The Haldane-Rezayi quantum Hall state and conformal field theory

We propose field theories for the bulk and edge of a quantum Hall state in the universality class of the Haldane-Rezayi wavefunction. The bulk theory is associated with the c = −2 conformal field theory. The topological properties of the state, such as the quasiparticle braiding statistics and ground state degeneracy on a torus, may be deduced from this conformal field theory. The 10-fold degeneracy on a torus is explained by the existence of a logarithmic operator in the c = −2 theory; this operator corresponds to a novel bulk excitation in the quantum Hall state. We argue that the edge theory is the c = 1 chiral Dirac fermion, which is related in a simple way to the c = −2 theory of the bulk. This theory is reformulated as a truncated version of a doublet of Dirac fermions in which the SU(2) symmetry - which corresponds to the spin-rotational symmetry of the quantum Hall system - is manifest and non-local. We make predictions for the current-voltage characteristics for transport through point contacts.     

Testing approximate theories of first-order phase transitions on the two-dimensional Potts model

The two-dimensional,q-state (q>4) Potts model is used as a testing ground for approximate theories of first-order phase transitions. In particular, the predictions of a theory analogous to the Ramakrishnan-Yussouff theory of freezing are compared with those of ordinary mean-field (Curie-Wiess) theory. It is found that the Curie-Weiss theory is a better approximation than the Ramakrishnan-Yussouff theory, even though the former neglects all fluctuations. It is shown that the Ramakrishnan-Yussouff theory overestimates the effects of fluctuations in this system. The reasons behind the failure of the Ramakrishnan-Yussouff approximation and the suitability of using the two-dimensional Potts model as a testing ground for these theories are discussed.     

The refined theory of deep rectangular beams based on general solutions of elasticity

The problem of deducing one-dimensional theory from two-dimensional theory for a homogeneous isotropic beam is investigated. Based on elasticity theory, the refined theory of rectangular beams is derived by using Papkovich-Neuber solution and Lur’e method without ad hoc assumptions. It is shown that the displacements and stresses of the beam can be represented by the angle of rotation and the deflection of the neutral surface. Based on the refined beam theory, the exact equations for the beam without transverse surface loadings are derived and consist of two governing differential equations: the fourth-order equation and the transcendental equation. The approximate equations for the beam under transverse loadings are derived directly from the refined beam theory and are almost the same as the governing equations of Timoshenko beam theory. In two examples, it is shown that the new theory provides better results than Levinson’s beam theory when compared with those obtained from the linear theory of elasticity.     

Center-symmetric dimensional reduction of hot Yang-Mills theory

It is expected that incorporating the center symmetry in the conventional dimensionally reduced effective theory for high-temperature SU(N_c) Yang-Mills theory, EQCD, will considerably extend its applicability towards the deconfinement transition. The construction of such a center-symmetric effective theory for the case of two colors is reviewed and lattice simulation results are presented. The simulations demonstrate that unlike EQCD, the new center-symmetric theory undergoes a second order confining phase transition in complete analogy with the full theory.     

On the relation between Brueckner theory and Jastrow theory of nuclear matter

The two- and three-hole-line contributions to the ground state energy as calculated from Brueckner theory are derived from a cluster expansion followed by variation of the trial function. The implications of that derivation both for Brueckner theory and for Jastrow theory are worked out in detail. It is argued that the Jastrow theory is able to give simpler methods to calculate the ground state energy which may be of the same accuracy as current Brueckner calculations. It is shown that the single-particle potential of Brueckner theory is intimately related to a subsidiary condition used in the variation of the trial function. The main steps which have to be taken in a derivation of the general hole-line expansion from Jastrow theory are indicated. It is shown that the hole-line expansion is not a cluster expansion in the sense of Jastrow theory, and an interpretation is given of the “self-consistent choice” of the single-particle potential advocated in Brueckner theory.     

