ZN Gauge theories on a lattice and quantum memory

In the present paper we shall study (2+1)-dimensional Z_N gauge theories on a lattice. It is shown that the gauge theories have two phases, one is a Higgs phase and the other is a confinement phase. We investigate low-energy excitation modes in the Higgs phase and clarify relationship between the Z_N gauge theories and Kitaev’s model for quantum memory and quantum computations. Then we study effects of random gauge couplings (RGC) which are identified with noise and errors in quantum computations by Kitaev’s model. By using a duality transformation, it is shown that time-independent RGC give no significant effects on the phase structure and the stability of quantum memory and computations. Then by using the replica methods, we study Z_N gauge theories with time-dependent RGC and show that nontrivial phase transitions occur by the RGC.     

Methods in hamiltonian lattice field theory (II). Linked-cluster expansions

The linked cluster series expansion proposed by Nickel is extended to the ground state and axial string tension of lattice gauge theory. Proofs of these expansions and applications to Z₂ and U(1) gauge theory in 2 + 1 dimensions are presented. We also propose a new finite cluster scaling method based on the linked-cluster expansion and test it against known results for Z₂ gauge theory. The utility of the method in studying more complicated lattice gauge theories is emphasized.     

D=1+2 phase diagram forZ N with a variational method

Trial ground state are constructed which forZ _N gauge theories inD=1+2 dimensions lead to phase diagrams which are in agreement both with theoretical expectations and Monte Carlo results. The nature of the phase transition is correctly predicted for eachN.     

Monte Carlo studies of SU(N)/ZN lattice gauge theories in four dimensions

Using Monte Carlo techniques on a four-dimensional space-time lattice, we study SU(N)/Z_N gauge theories for N = 3, 4, 5 and 6. We find first-order phase transitions at critical inverse temperatures of β_c = 6.40, 12.0, 19.5 and 32.0 and SU(3)/Z₃,SU(4)/Z₄,SU(5)/Z₅and SU (6)Z₆, respectively.     

Critical bubbles and fluctuations at the electroweak phase transition

We discuss the critical bubbles of the electroweak phase transition using an effective high-temperature 3-dimensional action for the Higgs field ϕ. The separate integration of gauge and Goldstone boson degrees of freedom is conveniently described in the 't Hooft-Feynman covariant background gauge. The effective dimensionless gauge coupling g3 (T) z in the broken phase is well behaved throughout the phase transition. However, the behavior of the one-loop Z(ϕ) factors of the Higgs and gauge kinetic terms signalizes the breakdown of the derivative expansion and of the perturbative expansion for a range of small ϕ values increasing with the Higgs mass m_H Taking a functional S_z [ϕ] with constant Z(ϕ) = z instead of the full non-local effective action in some neighborhood of the saddle point we are calculating the critical bubbles for several temperatures. The fluctuation determinant is calculated to high accuracy using a variant of the heat kernel method. It gives a strong suppression of the transition rate compared to previous estimates.     

Large dimensional lattice gauge theories: (I). Z2 pure gauge system

The transition pattern of lattice gauge theories can be stydied by a variational method based on strong coupling series. For large space-time dimension d, this leads to a 1/d expansion when the parameter βd is kept fixed. The first-order phase transition of the Z₂ pure gauge system is studied here.     

Dynamical supersymmetry breaking and gauge anomalies

Some aspects of supersymmetric gauge theories and discussed. It is shown that dynamical supersymmetry breaking does not occur in supersymmetric QED in higher dimensions. The cancellation of both local (perturbative) and global (non-perturbative) gauge anomalies are also discussed in supersymmetric gauge theories. We argue that there is no dynamical supersymmetry breaking in higher dimensions in any supersymmetric gauge theories free of gauge anomalies. It is also shown that for supersymmetric gauge theories in higher dimensions with a compact connected simple gauge group, when the local anomaly-free condition is satisfied, there can be at most a possibleZ ₂ global gauge anomaly in extended supersymmetricSO(10) (or spin (10)) gauge theories inD=10 dimensions containing additional Weyl fermions in a spinor representation ofSO(10) (or spin (10)). In four dimensions with local anomaly-free condition satisfied, the only possible global gauge anomalies in supersymmetric gauge theories areZ ₂ global gauge anomalies for extended supersymmetricSP(2N) (N=rank) gauge theories containing additional Weyl fermions in a representation ofSP(2N) with an odd 2nd-order Dynkin index.     

