Non-compact Lattice QED with Two Charges: Phase Diagram and Renormalization Group Flow

The phase diagram of non-compact lattice QED in four dimensions with staggered fermions of charges 1 and $-1/2$ is investigated. The renormalized charges are determined and found to be in agreement with perturbation theory. This is an indication that there is no continuum limit with non-vanishing renormalized gauge coupling, and that the theory has a validity bound for every finite value of the renormalized coupling. The renormalization group flow of the charges is investigated and an estimate for the validity bound as a function of the cut-off is obtained. Generalizing this estimate to all fermions in the Standard Model,it is found that a cut-off at the Planck scale implies that $\alpha_R$ has to be less than $1/80$. Due to spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking, strongly bound fermion-antifermion composite states are generated. Their spectrum is discussed.