The effective potential in three-dimensional O(N) models

We consider the effective potential in three-dimensional models with O(N) symmetry. For generic values of N, and in particular for the physically interesting cases N = 0, 1, 2, 3, we determine the six-point and eight-point renormalized coupling constants which parametrize its small-field expansion. These estimates are obtained from the analysis of their ϵ-expansion, taking into account the exact results in one and zero dimensions, and, for the Ising model (i.e. N = 1), the accurate high-temperature estimates in two dimensions. They are compared with the available results from other approaches. We also obtain corresponding estimates for the two-dimensional O(N) models.     

Comparing O(N) and SU(N) × SU(N) spin systems in 1 + 1 dimensions to SU(N) gauge theories in 3 + 1 dimensions

We have computed the scale breaking Λ parameters of the euclidean and hamiltonian formulations of the lattice regulated O(N) and SU(N) × SU(N) spin systems in 1 + 1 dimensions in terms of the Λ_PV parameters of the Pauli-Villars regulated continuum models. Using lattice perturbation theory, the renormalized mass gap has been determined in terms of Λ_PV for each model. These results are compared to analogous calculations in SU(N) gauge theories.     

Field Equations in Quantum Electrodynamics

A formulation of quantum electrodynamics is presented, based on finite local field equations. These Dirac and Maxwell equations have the usual form except that the current operators f(x) and j^μ (x) are explicitly expressed as local limits of sums of non-local field products and suitable subtraction terms. These limits are shown to exist and to yield finite operators in the sense that the iterative solutions to the field equations are equivalent to conventional renormalized perturbation theory. The various invariance properties of the theory, including Lorentz invariance, gauge invariance, charge conjugation invariance, and renormalization invariance, are discussed and related directly to the field equations and current definitions. Initially only the general forms of the currents, based on dimensional arguments, are given. The electric current, for example, contains the (suitably defined) term :A³(x) :.The corresponding field equations are used to derive renormalized Dyson-Schwinger-type integral equations for the renormalized proper part functions ∑, II^μν, Λ^μ, and X^αβγδ (the four-photon vertex function), etc. Application of the boundary conditions ∑(p̀ = m) = ∑′(p̀ = m) = II(O) = II′(O) = II″(O) = Λ(p̀ = m, o) = X(O, O, O, O) = O completely specifies the current operators. Consistency is established by deriving the same equations from rigorous renormalization theory so that their iterative solutions are proved to reproduce the correct renormalized perturbation expansion. The electric current operator is exhibited in a manifestly gauge invariant form and in a form which is manifestly negative under charge conjugation. It is shown, in fact, that much of j^μ (x) can be determined directly from the requirements of gauge invariance and charge conjugation covariance, without recourse to the integral equations. It is suggested that equal time commutation relations can serve to similarly specify the rest of the current.     

Continuum limit of finite temperature λφ3 from lattice Monte Carlo

The φ₃⁴ model at finite temperature is simulated on the lattice. For fixed N_t we compute the transition line for N_s → ∞ by means of finite size scaling techniques. The crossings of a renormalization group trajectory with the transition lines of increasing N_t give a well-defined limit for the critical temperature in the continuum. By considering different RG trajectories, we compute T^c/g as a function of the renormalized parameters.     

Superconducting State in the Lagrangian Formalism of the Generalized Hubbard Model

The nonperturbative large-N expansion applied to the generalized Hubbard model describing N-fold-degenerate correlated bands is considered. Our previous results, obtained in the framework of the Lagrangian formalism for the normal-state case, are extended to the superconducting state. The standard Feynman diagrammatics is obtained and the renormalized physical quantities are computed and analyzed. Our purpose is to obtain the 1/N corrections to the renormalized boson and fermion propagators when a state with Cooper-pair condensation (i.e., the superconducting state) is considered.     

Index theorems and supersymmetry in the soliton sector: (II). Magnetic monopoles in 3+1 dimensions

For supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories with Bogomolny-Prasad-Sommerfield monopoles, we use an open-space trace theorem on $\text{R}{}^3$ to calculate the O(?) correction to the monopole mass. For the N = 2 theory, the unrenormalized mass correction is non-vanishing (and divergent). To the same order, we calculate the quantum corrections to the central charges, and demonstrate explicitly that the Bogomolny bound is saturated. We also show that the mass correction for the N = 4 theory vanishes to O(?). Finally we discuss the renormalization of the mass correction for the N = 2 theory. This requires the parameters of the theory to be renormalized in the monopole background-field gauge, although there is no simple way known to do this. We exhibit calculations in standard gauges to show explicitly that they give gauge-dependent answers. Physical arguments based on the Dirac quantization condition suggest that the renormalized mass correction vanishes.     

On the one-link integrals over compact groups

For O(N), U(N) and SU(N) groups, we study the weak coupling behaviour of the one-link integrals using their Schwinger-Dyson equations. Special attention is paid to the perturbative corrections to the large N limit. In the case of unitary groups, the 1/N ² correction is obtained explicitly.     

