering the number of iterations
b as the continuous control parameter [
1]. The continuous (fractional)
b gives us again a technical advantage, since it becomes possible to find
b from the optimization conditions, analogous to those to be applied to the parameter
u.
For optimization, we employ the minimal-difference and minimal-derivative optimization conditions. Such conditions are equivalent. Ideally, they should be satisfied simultaneously. The conditions could be found, e.g., in [
1]. They are going to be recapitulated in the following sections. However, as we are going to see below, in some examples only one of them can be satisfied, while the other cannot. The application of various optimal conditions in the space of approximations was proposed and accomplished by such eminent scientists as V. Yukalov, L. Kadanoff, P. Stevenson, and H. Kleinert.
The optimization procedure when only parameter u is considered and b is fixed, will be called u-optimization. The optimization procedure when only parameter b is considered and u is fixed will be called b-optimization.
The optimizations have different meanings. In the course of u-optimization, one would try to look for the correction to factorial growth in the form of a fractional power, i.e., outside of the -function. In the course of b-optimization, one would try to modify the -function per se by considering its fractional powers.
Our approach to optimization is reminiscent of a complementarity principle in physics, i.e., the complete resummation procedure would require optimization with respect to both u and b. It is much more difficult if possible to formulate and solve the problem with many parameters in such a transparent and intuitive way as in the one-parametric case. However, depending on the situation, sometimes the problem could be treated only with u-optimization, or just with a b-optimization.
Considering only the one-parametric problems of optimization is also technically profoundly beneficial, since it is feasible both to formulate transparent and equivalent optimization conditions and easily count and find all relevant solutions when required. Sometimes, the two methods can be superimposed and work on the solutions from different sides. However, in practice, the two approaches complement each other by allowing them to systematically treat more problems than is feasible by each of the methods applied separately.
We are going to require, following Hadamard, that the solution to the optimization problem of any type exists and is unique. Note that requiring independence of the solutions on parameters u and b by imposing minimal difference or minimal derivative conditions, is also in the spirit of Hadamard. The latter conditions do remind us of his third condition of continuous dependence on data, for the problem to be considered as well-posed.
The method of Borel transformation for the summation of asymptotic expansions is combined with elements of fractional analysis with the goal of calculating the critical amplitudes from the optimization conditions. The fractional order u of specially designed derivatives is used as a control parameter, as well as the number of iterations b. However, we do not force the solution to the optimization problem to always exist and in a unique way. Our approach is dependent on the context, and is decided for each problem anew.
Our motivation for suggesting a new method is as follows. We would like to have a good, accurate and simple analytical technique, allowing us to consider with relatively minor modifications as many real cases as possible, while retaining a decent accuracy. The hope is that by introducing several complementary ways of optimizing the solution, such a goal can be achieved. For optimization, we employ below the minimal-difference and minimal-derivative optimization conditions.
The resulting resummation program can be formulated as the following, “horses-for-courses”, method of Fractional Borel Summation.
At the first level, one has to define the positive parameter
u (fractional order of the operator
given by (
6)), from the optimization procedure, while
b is fixed. When the solution to such a
u-optimization problem exists and is unique, the task of resummation could be considered as completed.
At the second level, in the cases when even one of the two Hadamard conditions are not met in the course of
u-optimization, one has to define another complementary procedure with respect to the other parameter, number of iterations
b extended [
1] to arbitrary real numbers from the original integers. When the solution to such a
b-optimization problem exists and is unique, then the task could be considered as completed.
Yet, at the third level, in the cases when even one of the two conditions is not met in the course of
b-optimization, one has to define another procedure, called Borel-light. The marginal amplitude can be optimized, either with respect to
u or
b with a subsequent correction with the diagonal Padé approximants as suggested in [
9].
Thus, when the conventionally defined
u-and-
b-optimizations both fail to produce a unique solution, we resort to alternative techniques. The technique of Borel-light might also dwell on optimization of the marginal amplitudes. Note that marginal amplitudes do satisfy the power-law (
1) at infinity. The marginal quantities are made to comply with the original series (
2) and (
3) by means of the corrector. In place of the corrector, one can most naturally employ the diagonal Padé approximants. Or, alternatively, one can correct the non-optimized Borel-transformed marginal amplitudes when the optimizations for marginal quantities fail or are unsatisfactory. In the latter case, such a decision is made or some additional information.
