Asymptotic freedom in certain SO(N) and SU(N) models

We calculate the β-functions for SO(N) and SU(N) gauge theories coupled to adjoint and fundamental scalar representations, correcting longstanding, previous results. We explore the constraints on N resulting from requiring asymptotic freedom for all couplings. When we take into account the actual allowed behavior of the gauge coupling, the minimum value of N in both cases turns out to be larger than realized in earlier treatments. We also show that in the large N limit, both models have large regions of parameter space corresponding to total asymptotic freedom.