The refined theory of transversely isotropic piezoelectric rectangular beams

The problem of deducing one-dimensional theory from two-dimensional theory for a transversely isotropic piezoelectric rectangular beam is investigated. Based on the piezoelasticity theory, the refined theory of piezoelectric beams is derived by using the general solution of transversely isotropic piezoelasticity and Lur’e method without ad hoc assumptions. Based on the refined theory of piezoelectric beams, the exact equations for the beams without transverse surface loadings are derived, which consist of two governing differential equations: the fourth-order equation and the transcendental equation. The approximate equations for the beams under transverse loadings are derived directly from the refined beam theory. As a special case, the governing differential equations for transversely isotropic elastic beams are obtained from the corresponding equations of piezoelectric beams. To illustrate the application of the beam theory developed, a uniformly loaded and simply supported piezoelectric beam is examined.     

Newtonian Kinetic Theory and the Ergodic-Nonergodic Transition

In a recent work we have discussed how kinetic theory, the statistics of classical particles obeying Newtonian dynamics, can be formulated as a field theory. The field theory can be organized to produce a self-consistent perturbation theory expansion in an effective interaction potential. In the present work we use this development for investigating ergodic-nonergodic (ENE) transitions in dense fluids. The theory is developed in terms of a core problem spanned by the variables ρ, the number density, and B, a response density. We set up the perturbation theory expansion for studying the self-consistent model which gives rise to a ENE transition. Our main result is that the low-frequency dynamics near the ENE transition is the same for Smoluchowski and Newtonian dynamics. This is true despite the fact that term by term in a density expansion the results for the two dynamics are fundamentally different.     

Empirical investigation of a field theory formula and Black's formula for the price of an interest-rate caplet

The industry standard for pricing an interest-rate caplet is Black's formula. Another distinct price of the same caplet can be derived using a quantum field theory model of the forward interest rates. An empirical study is carried out to compare the two caplet pricing formulae. Historical volatility and correlation of forward interest rates are used to generate the field theory caplet price; another approach is to fit a parametric formula for the effective volatility using market caplet price. The study shows that the field theory model generates the price of a caplet and cap fairly accurately. Black's formula for a caplet is compared with field theory pricing formula. It is seen that the field theory formula for caplet price has many advantages over Black's formula.     

Toward a rigorous quantum field theory

This paper outlines a framework that may provide a mathematically rigorous quantum field theory. The framework relies upon the methods of nonstandard analysis. A theory of nonstandard inner product spaces and operators on these spaces is first developed. This theory is then applied to construct nonstandard Fock spaces which extend the standard Fock spaces. Then a rigorous framework for the field operators of quantum field theory is presented. The results are illustrated for the case of Klein-Gordon fields.     

The Theory of (Exclusively) Local Beables

It is shown how, starting with the de Broglie–Bohm pilot-wave theory, one can construct a new theory of the sort envisioned by several of QM’s founders: a Theory of Exclusively Local Beables (TELB). In particular, the usual quantum mechanical wave function (a function on a high-dimensional configuration space) is not among the beables posited by the new theory. Instead, each particle has an associated “pilot-wave” field (living in physical space). A number of additional fields (also fields on physical space) maintain what is described, in ordinary quantum theory, as “entanglement.” The theory allows some interesting new perspective on the kind of causation involved in pilot-wave theories in general. And it provides also a concrete example of an empirically viable quantum theory in whose formulation the wave function (on configuration space) does not appear—i.e., it is a theory according to which nothing corresponding to the configuration space wave function need actually exist. That is the theory’s raison d’etre and perhaps its only virtue. Its vices include the fact that it only reproduces the empirical predictions of the ordinary pilot-wave theory (equivalent, of course, to the predictions of ordinary quantum theory) for spinless non-relativistic particles, and only then for wave functions that are everywhere analytic. The goal is thus not to recommend the TELB proposed here as a replacement for ordinary pilot-wave theory (or ordinary quantum theory), but is rather to illustrate (with a crude first stab) that it might be possible to construct a plausible, empirically viable TELB, and to recommend this as an interesting and perhaps-fruitful program for future research.     

