Statistical mechanics and dynamics of solvable models with long-range interactions

For systems with long-range interactions, the two-body potential decays at large distances as V(r)1/r^α, with α≤d, where d is the space dimension. Examples are: gravitational systems, two-dimensional hydrodynamics, two-dimensional elasticity, charged and dipolar systems. Although such systems can be made extensive, they are intrinsically non additive: the sum of the energies of macroscopic subsystems is not equal to the energy of the whole system. Moreover, the space of accessible macroscopic thermodynamic parameters might be non convex. The violation of these two basic properties of the thermodynamics of short-range systems is at the origin of ensemble inequivalence. In turn, this inequivalence implies that specific heat can be negative in the microcanonical ensemble, and temperature jumps can appear at microcanonical first order phase transitions. The lack of convexity allows us to easily spot regions of parameter space where ergodicity may be broken. Historically, negative specific heat had been found for gravitational systems and was thought to be a specific property of a system for which the existence of standard equilibrium statistical mechanics itself was doubted. Realizing that such properties may be present for a wider class of systems has renewed the interest in long-range interactions. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the recent advances on the statistical mechanics and out-of-equilibrium dynamics of solvable systems with long-range interactions. The core of the review consists in the detailed presentation of the concept of ensemble inequivalence, as exemplified by the exact solution, in the microcanonical and canonical ensembles, of mean-field type models. Remarkably, the entropy of all these models can be obtained using the method of large deviations. Long-range interacting systems display an extremely slow relaxation towards thermodynamic equilibrium and, what is more striking, the convergence towards quasi-stationary states. The understanding of such unusual relaxation process is obtained by the introduction of an appropriate kinetic theory based on the Vlasov equation. A statistical approach, founded on a variational principle introduced by Lynden-Bell, is shown to explain qualitatively and quantitatively some features of quasi-stationary states. Generalizations to models with both short and long-range interactions, and to models with weakly decaying interactions, show the robustness of the effects obtained for mean-field models.     

Thermodynamics of charged Brans–Dicke AdS black holes

It is well known that in four dimensions, black hole solution of the Brans–Dicke–Maxwell equations is just the Reissner–Nordstrom solution with a constant scalar field. However, in n4 dimensions, the solution is not yet the (n+1)-dimensional Reissner–Nordstrom solution and the scalar field is not a constant in general. In this Letter, by applying a conformal transformation to the dilaton gravity theory, we derive a class of black hole solutions in (n+1)-dimensional (n4) Brans–Dicke–Maxwell theory in the background of anti-de Sitter universe. We obtain the conserved and thermodynamic quantities through the use of the Euclidean action method. We find a Smarr-type formula and perform a stability analysis in the canonical ensemble. We find that the solution is thermally stable for small α, while for large α the system has an unstable phase, where α is a coupling constant between the scalar and matter field.     

Symmetries of WDVV equations

We say that a function F(τ) obeys WDVV equations, if for a given invertible symmetric matrix η^αβ and all , the expressions can be considered as structure constants of commutative associative algebra; the matrix η_αβ inverse to η^αβ determines an invariant scalar product on this algebra. A function x^α(z,τ) obeying is called a calibration of a solution of WDVV equations. We show that there exists an infinite-dimensional group acting on the space of calibrated solutions of WDVV equations (in different form such a group was constructed in [A. Givental, math.AG/0305409]). We describe the action of Lie algebra of this group.     

The effect of modified gravity on weak lensing

We study the effect of modified gravity on weak lensing in a class of scalar-tensor theory that includes f(R) gravity as a special case. These models are designed to satisfy local gravity constraints by having a large scalar-field mass in a region of high curvature. Matter density perturbations in these models are enhanced at small redshifts because of the presence of a coupling Q that characterizes the strength between dark energy and non-relativistic matter. We compute a convergence power spectrum of weak lensing numerically and show that the spectral index and the amplitude of the spectrum in the linear regime can be significantly modified compared to the ΛCDM model for large values of |Q| of the order of unity. Thus weak lensing provides a powerful tool to constrain such large coupling scalar-tensor models including f(R) gravity.     

