UC San Diego

We carry out a three-loop computation that establishes the existence of scale without conformal invariance in dimensional regularization with the MS scheme in unitary theories in d = 4 - ε spacetime dimensions. We also comment on the effects of scheme changes in theories with many couplings, as well as in theories that live on non-conformal scale-invariant renormalization group trajectories. Stability properties of such trajectories are analyzed, revealing both attractive and repulsive directions in a specific example. We explain how our results are in accord with those of Jack & Osborn on a c-theorem in d = 4 (and d = 4-ε) dimensions. Finally, we point out that limit cycles with turning points are unlike limit cycles with continuous scale invariance. © 2012 SISSA.