Renormalization group in statistical mechanics and mechanics: gauge symmetries and vanishing beta functions

Two very different problems that can be studied by renormalization group methods are discussed with the aim of showing the conceptual unity that renormalization group has introduced in some areas of theoretical Physics. The two problems are: the ground state theory of an one-dimensional quantum Fermi liquid and the existence of quasi periodic motions in classical mechanical systems close to integrable ones. I summarize here the main ideas and show that the two treatments, although completely independent of each other, are strikingly similar. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.