A second-order phase transition in the complete graph stochastic epidemic model

A stochastic model for epidemic spread in a set of individuals placed upon the sites of a complete graph of relations is investigated. The model is defined by three parameters: the number of individuals or sites, N, the probability that an infected site transmits the disease to a susceptible site, α, and the probability of recovery of infected sites, β, both referred to the unit of time.We show that this system evolves towards a, approximately Gaussian, stationary distribution of infected sites whose mean and variance can be analytically estimated. Also, we find that the average fraction of infected sites, x, is zero for transmission probabilities below the critical value α_c=1-e^-β/N and grows linearly with α for 0<α-α_c1. A sharp peak observed in Monte Carlo simulations of the variance of the number of infected sites as a function of α allows us to classify this dynamical phase transition as second order with x playing the role of an order parameter. Some consequences of this model to the dynamics of highly connected complex systems, such as the brain cortex, are also discussed.     

The Ising Model on a Quenched Ensemble of c=−5 Gravity Graphs

We study with Monte Carlo methods an ensemble of c=–5 gravity graphs, generated by coupling a conformal field theory with central charge c=–5 to two-dimensional quantum gravity. We measure the fractal properties of the ensemble, such as the string susceptibility exponent _s and the intrinsic fractal dimension d _H. We find _s=–1.5(1) and d _H=3.36(4), in reasonable agreement with theoretical predictions. In addition, we study the critical behavior of an Ising model on a quenched ensemble of the c=–5 graphs and show that it agrees, within numerical accuracy, with theoretical predictions for the critical behavior of an Ising model coupled dynamically to two-dimensional quantum gravity, with a total central charge of the matter sector c=–5.     

Families of commuting transfer matrices and integrable models with disorder

A family of commuting transfer matrices is shown to be associated to each symmetry transformation of a given Yang-Baxter algebra. This applies in lattices models and field theory.The Yang-Baxter algebra remains unchanged when an arbitrary parameter μ_l is associated to each lattice site. We generate in this way integrable one-dimensional hamiltonians with long-range couplings and disorder given by the <{;μ₁<};. These operators are lattice versions of the non-local charges in sigma models. As a simple example we get a Dzialozhinski-Moriya interaction with an arbitrary coupling per site from the six-vertex model. A similar model with a disordered magnetic field follows too. Their exact solution by an algebraic Bethe ansatz is presented. We derive the excitations spectrum in terms of the density of parameters (μ).As another application, the total spin S² is computed for a XXZ Heisenberg chain (μ_l ≡ 0) as a function of the anisotropy Δ (− ∞ < Δ < + ∞).     

Mean Field Magnetic Phase Diagrams for the Two Dimensional <Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis> — <Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>′ — <Emphasis Type="Italic">U</Emphasis> Hubbard Model

We study the ground state phase diagram of the two dimensional t — t′ — U Hubbard model concentrating on the competition between antiferro-, ferro-, and paramagnetism. It is known that unrestricted Hartree–Fock- and quantum Monte Carlo calculations for this model predict inhomogeneous states in large regions of the parameter space. Standard mean field theory, i.e., Hartree–Fock theory restricted to homogeneous states, fails to produce such inhomogeneous phases. We show that a generalization of the mean field method to the grand canonical ensemble circumvents this problem and predicts inhomogeneous states, represented by mixtures of homogeneous states, in large regions of the parameter space. We present phase diagrams which differ considerably from previous mean field results but are consistent with, and extend, results obtained with more sophisticated methods. PACS: 71.10.Fd, 05.70.Fh, 75.50.Ee     

A model to explain varying Λ, <Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis> and σ<Superscript>2</Superscript> simultaneously

Models with varying cosmic parameters, which were earlier regarded constant, are getting attention. However, different models are usually invoked to explain the evolution of different parameters. We argue that whatever physical process is responsible for the evolution of one parameter, should also be responsible for the evolution of others. This means that the different parameters are coupled together somehow. Based on this guiding principle, we investigate a Bianchi type I model with variable Λ and G, in which Λ, G and the shear parameter σ², all are coupled. It is interesting that the resulting model reduces to the FLRW model for large t with G approaching a constant.     

New Developments in the Eight Vertex Model II. Chains of Odd Length

We study the transfer matrix of the 8 vertex model with an odd number of lattice sites N. For systems at the root of unity pointsη=mK/L with m odd the transfer matrix is known to satisfy the famous ‘‘TQ’’ equation where Q(υ) is a specifically known matrix. We demonstrate that the location of the zeroes of this Q(υ) matrix is qualitatively different from the case of evenN and in particular they satisfy a previously unknown equation which is more general than what is often called ‘‘Bethe’s equation.’’ For the case of even m where no Q(υ) matrix is known we demonstrate that there are many states which are not obtained from the formalism of the SOS model but which do satisfy the TQ equation. The ground state for the particular case of η=2K/3 and N odd is investigated in detail.     