Scale transformations for renormalized field operators: Discussion of the soluble model

We discuss the operator formulation of the Zachariasen-Thirring model, describing the chain approximation to the propagator (the sum of three-particle massless bubbles) in massless λ⁴ theory. Such a model is formally scale-invariant and explicitly soluble. All intermediate steps of conventional renormalization procedure, regularization, introduction of appropriate counterterms, and cut-off free limit, are explicitly performed. In every step the scaling properties are discussed and respective dilatation currents are written down. After the proper choice of scale transformations for the renormalized field operator, we obtain the nonlocal dilatation current, defining the renormalized dilatation generator D_Λ^R(t). In the cut-off free limit Λ → ∞ the ET commutator of D_Λ^R(t) with renormalized field operators reproduces the Callan-Symanzik modification of “naive” canonical scale transformations. The renormalized scale transformations coincide in the cut-off free limit with renormalized dimensional transformations and define the exact symmetry of the renormalized theory.     

New Spin Generalisation for Long Range Interaction Models

We study new interactions between degrees of freedom for Calogero, Sutherland and confined Calogero spin models. These interactions are encoded by the generators of the Lie algebra so(N) or sp(N). We find the symmetry algebras of these new models: the half-loop algebra based on so(N) or sp(N) for the Calogero models and the Yangian of so(N) or sp(N) for the two types of other models. Surprisingly, these symmetry occur only for a specific value of the coupling constant.Dedicated to my PhD supervisor and friend D. Arnaudon.     

The W N Minimal Model Classification

We first rigourously establish, for any N ≥ 2, that the toroidal modular invariant partition functions for the (not necessarily unitary) W _N (p, q) minimal models biject onto a well-defined subset of those of the SU(N) × SU(N) Wess-Zumino-Witten theories at level (p − N, q − N). This permits considerable simplifications to the proof of the Cappelli-Itzykson-Zuber classification of Virasoro minimal models. More important, we obtain from this the complete classification of all modular invariants for the W ₃(p, q) minimal models. All should be realised by rational conformal field theories. Previously, only those for the unitary models, i.e. W ₃(p, p + 1), were classified. For all N our correspondence yields for free an extensive list of W _N (p, q) modular invariants. The W ₃ modular invariants, like the Virasoro minimal models, all factorise into SU(3) modular invariants, but this fails in general for larger N. We also classify the SU(3) × SU(3) modular invariants, and find there a new infinite series of exceptionals.     

Lagrangian for the t–J Model Constructed from the Generators of the Supersymmetric Hubbard Algebra

In order to describe the dynamics of the t–J model, two different families of first-order Lagrangians in terms of the generators of the Hubbard algebra are found. Such families correspond to different dynamical second-class constrained systems. The quantization is carried out by using the path-integral formalism. In this context the introduction of proper ghost fields is needed to render the model renormalizable. In each case the standard Feynman diagrammatics is obtained and the renormalized physical quantities are computed and analyzed. In the first case a nonperturbative large-N expansion is considered with the purpose of studying the generalized Hubbard model describing N-fold-degenerate correlated bands. In this case the 1/N correction to the renormalized boson propagator is computed. In the second case the perturbative Lagrangian formalism is developed and it is shown how propagators and vertices can be renormalized to each order. In particular, the renormalized ferromagnetic magnon propagator coming from our formalism is studied in details. As an example the thermal softening of the magnon frequency is computed. The antiferromagnetic case is also analyzed, and the results are confronted with previous one obtained by means of the spin-polaron theories.     

Finiteness of Ricci flatN=2 supersymmetric σ-models

We study the ultraviolet behavior of two dimensional supersymmetric non-linear -models with target space an arbitrary Kähler manifoldM, so that the models areN=2 supersymmetric. We point out that these models have an additional fermionic axial symmetry if and only if the metric onM is Ricci flat. We show that the preservation of this symmetry in perturbation theory implies that both bare and renormalized metrics onM are Ricci flat. Combining this result with the constraint ofN=2 supersymmetry requiring that all counter-terms to the metric beyond one-loop order be cohomologically trivial, we argue thatN=2 models defined on Ricci flat Kähler manifolds are on-shell ultraviolet finite to all orders of perturbation theory.     

Regge couplings and intercepts from the planar dual bootstrap

Planar unitarization of dual models is examined in terms of renormalized diagrams. The shift of the Reggeon intercept 1 ? α(0) and the renormalized coupling $\text{g}{}^2\text{N}\text{16π}$ are both expected of order unity in a model with SU(N) Chan-Paton factors. In four space-time dimensions Regge behaviour makes the shift of the dual photon mass reminiscent of Schwinger's mechanism.     

Large N expansion for strongly-coupled boson–fermion mixtures

We study a many-body mixture of an equal number of bosons and two-component fermions with a strong contact attraction. In this system bosons and fermions can be paired into composite fermions. We construct a large N extension where both bosons and fermions have the extra large N degrees of freedom and the boson–fermion interaction is extended to a four-point contact interaction which is invariant under the O(N) group transformation, so that the composite fermions become singlet in terms of the O(N) group. It is shown that such O(N) singlet fields have controllable quantum fluctuations suppressed by 1/N factors and yield a systematic 1/N-expansion in terms of composite fermions. We derive an effective action described by composite fermions up to the next-to-leading-order terms in the large N expansion, and show that there can be the BCS superfluidity of composite fermions at sufficiently low temperatures.     

