The analysis of space–time structure in QCD vacuum II: Dynamics of polarization and absolute X-distribution

We propose a framework for quantitative evaluation of dynamical tendency for polarization in an arbitrary random variable that can be decomposed into a pair of orthogonal subspaces. The method uses measures based on comparisons of given dynamics to its counterpart with statistically independent components. The formalism of previously considered X-distributions is used to express the aforementioned comparisons, in effect putting the former approach on solid footing. Our analysis leads to the definition of a suitable correlation coefficient with clear statistical meaning. We apply the method to the dynamics induced by pure-glue lattice QCD in local left–right components of overlap Dirac eigenmodes. It is found that, in finite physical volume, there exists a non-zero physical scale in the spectrum of eigenvalues such that eigenmodes at smaller (fixed) eigenvalues exhibit convex X-distribution (positive correlation), while at larger eigenvalues the distribution is concave (negative correlation). This chiral polarization scale thus separates a regime where dynamics enhances chirality relative to statistical independence from a regime where it suppresses it, and gives an objective definition to the notion of “low” and “high” Dirac eigenmode. We propose to investigate whether the polarization scale remains non-zero in the infinite volume limit, in which case it would represent a new kind of low energy scale in QCD.     

Infrared gluon and ghost propagators from lattice QCD

We report on the infrared limit of the quenched lattice Landau gauge gluon and ghost propagators as well as the strong-coupling constant computed from large asymmetric lattices. The infrared lattice propagators are compared with the pure power law solutions from Dyson-Schwinger equations (DSE). For the gluon propagator, the lattice data is compatible with the DSE solution. The preferred measured gluon exponent being ∼0.52, favouring a vanishing propagator at zero momentum. The lattice ghost propagator shows finite-volume effects and, for the volumes considered, the propagator does not follow a pure power law. Furthermore, the strong-coupling constant is computed and its infrared behaviour investigated.     

Quantitative comparison of filtering methods in lattice QCD

We systematically compare filtering methods used to extract topological excitations (like instantons, calorons, monopoles and vortices) from lattice gauge configurations, namely APE-smearing and spectral decompositions based on lattice Dirac and Laplace operators. Each of these techniques introduces ambiguities, which can invalidate the interpretation of the results. We show, however, that all these methods, when handled with care, reveal very similar topological structures. Hence, these common structures are free of ambiguities and faithfully represent infrared degrees of freedom in the QCD vacuum. As an application we discuss an interesting power law for the clusters of filtered topological charge.     

The hadron spectrum from lattice QCD

Determining the hadron spectrum and hadron properties beyond the ground states is a challenge in lattice QCD. Most of these results have been in the quenched approximation but now we are entering the dynamical era. I review some of the ideas and methods of the lattice approach, concentrating on a few examples and on results obtained for Chirally Improved (CI) fermions.     

Hadron structure on the lattice and in the continuum

Hadron structure physics has in recent years reached a level of precision which allows for a change of perspective. Model-based arguments are often quite unreliable. However, meanwhile they can be more and more replaced by controlled and systematic QCD approaches. The story of the strange electric form factor, which provided much of the motivation for the PAVI Conference series provides a typical example to illustrate this statement. However, high-precision theory is technically very challenging and progress is, therefore, unpleasantly slow. This fact and the present status in general is illustrated by a few typical examples.     

Quark masses,the Dashen phase,and gauge field topology

The CP violating Dashen phase in QCD is predicted by chiral perturbation theory to occur when the up–down quark mass difference becomes sufficiently large at fixed down-quark mass. Before reaching this phase, all physical hadronic masses and scattering amplitudes are expected to behave smoothly with the up-quark mass, even as this mass passes through zero. In Euclidean space, the topological susceptibility of the gauge fields is positive at positive quark masses but diverges to negative infinity as the Dashen phase is approached. A zero in this susceptibility provides a tentative signal for the point where the mass of the up quark vanishes. I discuss potential ambiguities with this determination.     

Optimized Rayleigh–Schrödinger expansion of the effective potential

An optimized Rayleigh–Schrödinger expansion scheme of solving the functional Schrödinger equation with an external source is proposed to calculate the effective potential beyond the Gaussian approximation. For a scalar field theory whose potential function has a Fourier representation in a sense of tempered distributions, we obtain the effective potential up to the second order, and show that the first-order result is just the Gaussian effective potential. Its application to the λφ⁴ field theory yields the same post-Gaussian effective potential as obtained in the functional integral formalism.     

