Generalized Hertz action and quantum criticality of two-dimensional Fermi systems

We reassess the structure of the effective action and quantum critical singularities of two-dimensional Fermi systems characterized by the ordering wave vector $\stackrel{P\vec}{Q}=\stackrel{P\vec}{0}$. By employing infrared cutoffs on all the massless degrees of freedom, we derive a generalized form of the Hertz action, which does not suffer from problems of singular effective interactions. We demonstrate that the Wilsonian momentum-shell renormalization group (RG) theory capturing the infrared scaling should be formulated keeping $\stackrel{P\vec}{Q}$ as a flowing, scale-dependent quantity. At the quantum critical point, scaling controlled by the dynamical exponent $z=3$ is overshadowed by a broad scaling regime characterized by a lower value of $z\ensuremath{\approx}2$. This, in particular, offers an explanation of the results of quantum Monte Carlo simulations pertinent to the electronic nematic quantum critical point.