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.     

Classical and quantum algebras of non-local charges in σ models

We investigate the algebras of the non-local charges and their generating functionals (the monodromy matrices) in classical and quantum non-linear models. In the case of the classical chiral models it turns out that there exists no definition of the Poisson bracket of two monodromy matrices satisfying antisymmetry and the Jacobi identity. Thus, the classical non-local charges do not generate a Lie algebra. In the case of the quantum O(N) non-linear model, we explicitly determine the conserved quantum monodromy operator from a factorization principle together withP,T, and O(N) invariance. We give closed expressions for its matrix elements between asymptotic states in terms of the known two-particleS-matrix. The quantumR-matrix of the model is found. The quantum non-local charges obey a quadratic Lie algebra governed by a Yang-Baxter equation.Laboratoire associé au CNRS No. LA 280     

Absolute cross sections of electron attachment to molecular clusters. Part II: Formation of (H2O) N? , (N2O) N? , and (N2) N?

Absolute cross sections σ⁻(E, N) of electron attachment to clusters (H₂O) _N , (N₂O) _N , and (N₂) _N for varying electron energy E and cluster size N are measured by using crossed electron and cluster beams in a vacuum. Continua of σ⁻(E) are found that correlate well with the functions of electron impact excitation of molecules’ internal degrees of freedom. The electron is attached through its solvation in a cluster. In the formation of (H₂O) _N ⁻ , (N₂O) _N ⁻ , and (N₂) _N ⁻ , the curves σ⁻(N) have a well-defined threshold because of a rise in the electron thermalization and solvation probability with N. For (H₂O)₉₀₀, (N₂O)₃₅₀, and (N₂)₂₆₀ clusters at E = 0.2 eV, the energy losses by the slow electron in the cluster are estimated as 3.0 × 10⁷, 2.7 × 10⁷, and 6.0 × 10⁵ eV/m, respectively. It is found that the growth of σ⁻ with N is the fastest for (H₂O) _N and (N₂) _N clusters at E → 0 as a result of polarization capture of the s-electron. Specifically, at E = 0.1 eV and N = 260, σ⁻ = 3.0 × 10⁻¹³ cm² for H₂O clusters, 8.0 × 10⁻¹⁴ cm² for N₂O clusters, and 1.4 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm² for N₂ clusters; at E = 11 eV, σ⁻ = 9.0 × 10⁻¹⁶ cm² for (H₂O)₂₀₀ clusters, 2.4 × 10⁻¹⁴ cm² for (N₂O)₃₅₀ clusters, and 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm² for (N₂)₂₆₀ clusters; finally, at E = 30 eV, σ⁻ = 3.6 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm² for (N₂O)₁₀ clusters and 3.0 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm² for (N₂)₁₂₅ clusters. Original Russian Text ? A.A. Vostrikov, D.Yu. Dubov, 2006, published in Zhurnal Tekhnicheskoĭ Fiziki, 2006, Vol. 76, No. 12, pp. 1–15.     

Conformal invariance and surface critical behavior

Conformal invariance constrains the form of correlation functions near a free surface. In two dimensions, for a wide class of models, it completely determines the correlation functions at the critical point, and yields the exact values of the surface critical exponents. They are related to the bulk exponents in a non-trivial way. For the Q-state Potts model (0 Q 4) we find η_<|; = 2/(3v − 1), and for the O(N) model (−2 N 2), η_<|; = (2v − 1)/(4v − 1).     

Observation of 1D−1S forbidden optical emission of atomic oxygen in atmospheric-pressure N2/O2 plasma jet

We observed green optical emission from an atmospheric-pressure N₂/O₂ plasma jet. The green optical emission was composed of a line emission at λ = 557.71 ± 0.03 nm and a broadband component at 530 ≤ λ ≤ 560 nm . The line emission was assigned to the ¹D−¹S forbidden transition of atomic oxygen, whereas the broadband emission was due to the formation of O(¹S)N₂ excimer. We measured the absolute densities of O(¹S) and O(¹S)N₂ using a spectrograph with the absolute sensitivity calibration, and we discussed the kinetics in the green plasma jet on the basis of the absolute O(¹S) and O(¹S)N₂ densities. According to the rate coefficients and the transition probabilities reported in literature, the present experimental results are explained if the densities of and O(³P) are 9 × 10¹³ and 3 × 10¹³cm⁻³ , respectively.     

Large-N reduction in spin systems and Griffiths singularities

We apply the quenched Eguchi-Kawai reduction procedure to N-component spin models. We first recover the equivalence of the O(N) symmetric Heisenberg model with the spherical model at large N, and we extend it to the case where a quenched random external field is present. When the random field has a gaussian distribution, we show that Griffiths singularities disappear as N → ∞.