Looking at saturation effects with production in pA collisions

We compute the inclusive differential cross section production of the pseudo-scalar meson η^′ in high-energy proton-nucleus (pA) collisions. We use an effective coupling between gluons and η^′ meson to derive a reduction formula that relates the η^′ production to a field-strength tensor correlator. We take into account saturation effects on the nucleus side by using the Color Glass Condensate formalism to evaluate this correlator. We derive new results for Wilson line - color charges correlators in the McLerran-Venugopalan model needed in the computation of η^′ production. The unintegrated parton distribution functions are used to characterize the gluon distribution inside the proton. We show that the cross section is sensitive to saturation effects so it can be utilized to estimate the value of the saturation scale.     

Multi-Trace Superpotentials vs. Matrix Models

We consider ᵊ9=1 supersymmetric U(N) field theories in four dimensions with adjoint chiral matter and a multi-trace tree-level superpotential. We show that the computation of the effective action as a function of the glueball superfield localizes to computing matrix integrals. Unlike the single-trace case, holomorphy and symmetries do not forbid non-planar contributions. Nevertheless, only a special subset of the planar diagrams contributes to the exact result. In addition, the computation of the superpotential localizes to doing matrix integrals. In view of the results of Dijkgraaf and Vafa for single-trace theories, one might have naively expected that these matrix integrals are related to the free energy of a multi-trace matrix model. We explain why this naive identification does not work. Rather, an auxiliary single-trace matrix model with additional singlet fields can be used to exactly compute the field theory superpotential. Along the way we also describe a general technique for computing the large-N limits of multi-trace Matrix models and raise the challenge of finding the field theories whose effective actions they may compute. Since our models can be treated as ᵊ9=1 deformations of pure ᵊ9=2 gauge theory, we show that the effective superpotential that we compute also follows from the ᵊ9=2 Seiberg-Witten solution. Finally, we observe an interesting connection between multi-trace local theories and non-local field theory.     

Differentiating the Absolutely Continuous Invariant Measure of an Interval Map <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis> with Respect to <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>

Let the map f:[−1,1]→[−1,1] have a.c.i.m. ρ (absolutely continuous f-invariant measure with respect to Lebesgue). Let δρ be the change of ρ corresponding to a perturbation X=δf○f⁻¹ of f. Formally we have, for differentiable A,but this expression does not converge in general. For f real-analytic and Markovian in the sense of covering (−1,1) m times, and assuming an analytic expanding condition, we show thatis meromorphic in C, and has no pole at λ=1. We can thus formally write δρ(A)=Ψ(1).     

Investigation of Critical Properties of a MnF<Subscript>2</Subscript> Antiferromagnet Model by the Monte Carlo Methods

The Wolf highly efficient single-cluster algorithm of the Monte Carlo method is used to investigate the critical static properties of a MnF ₂ antiferromagnet model. The Wolf single-cluster algorithm is modified to investigate complex magnet models in which the uniaxial anisotropy is taken into account together with the exchange interaction. All main critical static parameters of the system are calculated, including the critical exponents of heat capacity α, magnetization β, and susceptibility γ, the Fisher index η, and the correlation length ν.__________Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 2, pp. 53–58, February, 2005.     

Hartree–Fock versus quantum Monte Carlo study of persistent current in a one-dimensional ring with single scatterer

We calculate the persistent current of interacting spinless electrons in a one-dimensional ring containing a single δ barrier. We use the self-consistent Hartree–Fock method and the quantum Monte Carlo method which gives fully correlated solutions. Our Hartree–Fock method treats the non-local Fock term in a local approximation and also exactly (if the ring is not too large). Treating the Fock term exactly we attempt to support our previous Hartree–Fock result obtained in the local approximation, in particular the persistent current behaving like I∝L^-1-α, where L is the ring length and α>0 is the power depending only on the electron–electron interaction. Finally, we use the Hartree–Fock solutions as an input for our quantum Monte Carlo calculation. The Monte Carlo results exhibit only small quantitative differences from the Hartree–Fock results.     