Evaluating results from the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider with perturbative QCD and hydrodynamics

We review the basic concepts of perturbative quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and relativistic hydrodynamics, and their applications to hadron production in high energy nuclear collisions. We discuss results from the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) in light of these theoretical approaches. Perturbative QCD and hydrodynamics together explain a large amount of experimental data gathered during the first decade of RHIC running, although some questions remain open. We focus primarily on practical aspects of the calculations, covering basic topics like perturbation theory, initial state nuclear effects, jet quenching models, ideal hydrodynamics, dissipative corrections, freeze-out and initial conditions. We conclude by comparing key results from RHIC to calculations.     

Spectrum of orientifold QCD in the strong coupling and hopping expansion approximation

We use the strong coupling and hopping parameter expansions to calculate the pion and rho meson masses for lattice Yang–Mills gauge theories with fermions in irreducible two-index representations, namely the adjoint, symmetric and antisymmetric. The results are found to be consistent with orientifold planar equivalence, and leading order 1/Nc$1/N_c$ corrections are calculated in the lattice phase. An estimate of the critical bare mass, for which the pion is massless, is obtained as a function of the bare coupling. A comparison to data from the two-flavour SU(2)$\mathit{SU}(2)$ theory with adjoint fermions gives evidence for a bulk phase transition at βc∼2${\beta }_c\sim 2$, separating a pure lattice phase from a phase smoothly connected to the continuum.     

Closed expressions for matrix elements of the trigonometric Pöschl-Teller potential

Analytical matrix elements of the xn (n>0) and m[tan(x)]m^′[cos(x)]dn/dxn operators are derived using the eigenfunctions of the symmetric trigonometric Pöschl-Teller potential. The closed formulas are written in terms of Gauss hypergeometric functions and could be used in variational calculations to describe vibrational energy levels associated with bending modes. Multiprecision computational packages are considered in order to obtain an arbitrary level of precision.     

Monte Carlo calculations of angular momentum projected many-body matrix elements in the Pairing Plus Quadrupole Model

We extend the recently presented formalism for Monte Carlo calculations of the partition function, for both even and odd particle number systems (Phys. Rev. C 59, 2500 (1999)), to the calculation of many-body matrix elements of the type <ψ| e ^{- βℋ}|ψ> where |ψ> is a many-body state with a definite angular momentum, parity, neutron and proton numbers. For large β such matrix elements are dominated by the lowest eigenstate of the many-body Hamiltonian ℋ, corresponding with a given angular momentum parity and particle number. Emphasis is placed on odd-mass nuclei. Negligible sign fluctuations in the Monte Carlo calculation are found provided the neutron and proton chemical potentials are properly adjusted. The formalism is applied to the J ^π = 0⁺ state in ¹⁶⁶ Er and to the J ^π = 9/2^-, 13/2⁺, 5/2^- states in ¹⁶⁵ Er using the pairing-plus-quadrupole model. Received: 28 April 2000 / Accepted: 20 September 2000     

Hadron spectroscopy and structure from AdS/CFT

The AdS/CFT correspondence between conformal field theory and string states in an extended space-time has provided new insights into not only hadron spectra, but also their light-front wave functions. We show that there is an exact correspondence between the fifth-dimensional coordinate of anti-de Sitter space z and a specific impact variable ζ which measures the separation of the constituents within the hadron in ordinary space-time. This connection allows one to predict the form of the light-front wave functions of mesons and baryons, the fundamental entities which encode hadron properties and scattering amplitudes. A new relativistic Schr?dinger light-front equation is found which reproduces the results obtained using the fifth-dimensional theory. Since they are complete and orthonormal, the AdS/CFT model wave functions can be used as an initial ansatz for a variational treatment or as a basis for the diagonalization of the light-front QCD Hamiltonian. A number of applications of light-front wave functions are also discussed.     

Low- x QCD physics from RHIC and HERA to the LHC

We present a summary of the physics of gluon saturation and non-linear QCD evolution at small values of the parton momentum fraction x in the proton and nucleus in the context of recent experimental results at HERA and RHIC. The rich physics potential of low-x studies at the LHC, especially in the forward region, is discussed and some benchmark measurements in pp, pA and AA collisions are introduced.     

