Simulating Dirac fermions with Abelian and non-Abelian gauge fields in optical lattices

In this work we present an optical lattice setup to realize a full Dirac Hamiltonian in 2+1 dimensions. We show how all possible external potentials coupled to the Dirac field can arise from perturbations of the existing couplings of the honeycomb lattice pattern. This greatly simplifies the proposed implementations, requiring only spatial modulations of the intensity of the laser beams to induce complex non-Abelian potentials. We finally suggest several experiments to observe the properties of the quantum field theory in the setup.     

Abelian gauge glasses

Gauge glasses are lattice gauge theories with quenched random couplings; in this paper, the two simplest abelian models, having Z₂ and U(1) gauge symmetries respectively, are constructed. An important extension of gauge invariance is defined and the disorder invariant under this symmetry, the frustration, is identified. Simple energetic properties of frustrations are derived using duality arguments. The question of the existence of a weakly coupled glassy phase is raised, and then addressed using replica mean field theory and real-space renormalisation group techniques, both in the context of the Z₂ model. A phase transition is found for dimension six and above. The implications for random dynamics are discussed.     

Static finite-energy solutions of gauge fields with separated radial variable

For arbitrary compact gauge group G and real representations of the Higgs fields, we seek static finite-energy solutions for which the radial dependence of the fields is factorized. We find that the gauge fields vanish outside a fixed SO(3) subgroup of G, and that inside SO(3) they reduce to the 't Hooft-Polyakov solution with unit magnetic charge. The Higgs fields may belong to any integer representation of this SO(3).     

Inverse scattering method and soliton solutionfamily for the Einstein--Maxwell theory with multiple Abelian gauge fields

A Hauser-Ernst-type extended hyperbolic complex linear system given in our previous paper [Gao Y J 2004 Chin. Phys. 13 602] is slightly modified and used to develop a new inverse scattering method for the stationary axisymmetric Einstein-Maxwell theory with multiple Abelian gauge fields. The reduction procedures in this inverse scattering method are found to be fairly simple, which makes the inverse scattering method be fine and effective in practical application. As an example, a concrete family of soliton solutions for the considered theory is obtained.     

New infinite-dimensional symmetry groups for the stationary axisymmetric Einstein--Maxwell equations with multiple Abelian gauge fields

The so-called extended hyperbolic complex (EHC) function method is used to study further the stationary axisymmetric Einstein--Maxwell theory with $p$ Abelian gauge fields (EM-$p$ theory, for short). Two EHC structural Riemann--Hilbert (RH) transformations are constructed and are then shown to give an infinite-dimensional symmetry group of the EM-$p$ theory. This symmetry group is verified to have the structure of semidirect product of Kac--Moody group $\widehat{SU(p+1,1)}$ and Virasoro group. Moreover, the infinitesimal forms of these two RH transformations are calculated and found to give exactly the same infinitesimal transformations as in previous author's paper by a different scheme. This demonstrates that the results obtained in the present paper provide some exponentiations of all the infinitesimal symmetry transformations obtained before.     

Optical Abelian lattice gauge theories

We discuss a general framework for the realization of a family of Abelian lattice gauge theories, i.e., link models or gauge magnets, in optical lattices. We analyze the properties of these models that make them suitable for quantum simulations. Within this class, we study in detail the phases of a U(1)$U\left(1\right)$-invariant lattice gauge theory in 2+1$2+1$ dimensions, originally proposed by P. Orland. By using exact diagonalization, we extract the low-energy states for small lattices, up to 4×4$4\times 4$. We confirm that the model has two phases, with the confined entangled one characterized by strings wrapping around the whole lattice. We explain how to study larger lattices by using either tensor network techniques or digital quantum simulations with Rydberg atoms loaded in optical lattices, where we discuss in detail a protocol for the preparation of the ground-state. We propose two key experimental tests that can be used as smoking gun of the proper implementation of a gauge theory in optical lattices. These tests consist in verifying the absence of spontaneous (gauge) symmetry breaking of the ground-state and the presence of charge confinement. We also comment on the relation between standard compact U(1)$U\left(1\right)$ lattice gauge theory and the model considered in this paper.     

Domain wall depinning in random media by ac fields

The viscous motion of an interface driven by an ac external field of frequency omega(0) in a random medium is considered here in the nonadiabatic regime. The velocity exhibits a smeared depinning transition showing a double hysteresis which is absent in the adiabatic case omega(0)-->0. Using scaling arguments and an approximate renormalization group calculation we explain the main characteristics of the hysteresis loop. In the low frequency limit these can be expressed in terms of the depinning threshold and the critical exponents of the adiabatic case.     

Abelian gauge theories on homogeneous spaces

An algebraic technique of separation of gauge modes in Abelian gauge theories on homogeneous spaces is proposed. An effective potential for the Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory on S ³ is calculated. A generalization of the Chern-Simons action is suggested and analyzed with the example of SU(3)/U(1) X U(1).     

Entanglement entropy in Abelian gauge theories

The definition of geometric entanglement entropy associated with some region in space is discussed for the case of gauge theories. It is argued that since in gauge theories elementary excitations look like loops (closed electric strings) rather than points (particles), the boundaries of the regions should also carry some nonzero entropy. This entropy counts the number of strings which cross these boundaries. Explicit calculations of such entropy are carried out in the limits of infinitely strong and weak couplings of three- and four-dimensional Z _N gauge theories. In three dimensions we find that the entropy is a constant which does not depend on the region, while in four dimensions the familiar area law for the entropy is recovered.     

Lorentz-invariant renormalizability of an Abelian gauge theory

Lorentz-invariant renormalizability is proved for an Abelian gauge theory in a certain class of Lorentz-invariant gauges.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 4, pp. 70–74, April, 1981.     

SU(3) gauge fields and spinors: Classical solutions

Classical solutions are obtained for SU(3) gauge fields coupled to spinor octets and triplets.     

Non-self-dual gauge fields

The Ward construction is generalized to non-self-dual gauge fields. Reality and currentless conditions are specified.