Strong coupling expansions for the mass gap in lattice gauge theories

We derive strong coupling expansions for the mass gap in euclidean lattice gauge theories in any space-time dimension. For gauge groups SU(2), SU(3), Z₂ and Z₃ the series are calculated up to order g^?16. They are used to get rough estimates for the lowest glueball mass in continuum SU(2) and SU(3) gauge theories, assuming a sudden crossover from strong to weak coupling behaviour in the lattice theory.     

The phase structure of SU(N)/Z(N) lattice gauge theories

The phase structure of pure SU(N)/Z(N) lattice gauge theories in four dimensions is discussed. The presence of ZN monopoles plausibly leads to a phase transition. A Monte Carlo simulation of SO(3) shows the presence of a very strong, may be first order, phase transition.     

A phase cell cluster expansion for Euclidean field theories

We adapt the cluster expansion first used to treat infrared problems for lattice models (a mass zero cluster expansion) to the usual field theory situation. The field is expanded in terms of special block spin functions and the cluster expansion given in terms of the expansion coefficients (phase cell variables); the cluster expansion expresses correlation functions in terms of contributions from finite coupled subsets of these variables. Most of the present work is carried through in d space time dimensions (for φ₂⁴ the details of the cluster expansion are pursued and convergence is proven). Thus most of the results in the present work will apply to a treatment of φ₃⁴ to which we hope to return in a succeeding paper. Of particular interest in this paper is a substitute for the stability of the vacuum bound appropriate to this cluster expansion (for d = 2 and d = 3), and a new method for performing estimates with tree graphs. The phase cell cluster expansions have the renormalization group incorporated intimately into their structure. We hope they will be useful ultimately in treating four dimensional field theories.     

Progress in lattice gauge theory

Two topics of lattice gauge theory are reviewed. They include string tension and β-function calculations by strong coupling Hamiltonian methods for SU(3) gauge fields in 3 + 1 dimensions, and a 1/N-expansion for discrete gauge and spin systems in all dimensions. The SU(3) calculations give solid evidence for the coexistence of quark confinement and asymptotic freedom in the renormalized continuum limit of the lattice theory. The crossover between weak and strong coupling behavior in the theory is seen to be a weak coupling but non-perturbative effect. Quantitative relationships between perturbative and non-perturbative renormalization schemes are obtained for the O(N) nonlinear sigma models in 1 + 1 dimensions as well as the range theory in 3 + 1 dimensions. Analysis of the strong coupling expansion of the β-function for gauge fields suggests that it has cuts in the complex 1/g²-plane. A toy model of such a cut structure which naturally explains the abruptness of the theory's crossover from weak to strong coupling is presented. The relation of these cuts to other approaches to gauge field dynamics is discussed briefly.The dynamics underlying first order phase transitions in a wide class of lattice gauge theories is exposed by considering a class of models-P(N) gauge theories - which are soluble in the N → ∞ limit and have non-trivial phase diagrams. The first order character of the phase transitions in Potts spin systems for N #62; 4 in 1 + 1 dimensions is explained in simple terms which generalizes to P(N) gauge systems in higher dimensions. The phase diagram of Ising lattice gauge theory coupled to matter fields is obtained in a $\text{1}\text{N}$ expansion. A one-plaquette model (1 time-0 space dimensions) with a first-order phase transitions in the N → ∞ limit is discussed.     

A disorder parameter that test for confinement in gauge theories with quark fields

We propose to use a suitably defined vortex free energy as a disorder parameter in gauge field theories with matter fields. It is supposed to distinguish between the confinement phase, massless phase(s) and Higgs phase where they exist. The matter fields may transform according to an arbitrary representation of the gauge group. We compute the vortex free energy by series expansion for a Z₂ Higgs model and for SU(2) lattice models with quark or Higgs fields in the fundamental representation at strong coupling (confinement phase), and for the Z₂ Higgs model in the range of validity of low-temperature expansions (Higgs phase). The results are in agreement with the expected behavior.     

On the roughening transition in abelian lattice gauge theories

We study the width of the confining string between static quarks in abelian lattice gauge theories using strong coupling expansions. We consider gauge groups Z_n and U(1) in 3 and 4 dimensions. This extends previous work with Lüscher, where SU(2) and Z₂ were studied. In ν = 3 dimensions we find evidence for a roughening transition. It is characterized by a divergence of the string width for an infinitely far separated quark-antiquark pair, while the string tension remains non-zero. In ν = 4 dimensions for the abelian groups we do not have evidence for a roughening transition away from a phase transition.     