Deformed quantum double realization of the toric code and beyond

Quantum double models, such as the toric code, can be constructed from transfer matrices of lattice gauge theories with discrete gauge groups and parametrized by the center of the gauge group algebra and its dual. For general choices of these parameters the transfer matrix contains operators acting on links which can also be thought of as perturbations to the quantum double model driving it out of its topological phase and destroying the exact solvability of the quantum double model. We modify these transfer matrices with perturbations and extract exactly solvable models which remain in a quantum phase, thus nullifying the effect of the perturbation. The algebra of the modified vertex and plaquette operators now obey a deformed version of the quantum double algebra. The Abelian cases are shown to be in the quantum double phase whereas the non-Abelian phases are shown to be in a modified phase of the corresponding quantum double phase. These are illustrated with the groups Z_n${\mathbb{Z}}_n$ and S₃$S_3$. The quantum phases are determined by studying the excitations of these systems namely their fusion rules and the statistics. We then go further to construct a transfer matrix which contains the other Z₂${\mathbb{Z}}_2$ phase namely the double semion phase. More generally for other discrete groups these transfer matrices contain the twisted quantum double models. These transfer matrices can be thought of as being obtained by introducing extra parameters into the transfer matrix of lattice gauge theories. These parameters are central elements belonging to the tensor products of the algebra and its dual and are associated to vertices and volumes of the three dimensional lattice. As in the case of the lattice gauge theories we construct the operators creating the excitations in this case and study their braiding and fusion properties.     

Unveiling the Link Between Fractional Schrödinger Equation and Light Propagation in Honeycomb Lattice

We suggest a real physical system — the honeycomb lattice — as a possible realization of the fractional Schrödinger equation (FSE) system, through utilization of the Dirac‐Weyl equation (DWE). The fractional Laplacian in FSE causes modulation of the dispersion relation of the system, which becomes linear in the limiting case. In the honeycomb lattice, the dispersion relation is already linear around the Dirac point, suggesting a possible connection with the FSE, since both models can be reduced to the one described by the DWE. Thus, we propagate Gaussian beams in three ways: according to FSE, honeycomb lattice around the Dirac point, and DWE, to discover universal behavior — the conical diffraction. However, if an additional potential is brought into the system, the similarity in behavior is broken, because the added potential serves as a perturbation that breaks the translational periodicity of honeycomb lattice and destroys Dirac cones in the dispersion relation.     

Order parameters and boundary effects in U(1) lattice gauge theory

We show that, independently of the boundary conditions, the two phases of the 4-dimensional compact U(1) lattice gauge theory can be characterized by the presence or absence of an “infinite” current network, with an appropriate definition of “infinite” network takes values 0 or 1 in the cold and hot phase, respectively. It thus constitutes a very efficient order parameter, which allows one to determine the transition region at low computational cost. In addition, for open and fixed boundary conditions we address the question of the impact of inhomogeneities and give examples of the reappearance of an energy gap already at moderate lattice sizes.     

Monte Carlo studies with the ST-100 array processor

Monte Carlo simulations with the 100 Mflop ST-100 array processor are described. The architecture of the array processor and its applicability to large-scale numerical simulations is discussed. Results are presented for the Abelian Higgs model, a charge density wave transition in a quasi-one-dimensional system and the finite temperature phase transition inSU(3) lattice gauge theory.     

Contact value relations and density functional theory for the electrical double layer

The recently developed contact-corrected density functional theory is applied to an electric double layer containing a valence and size symmetric electrolyte. The restricted primitive model is used to describe the electrolyte, and a non-polarisable, smooth, planar, uniformly charged hard surface is used to model the electrode. Comparison with Monte Carlo simulation results for this system shows that the theory satisfies the first contact value relation in line with the premise of the approach. Additionally, the theory is found to satisfy the semi-empirical second contact value relation quite closely. This is a welcome result, since no reference is made to this second relation nor is the relation used in the theoretical development. The second contact relation is closely related to the anomalous positive temperature derivative of the double layer capacitance at low temperature, low ion concentration, and low electrode charge, and indeed, the contact-corrected density functional theory predicts this effect.