Associating fluids with four bonding sites against a hard wall: density functional theory

We present two new perturbation density functional theories to investigate non-uniform fluids of associating molecules. Each fluid molecule is modelled as a spherical hard core with four highly anisotropic square well sites placed in tetrahedral symmetry on the hard core surface. In one theory we apply the weighting from Tarazona's hard sphere density functional theory to Wertheim's bulk first-order perturbation theory. The other theory uses the inhomogeneous form of Wertheim's theory as a perturbation to Tarazona's hard-sphere density functional theory. Each theory approaches Tarazona's theory in the limit of zero association. We compare results from theory and simulation for density profiles, fraction of monomers, and adsorption of an associating fluid against a hard, smooth wall over a range of temperatures and densities. The non-uniform fluid theory which uses Tarazona's weighting of Wertheim's theory in the bulk is in good agreement with computer simulation results.     

Relativistic heavy-ion collisions: An approach based on non-equilibrium thermodynamics

A new theory of particle production in high energy collisions is proposed which is based on non-equilibrium thermodynamics. The non-equilibrium model is a major extension of the equilibrium thermodynamic model of relativistic heavy-ion collisions developed earlier. While the equilibrium thermodynamic theory is appropriate for the formation of light nuclei and for pions, the non-equilibrium theory applies to the creation of particles heavier than the pion, which include such particles as the strange mesons, strange baryons and the anti-nucleons. Using an approach based on the degree of the reaction of kinetic theory, the time evolution of the composition of hadronic systems in incomplete equilibrium is investigated. Densities of produced particles are related to space-time quantities and to the production cross sections of the underlying dynamic processes. An application of the non-equilibrium approach to the production of strange matter is given. The importance of secondary processes, following pion production, in the formation of strange matter is shown. In fact, the secondary production process for kaons is as important as the direct production process arising from initial nucleon-nucleon (NN) collision of a first collision picture. Thus, kaons can be produced in a late stage of the collision of two nuclei and they do not necessarily reflect the early stages of the collision as first thought. Using the experimental number of kaons, the time of reaction is also estimated. No evidence for a long-lived state of the nuclear system is found. Expressions for particle production ratios are developed. The results of an equilibrium theory and a non-equilibrium theory are found to be similar for such ratios. The chemical equilibrium constant is shown to be present in the non-equilibrium theory; the Boltzmann factor in the production threshold energy appears in the equilibrium theory. The K^?/K⁺ ratio is estimated. Surprisingly, reasonable agreement with experiment is found in the K^?/K⁺ ratio using the equilibrium theory, even though the production processes for K⁺'s and K^?'s treated individually, are not ones for which the equilibrium theory applies. It is shown that a fundamental difference between the equilibrium and non-equilibrium theory is lost when particle ratios for non-equilibrium particles are taken. Expressions for the production of complex composite structures made of strange particles are developed. The non-equilibrium model with some modifications may be useful for high energy NN and pion-nucleon collisions.     

An analytical theory for diffusion of fluids in crystalline nanoporous materials

An analytical theory for diffusion of fluids in zeolites and other nanoporous materials has been developed. The theory incorporates molecular level information about the nanoporous material, which is obtainable from an energy minimization and does not require molecular dynamics computer simulations. The theory is statistical mechanical in nature and assumes a lattice composed of adsorption sites. The theory yields a self-diffusion coefficient, which is a function of (i) temperature, (ii) adsorbate density, (iii) adsorbate size, (iv) adsorbate-adsorbate energetic interaction and (v) adsorbate-pore energetic interaction. The theory is generalized and is applicable to nanoporous materials with three-dimensional porous networks (e.g. faujusite) and one-dimensional porous networks (e.g. A1P0₄-5).

The theory is self-contained and incorporates no fitting parameters. The theory does not require computational effort beyond a few seconds on a standard personal computer.     