Generalised actions for lattice gauge models

We consider simple modifications of the conventional Wilson action for lattice gauge theory. An SU(2) action is defined on “plaquettes” of 2×1 links. It is found to possess phase transitions in three- and four-dimensional realisations of the model. A similar model with gauge group Z(2) is also studied, and found to have two phases in three and four dimensions. We discuss the phase structure of Z(N) gauge models in four dimensions with several coupling constants and present phase diagrams for Z(4), Z(5) and Z(6).     

Deconfining and chiral phase transitions in quantum chromodynamics at finite temperature

We give further arguments to support the claim of Svetitsky and Yaffe that the finite-temperature transition in 4-dimensional SU(N) gauge theories is in the universality class of 3-dimensional Z_N spin models. We show that this implies a smoothing out of the transition when quarks are added to the system as long as N ≠ 3. For N = 3 the pure gauge transition is expected to be first order and will be smoothed by quarks only if the quark contribution to the internal energy is larger than the latent heat of transition.     

Some aspects of a unified approach to gauge,dual and Gribov theories

We consider quantum chromodynamics (QCD) with N_c colours and N_f flavours. Large N expansions for this theory are discussed and their advantages are pointed out, especially in relation to the possibility of unifying gauge, dual and Gribov theories of strong interactions. We first recall how the 1/N_c expansion of 't Hooft can be related to a dual loop expansion with a fixed coupling constant. We point out the necessity for quarkless (purely gluonic) bound states to appear and their importance in maintaining confinement at higher orders in 1/N_c. We show how non-orientable dual loops are reinterpreted in QCD and how a paradox appears when N_f is such that asymptotic freedom is lost. Some recent results of Cornwall and Tiktopoulos are analyzed in leading order in 1/N_c. We then introduce a 1/N expansion at ? ≡ N_f/N_c fixed and show how it is related to the hadronic topological expansion (TE). This allows an unambiguous definition of reggeon field theory concepts such as the bare pomeron and diffractive dissociation in QDC. We are able to relate the parameter ? to the clustering of hadronic final states into resonances. Decreasing ? corresponds to increasing cluster over gap size. Renormalization of the dual coupling constant as a function of ? is discussed and an apparent paradox is resolved. We are also able to shed some new light on the problem of f extinction in the TE.Finally, we compare our approach to other schemes trying to relate different aspects of hadron physics.     

Spontaneous symmetry breakings in Z2 gauge theories for doped quantum dimer and eight-vertex models

Behavior of doped fermions in Z₂ gauge theories for the quantum dimer and eight-vertex models is studied. Fermions carry charge and spin degrees of freedom. In the confinement phase of the Z₂ gauge theories, these internal symmetries are spontaneously broken and a superconducting or Neél state appears. On the other hand in the deconfinement-topologically ordered state, all symmetries are respected. From the view point of the quantum dimer and eight-vertex models, this result indicates interplay of the phase structure of the doped fermions and background configuration of the dimer or the eight-vertex groundstate. At the quantum phase transitions in these systems, structure of the doped fermions groundstate and also that of the background dimer or eight-vertex groundstate both change. Translational symmetry breaking induces a superconducting or antiferromagnetic state of the doped fermions.     

Correlation inequalities and quark confinement in lattice gauge theories

Some inequalities for the Wilson loop for Z₂ and U(N) lattice gauge theories are derived. They are used to show the area decay of the Wilson loop above a certain temperature. Possible use of such inequalities to prove the absence of a phase transition for the SU(2) case is discussed.     

Membrabe models and generalized Z2 gauge theories

We consider models of (d?n)-dimensional membranes fluctuating in a d-dimensional space under the action of surface tension. We investigate the renormalization properties of these models perturbatively and in $\text{1}\text{n}$ expansion. The potential relationships of these models to generalized Z₂ gauge theories are indicated.     

On the structure of generalized monopole solutions in gauge theories

A method is presented for constructing generalized 't Hooft monopole solutions in a gauge theory with an arbitrary gauge group. We derive restriction arising from the condition of finite energy. The radial oscillation of the solution is discussed. Using our method we reproduce all the SU(3) solutions known in the literature. Finite energy monopoles possessing magnetic charge in the range g₀?kg₀?(N?1)g₀ are found in SU(N) gauge theories. Different charge quantization conditions are analyzed to understand the structure of our solutions.