Application of the
u-optimization is illustrated by the examples of
Section 5. Application of the
b-optimization is illustrated by the examples of
Section 6. Stand-alone examples of Borel-light technique application are given in
Section 7.
The operator (
6) will be briefly discussed in
Section 10. More advanced operators (
67) and (
69) will be briefly discussed in
Section 9. They are designed specifically to respect the asymptotic power-law (
1), or the so-called asymptotic scale-invariance of the sought functions. The case of
in case of transformation
5 could be treated by means of a
b-optimization, or resorting to some form of a simplified, Borel-light technique. The more advanced operators (
67) and (
69), however, are able to include the case of
into the
u-optimization procedure.
We should mention that fractional analysis appeared as a very useful methodology in various applications [
26,
27,
28]. One can also think about application of asymptotic methods and resummation techniques for various fractional differential evolutions [
29,
30]. The order of fractional derivatives or the number of iterations could be tried for minimization of the residual [
31]. Normally, one would try to increase the accuracy by increasing the order of approximations. Applying fractional Borel methods with “free” parameters would constitute a different approach.
The method of series solutions to the nonlinear partial differential equations was discussed extensively in the illuminating paper [
32]. It could be a challenging problem to extend the resummation methods to nonlinear PDEs as well. Intriguing topics and phenomena, contributing to the understanding of complex dynamics and phenomena in nonlinear systems and providing valuable insights into mathematical modeling in biology, were expounded in [
33,
34]. Potentially interesting applications for the fractional methods range from the lower-dimensional chaotic systems to the logistic effects and the global classical solutions for reaction-diffusion systems.
1.1. Iterated Roots
In order to address the case of arbitrary positive
, we apply the so-called iterated roots [
23,
24]. The approximants are conditioned on the correct critical exponent
at infinity. The iterated root approximants are given as follows:
with known powers and unknown amplitudes, in all orders
[
23,
24].
For instance, for
, the approximant (
12) is simply
for
and for
Now, all relevant parameters
could be uniquely defined from the asymptotic equivalence with the truncated series
in the small
x limit. In the large-variable limit, the approximant (
12) behaves as
with the critical amplitude
4. Borel-Light Technique
The large-variable exponent
of the sought function coincides with that for the Borel-type transforms. The transform
itself is different from the function
with
, but can be matched with the latter through the integral transformation, in general. However, instead of taking the integral, the sought function can be reconstructed from
directly, by means of a simplified, Borel-light technique. In fact, we are going to deal with a whole table
with
. While
for even
k, and
for odd
k. Here,
(or
) stands for the diagonal Padé approximants of the
nth order, with arbitrary positive integer
n [
3].
For instance, if we choose
, we have two approximants
For the choice of
, we have to add one more approximant
For
, we have to add five more approximants
For
, we have two additional approximants
For
, we have to add eight more approximants
While the root approximants are constructed routinely for the transformed series, the parameters of the diagonal Padé approximant are to be found by equating the like-order terms of the small-variable expansion of the complete approximation (
29) with the known truncation in the form of (
2) and (
3). Employing the diagonal Padé approximants
allows us to capitalize on the knowledge of the properties of such approximants, as explained in the preceding paper [
17].
Assume in the case of
u-optimization that the number of iterations
b is fixed and does not appear in the forthcoming formulas. At large values of the variable, the Borel-type transform behaves as
and the total critical amplitude
becomes the table. The parameter
is to be found from the minimal derivative condition [
9], as the unique solution to the equation
or from the minimal difference condition, with the differences
and positive integers
. A set
of control parameters is defined as the solution to the equations
Equations (
32) and (
33) hold for the case of
b-optimization with
u simply replaced by
b. The control parameter can also be fixed to the value
of the Borel-case, and the same procedures can be applied with respect to the number of iterations
b [
1].
Of course, the simplest way to proceed is to fix both parameters, say to , and correct the approximants applied to a Borel-transformed series with the diagonal Padé approximants.
The Borel-light techniques obviously do not have a pole arising from the
-function in the often encountered case of
, and could be calculated without a transformation to the inverse of
, or by calling for an optimal power-transform. The application of simplified, Borel-light techniques for inverse transformation can be useful for some more complex Borel-type transforms [
35], when integral forms are very difficult or impossible to access analytically.
Let us consider as an example the energy gap between the lowest and second excited states of the scalar boson for the massive Schwinger model in Hamiltonian lattice theory [
36,
37]. The massive Schwinger model in Hamiltonian lattice theory [
36,
37] describes quantum electrodynamics in two space-time dimensions. It also mimics quantum chromodynamics. Therefore, it can be considered as a touchstone for the new techniques.