Holographic Ricci dark energy in Randall–Sundrum braneworld: Avoidance of big rip and steady state future

In the holographic Ricci dark energy (RDE) model, the parameter α plays an important role in determining the evolutionary behavior of the dark energy. When α<1/2, the RDE will exhibit a quintom feature, i.e., the equation of state of dark energy will evolve across the cosmological constant boundary w=−1. Observations show that the parameter α is indeed smaller than 1/2, so the late-time evolution of RDE will be really like a phantom energy. Therefore, it seems that the big rip is inevitable in this model. On the other hand, the big rip is actually inconsistent with the theoretical framework of the holographic model of dark energy. To avoid the big rip, we appeal to the extra dimension physics. In this Letter, we investigate the cosmological evolution of the RDE in the braneworld cosmology. It is of interest to find that for the far future evolution of RDE in a Randall–Sundrum braneworld, there is an attractor solution where the steady state (de Sitter) finale occurs, in stead of the big rip.     

On separation of phases in one-dimensional gases

We prove that in a one-dimensional gas in the canonical ensemble with pair interactionA/r –B/r ², >2, we have a separation of phases at sufficiently low temperatures. The same combinatorial framework can be used for both lattice and continuous models. A rather precise bound on the critical temperature in a 1/r ² lattice gas is obtained when the nearest neighbour coupling is large. The interface between the two phases is defined and investigated.     

Nonlinear kinematic response of premixed flames to harmonic velocity disturbances

This paper analyzes the nonlinear dynamics of premixed flames responding to harmonic velocity disturbances. These nonlinear dynamics were studied by solving a constant flame speed front tracking equation for the flame’s response to harmonically oscillating velocity disturbances. The solution to these equations is used to quantify the transfer function relating the ratio of the normalized flame area to velocity fluctuations, G = (A′/A_o)/(u′/u_o), upon the amplitude of velocity oscillations, ε = u′/u_o. Due to nonlinearities, the amplitude of this transfer function relative to its linear value decreases with increasing amplitude of velocity oscillation, u′/u_o. In contrast, the transfer function phase exhibits almost no amplitude dependence. The velocity amplitude where transfer function nonlinearities become significant depends strongly upon three parameters: a Strouhal number, St = ωL_f/u_o (where L_f is the flame length), the ratio of the flame length to width, β = L_f/R, and the flame shape in the absence of perturbations (i.e., conical, inverted wedge, etc.). In the linear case, the transfer function, G, depends only upon an algebraic combination of the first two parameters, given by St₂ = St (1 + β²)/β². In general, however, G exhibits a distinct dependence upon both parameters St and β. In particular, we show that the nonlinear response of G is an intrinsically dynamic phenomenon; i.e., its quasi-steady response (St 1) is purely linear. As such, nonlinearity is enhanced with increasing Strouhal numbers. In contrast, nonlinearity is suppressed at large β values; as such, the response of a long flame remains quite similar to its linear value, even at large ε values where the flame front exhibits substantial corrugation and cusping. Finally, we show that the response of conical flames remains much more linear at comparable disturbance amplitudes than for “V” or wedge-shaped flames. These predictions are shown to be consistent with available experimental data.     

The 2D {P} Spin-Echo-Difference Constant-Time [C, H]-HMQC Experiment for Simultaneous Determination of JH3′P and JC4′P in C-Labeled Nucleic Acids and Their Protein Complexes

A two-dimensional {³¹P} spin-echo-difference constant-time [¹³C, ¹H]-HMQC experiment (2D {³¹P}-sedct-[¹³C, ¹H]-HMQC) is introduced for measurements of ³J_C4′P and ³J_H3′P scalar couplings in large ¹³C-labeled nucleic acids and in DNA–protein complexes. This experiment makes use of the fact that ¹H–¹³C multiple-quantum coherences in macromolecules relax more slowly than the corresponding ¹³C single-quantum coherences. ³J_C4′P and ³J_H3′P are related via Karplus-type functions with the phosphodiester torsion angles β and ε, respectively, and their experimental assessment therefore contributes to further improved quality of NMR solution structures. Data are presented for a uniformly ¹³C, ¹⁵N-labeled 14-base-pair DNA duplex, both free in solution and in a 17-kDa protein–DNA complex.