Liquids in equilibrium: Beyond the hypernetted chain

Density functional techniques are used to derive a charging expression for the non-uniform density of a molecular liquid. In the atomic limit the equation reduces to an exact form due to Fixman. The theory is simplified greatly via a physical approximation that accounts for three-body correlations beyond those included in the hypernetted chain (HNC) closure of the Ornstein-Zernike (OZ) equation. The radial distribution function is obtained as a special case. The theory is tested by examining the phase behavior of two fundamental complex fluids: the homopolymer blend and diblock copolymer melts. For the former it is found, contrary to HNC theory and its molecular generalizations, that a critical temperature T_c is predicted from the structure route. This T_c scales linearly with degree of polymerization N in agreement with Flory theory. The simplest form of the theory can be considered as a way to incorporate attractive interactions within a formalism that is very similar to that of the OZ or reference interaction site model (RISM). The relevance of the theory to charged liquids is also discussed.     

Mutual Chern-Simons theory and its applications in condensed matter physics

In this paper, the mutual Chern-Simons (MCS) theory is introduced as a new kind of topological gauge theory in 2+1 dimensions. We use the MCS theory in gapped phase as an effective low energy theory to describe the Z ₂ topological order of the Kitaev-Wen model. Our results show that the MCS theory can catch the key properties for the Z ₂ topological order. On the other hand, we use the MCS theory as an effective model to deal with the doped Mott insulator. Based on the phase string theory, the t-J model reduces to a MCS theory for spinons and holons. The related physics in high T _c cuprates is discussed.      

Renormalization Proof for Spontaneously Broken Yang–Mills Theory with Flow Equations

In this paper we present a renormalizability proof for spontaneously broken SU(2) gauge theory. It is based on Flow Equations, i.e. on the Wilson renormalization group adapted to perturbation theory. The power counting part of the proof, which is conceptually and technically simple, follows the same lines as that for any other renormalizable theory. The main difficulty stems from the fact that the regularization violates gauge invariance. We prove that there exists a class of renormalization conditions such that the renormalized Green functions satisfy the Slavnov-Taylor identities of SU(2) Yang-Mills theory on which the gauge invariance of the renormalized theory is based.     

From noncommutative κ-Minkowski to Minkowski space–time

We show that free κ-Minkowski space field theory, discussed in the context of κ-Poincaré algebra and Doubly Special Relativity is equivalent to a relativistically invariant free field theory on Minkowski space–time. The field theory we obtain has in spectrum a relativistic mode of arbitrary mass m and a Planck mass tachyon. We show that while the energy–momentum for the relativistic mode is essentially the standard one, it diverges for the tachyon, so that there are no asymptotic tachyonic states in the theory. It also follows that the dispersion relation is not modified, so that, in particular, in this theory the speed of light is energy-independent.     

Canonical variables for the Dirac theory

A new canonical structure for Dirac's theory is proposed. The new configuration space A is a real, four-dimensional subbundle of the spinor bundle. A Lagrangian defined on Q describes a theory equivalent to the Dirac one. In this way we obtain a theory without second-type constraints.     

Composite electrodynamics

This paper solidifies the foundations for a singleton theory of light, first proposed two years ago. This theory is based on a pure gauge coupling of the scalar singleton field to the electromagnetic current. Like quarks, singletons are essentially unobservable. The field operators are not local observables and therefore need not commute for spacelike separation. This opens up possibilities for generalized statistics, just as is the case for quarks. It then turns out that a pure gauge coupling, in which ∂μφ(x) couples to the conserved current j^μ(x), generates real interactions— the effective theory is precisely ordinary electrodynamics in de Sitter space. Here we improve our theory and explain it in much more detail than before, adding two new results. (1) The concept of normal ordering in a theory with unconventional statistics is worked out in detail. (2) We have discovered the natural way of including both photon helicities. Quantization, it may be noted, is a study in representation theory of certain infinite-dimensional, nilpotent Lie algebras, of which the Heisenberg algebra is the prototype.