The spectrum of bound states is often studied for the Schwinger model. The spectral gap
could be expressed as a function of the variable
, where
g is a coupling parameter and
a lattice spacing. The energy gap for the so-called scalar state at small
z can be represented as a series [
37],
with rapidly increasing by absolute value coefficients known up to the 13th order.
The continuous limit, where the lattice spacing tends to zero, or the variable
z tends to infinity, is of a special interest. In such a case, the gap acquires the limit-form of a power-law [
37],
where
,
.
Let us apply the optimization (
32). For instance, in higher orders, we obtain rather close parameters
Let us calculate the table (
31), so that in higher orders:
Mind that the best estimate for the amplitude,
, was found by applying the method of iterated Padé–Borel approximations in the 13th order of perturbation theory [
1], composed by averaging over calculated upper and lower bounds. The novel method gives more consistent, unique result,
It can be deduced both from “vertical” sequence
and “horizontal” sequence
.
Note that better results are achieved for the control function/iterated root in the 10th order applied to the transformed expansion. The latter observation is different from the expectations of the standard method of corrected Padé approximants [
38], where the control functions are expected to be selected among the low-order approximations to the original expansion. Note that finite lattice calculations give
, while various series methods give
, quoted in the paper [
37].
Various resummation methods give results in accord with the latter numbers. They are presented in
Table 1.
The examples to be presented below belong to four different types and correspond to the
Physical problems solvable with u-optimization;
Problems solvable with b-optimization;
Example related to the Bose Condensation, solvable with Borel-light techniques;
Two cases with , which require modification to the iterated root approximations.
We are going to demand, in the spirit of Hadamard, that the solution to the optimization problem of any type exists and is unique.
7. Bose Temperature Shift
In the cases when even one of the two Hadamard conditions are not met in the course of
u- and
b-optimizations of the complete amplitude
B, we suggest applying yet another procedure. Optimization is going to be applied to the marginal amplitude
C, either with respect to the parameter
u or parameter
b with a subsequent correction by means of the diagonal Padé approximants [
9]. The resulting approximation is going to satisfy asymptomatically the original truncated series (
1) and (
2).
The shift , of the Bose–Einstein condensation temperature of a non-ideal Bose system compared to the Bose–Einstein condensation temperature of ideal uniform Bose gas, is believed to have a simple form. At asymptotically small gas parameter where is atomic scattering length and stands for the gas density, it behaves as for . Thus, the parameter quantifies the shift.
Monte Carlo simulations [
61,
62,
63] give
At the same time,
can be defined [
64,
65,
66] as the strong-coupling limit
of an auxiliary function
. The latter function could be expressed as an expansion over an effective coupling parameter,
where
Note that in the present case, in the actual problem solved for the auxiliary function
, the index at infinity
.
In the same way as in the case of the Bose system, one can find the values of
for the
field theory [
65]. The following, formally obtained expansion is available the auxiliary function for small
g,
The Monte Carlo numerical estimate
is available here as well (see [
38] and references therein).
For the
field theory, analogous computations can be accomplished. The expansion for the auxiliary function
as
can be found in [
65], i.e.,
The Monte Carlo numerical estimate
is available (see [
38] and references therein).
The problem appears to be very difficult and even challenging for the Fractional Borel methodology, since the optimization in the parameter
does not bring a solution, and optimization in the parameter
b brings multiple (two) solutions. In such a case, the results could be found from the simplified, Borel-light summation introduced in the
Section 4. Note that it is marginal amplitudes that have to be optimized. Note also that even in the case of
, the Borel-light summation can be applied to the original series, without a need for inverting the truncations.
For example, in the case of Bose-condensate, the method of
u-optimization with optimal
, found from the minimal difference condition
gives
Here, and only here, we have to resort to a negative control parameter. The option of resorting to negative
u when a positive solution does not present itself is quite straightforward, but seems to work well only in some special cases.
Similarly, the method of
b-optimization with optimal
, found from the minimal difference condition
gives
Even without optimization, just setting
,
, we obtain the rather reasonable result
The results of simplified, Borel-light summation introduced in
Section 4, are further elaborated in
Table 12. The results obtained by the Fractional Borel-light (
,
u-optimal), seem to be more in line with the other two preferred estimates.
