Renormalization : a Number Theoretical Model

We analyse the Dirichlet convolution ring of arithmetic number theoretic functions. It turns out to fail to be a Hopf algebra on the diagonal, due to the lack of complete multiplicativity of the product and coproduct. A related Hopf algebra can be established, which however overcounts the diagonal. We argue that the mechanism of renormalization in quantum field theory is modelled after the same principle. Singularities hence arise as a (now continuously indexed) overcounting on the diagonals. Renormalization is given by the map from the auxiliary Hopf algebra to the weaker multiplicative structure, called Hopf gebra, rescaling the diagonals. CONTENTS 1. Dirichlet convolution ring of arithmetic functions 1 1.1. Definitions 1 1.2. Multiplicativity versus complete multiplicativity 2 1.3. Examples 3 2. Products and coproducts related to Dirichlet convolution 4 2.1. Multiplicativity of the coproducts 6 3. Hopf gebra : multiplicativity versus complete multiplicativity 7 3.1. Plan A: the modified crossing 7 3.2. Plan B: unrenormalization 7 3.3. The co-ring structure 8 3.4. Coping with overcounting : renormalization 9 4. Taming multiplicativity 11 Appendix A. Some facts about Dirichlet and Bell series 12 A.1. Characterizations of complete multiplicativity 12 A.2. Groups and subgroups of Dirichlet convolution 13 Appendix B. Densities of generators 14 References 14 1. DIRICHLET CONVOLUTION RING OF ARITHMETIC FUNCTIONS 1.1. Definitions. In this section we recall a few well know facts about formal Dirichlet series and the associated convolution ring of Dirichlet functions [1, 4]. An arithmetic function is a Date: January 25, 2006. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 16W30; Secondary 30B50; 11A15; 81T15; 81T16.