Various results for all three cases obtained by different methods are shown in the
Table 13.
We comment that the simplest approaches of Modified-Even Padé approximants of the [
17], and Corrected Iterated Root Approximants of the paper [
23], give close and good results, and without any explicit optimization or transformation of the series being imposed. In such a sense, they are preferable to others.
For instance, the second-order iterated roots corrected with iterated roots in the 4th order of perturbation theory, as described in the paper [
23], gives reasonable estimates in all three cases. The corresponding results are shown in the third line of the
Table 13. In particular, for the Bose-condensation, the method of corrected iterated roots gives
.
Kastening [
64,
65,
66], using the Kleinert variational perturbation theory, found the Bose-condensation problem the value of
in the interval 1.16 – 1.38; and estimated the shift as
.
8. Case of β = 0
In order to address the case of
, the definition of iterated roots should be modified slightly. Conditioning the approximants on correct critical exponent
at infinity, we suggest the modified iterated root approximants in the form
with known powers and unknown amplitudes. The number of unknowns is exactly the same as for the iterated roots described in the
Section 1.1.
We request that
so that in the case of
, one finds that
in all orders
. For instance, for
the approximant (8) is simply
for
and for
Now, all relevant parameters
could be uniquely defined from the asymptotic equivalence with the truncated series
in the small
x limit. Of course, the approximants can be (and will be) applied also to the Borel-type transformed series as well.
In the large-variable limit, the approximant (
50) behaves as
with the critical amplitude
The large-variable exponent
of the sought function
coincides with that for the self-similar Borel transform
. However, the transform
with
is different from the sought function
.
In what follows, we adhere to the logic of the
Section 4, outlined for the Borel-light summation. In the case of
u-optimization, in order to establish an inverse transform to original series, instead of taking the integral, the sought function can be reconstructed directly and explicitly, as suggested in
Section 4, i.e.,
with
. While
for even
k, and
for odd
k. The parameters of the diagonal Padé approximant are to be found from the accuracy-through-order procedure [
67], from asymptotic equivalence with the original expansions (
2) and (
3).
Assume that the number of iterations
b is fixed and does not appear in the forthcoming formulas. At large values of the variable, the self-similar Borel-type transform behaves as
and the total critical amplitude
ought to be calculated. The parameter
is to be found from the minimal derivative condition, as the unique solution to the equation
or from the minimal difference condition, with the differences
and for positive integers
. The optimization similar to the equation (
21) can be written down as well by simply changing notations.
The control parameter can be also fixed to the value
, and the same procedures can be applied with respect to the number of iterations
b [
1]. Equations (
59)–(
61) will hold with
u simply replaced by
b.
Of course, the approximants (
50), with the condition (
51), can also be applied when
.
8.1. One-Dimensional Antiferromagnet: Ground State Energy
The ground-state energy of an equilibrium one-dimensional quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet can be found [
68] from the energy
of a non-equilibrium antiferromagnet. At small time
, one has an expansion
with the coefficients
However, it is the infinite time limit
that ought to be deduced from the expansion (
62). The ground-state energy is known exactly due to Hulthen [
69],
The
u-optimization-light procedure fails to bring a reasonable solution. The
b-optimization procedure with
, returns us to the case of iterative Borel summation [
1]. Solving the equation
brings a unique solution
. Accomplishing inverse integral transformation is quite straightforward since the contribution from
-term equals unity in the case of
. It gives the amplitude, which is equal to the marginal amplitude. From the marginal amplitude, we simply estimate that
In the method of Borel-light described above, the
b-optimal marginal amplitude found with
,
, ought to be corrected with the diagonal Padé approximants. Simply rewriting the formula (
59) for
b in place of
u leads to the total critical amplitude
A slightly different result is achieved by calculating
which is exactly the result achieved by the inverse integral transformation.
Various approximations are shown in
Table 14. Note that by applying the minimal-derivative condition to optimal Mittag–Leffler summation [
9] with odd-factor approximants of [
70], one can see that our very good estimator, the simple odd-factor approximant, is also Mittag–Leffler-optimal.
The diagonal Padé approximation and the Borel approximation (, ) are inferior performers individually, but could be viewed as upper and lower bounds on the solution.
8.2. Fermi Gas: Unitary Limit
The ground-state energy
E of a dilute Fermi gas can be obtained perturbatively [
71], so that
with the coefficients
The expansion (effective coupling) parameter
is expressed through the Fermi wave number
and the atomic scattering length
. The limit of very large
g corresponds to the unitary Fermi gas. Monte-Carlo numerical calculations in the case of
[
72,
73] yield
More recent Monte Carlo simulations give a slightly higher value of
[
74]. The best known experimental value is equal to
according to [
72,
75].
Let us consider the inverse of the truncated series (
64), and apply to it various resummation procedures. The transformation allows us to remove the spurious zeroes at the real axis, which severely worsens the results for the original truncation.
In this case, u-optimization could be performed with . The u-optimal marginal amplitude is found from the equation which gives . After correction with the diagonal Padé approximant, we find and estimate after inversion that .
Slightly lower result, , is achieved by calculating an inverse of the amplitude
For completeness, let us also consider the b-optimal optimization procedure with . Solving the equation brings a unique solution . The amplitude is equal to the marginal amplitude, After inversion, we find that
Another way to introduce control consists in replacing the exponential function in the integrand of the formula (
4), by a stretched (compacted) exponential function, parameterized with the parameter
U [
1]. Applying the same technique of Borel-light summation as above, we find from the minimal difference condition
a uniquely defined control parameter
. After calculating the amplitude
and taking its inverse we find
Thus, the best result,
, achieved previously by the Borel-Factor Approximants-light technique applied to the Mittag–Leffler transformed series [
9], is reproduced.
Various approximations are shown in the
Table 15. Thus, Borel-light techniques of various shades work well for the unitary limit of Fermi gas.
10. Conclusions
Our approach to optimization is inspired by the complementarity principle in physics. In a broad sense, an asymptotic complementarity principle [
78], implies a deep connection between the limit of small and large variables.
The complete resummation procedure by the Fractional Borel Summation would require rather difficult from the technical standpoint optimization with respect to both
u (fractional order of the operator
given by (
6)) and
b (fractional number of iterations first introduced in [
1]). The optimization procedure when only parameter
u is considered and
b is fixed is called above
u-optimization. The optimization procedure when only parameter
b is considered and
u is fixed is called above
b-optimization. The problem could be treated in some cases only with
u-optimization, or just with a
b-optimization in some other cases. Neither of optimizations is able to solve overly many cases, but applied together they can and do complement each other.
Thus, we offer a shift in paradigm: instead of looking for a single method which can solve all the problems of resummation with reasonably good accuracy we suggest searching for complementary methods. In the course of u-optimization we search for the correction to factorial growth in the form of a fractional power, outside of the -function. In the course of b-optimization we consider fractional powers of the -function and optimize such powers. Considering only the one-parametric problems of optimization is technically and conceptually advantageous, compared to the two-parametric problems. The most interesting, as we see it, cases with the coefficients growing (decaying) very fast are covered neatly by the u-optimization. The cases of slower growing (decaying) coefficients are covered by b-optimization. The stand-alone resummation case is best tackled with Borel-light techniques.
The method of scale-invariant Fractional Borel Summation consists of three constructive steps. The first step corresponds to u-optimization of the amplitudes with fixed parameter b. When the first step fails, the second step corresponds to b-optimization of the amplitudes with fixed parameter u. However, when the two steps fail consecutively, the third step corresponds to Borel-light technique with marginal amplitude optimized with either of the two above approaches and corrected with a diagonal Padé approximants.
To assess the quality of approximation by the new methods, the pool of examples was selected to include various behaviors of the coefficients . The method of Fractional Borel Summation appears to be a good, middle-off-the-road technique, allowing us to consider with relatively minor modifications all examples presented in the paper. Of course, in some important cases, the Fractional Borel method can be the best. We should stress that Fractional Borel Summation is the best among all analytical methods for such hard problems as quartic oscillator, various energy gaps for the Schwinger model and membrane pressure. For the two-dimensional polymer the value of amplitude is not known and the predictions are made. In the important cases of membrane pressure and of one-dimensional Bose gas energy various Padé and Padé–Borel techniques fail, while Fractional Borel Summation still works.
However, in general, to achieve the best results for a concrete problem of interest, one should turn to a variety of old or new methods. Among them, we can find the best method for the particular problem. However, if applied individually, each of the methods could be successful in just a few cases. Especially, when the Hadamard condition of uniqueness is imposed. Of course, there is a separate and non-trivial problem of deciding in real studies, which method is the best. That is why, possessing a well-defined methodology, such as the Fractional Borel Summation is important.