The Large N Limit from the Lattice

A numerical study of the string tension and of the masses of the lowest-lying glueballs is performed in SU(N) gauge theories for 2 ≤ N ≤ 8 in D = 3 + 1 and 2 ≤ N ≤ 6 in D = 2 + 1. It is shown that for the string tension a smooth N → ∞ limit exists that depends only on the ’t Hooft coupling λ = g²N. An extrapolation of the masses of the lightest glueballs to N = ∞ using a power series in 1/N² shows that the leading correction to the infinite N value accounts for finite N effects for N at least as small as 3 and all the way down to N = 2 in many cases. k-String tension ratios and possible issues connected with correlation functions at large N are also discussed.     

Retarded Propagator Representation of Out-of-Equilibrium Thermal Field Theories

We represent out of equilibrium thermal field theories with finite time path in terms of retarded propagators exclusively. For the particle number, defined as the equal time limit of the Keldysh propagator, the time ordering of the diagrams contributing is particularly simple: all external end-points of propagators have maximal time, there are no internal vertices with locally maximal time, the property which guaranties causality), there is, at least one “sink” vertex (vertex with locally minimal time). The diagram looks like fisher net hanging on external vertices. At the “sink” vertices energy is not conserved, thus establishing realisation of uncertainty relations in out of equilibrium TFT. Even more, at the equal-time limit, the terms conserving energy at “sink” vertices vanish. This fact eliminates pinching problem and enables safe time→∞ limit. The retarded propagator in higher orders is regularized only as a part of of the diagram connected to equal time limit of multi point Green function representing expectation value of the product of number operators. These properties indicate clear advantage of finite time path, in large time limit over the use of Keldysh time path.     

Relaxation of finite, closed systems

On a semi-finite W^*-algebra together with a faithful normal semi-finite trace τ and a one-parameter group of trace preserving ^*-automorphism α_t, we study the limit as t → ∞ of α^*_tψ of a normal state ψ. It is shown that the existence of this limit in the weak sense is determined by the spectral properties of the evolution operator. These results are specialized to finite classical and quantum mechanical systems.     

Double exchange models: self consistent renormalisation

We propose a scheme for constructing classical spin Hamiltonians from Hunds coupled spin-fermion models in the limit J_H/t →∞. The strong coupling between fermions and the core spins requires self-consistent calculation of the effective exchange in the model, either in the presence of inhomogeneities or with changing temperature. In this paper we establish the formalism and discuss results mainly on the “clean” double exchange model, with self consistently renormalised couplings, and compare our results with exact simulations. Our method allows access to system sizes much beyond the reach of exact simulations, and we can study transport and optical properties of the model without artificial broadening. The method discussed here forms the foundation of our papers [Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 246602 (2003), and Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 126602 (2004)].     

Extreme compression behaviour of equations of state

The extreme compression (P→∞) behaviour of various equations of state with K′_∞>0 yields (P/K)_∞=1/K′_∞, an algebraic identity found by Stacey. Here P is the pressure, K the bulk modulus, K^′=dK/dP, and K′_∞, the value of K^′ at P→∞. We use this result to demonstrate further that there exists an algebraic identity also between the higher pressure derivatives of bulk modulus which is satisfied at extreme compression by different types of equations of state such as the Birch–Murnaghan equation, Poirier–Tarantola logarithmic equation, generalized Rydberg equation, Keane's equation and the Stacey reciprocal K-primed equation. The identity has been used to find a relationship between λ_∞, the third-order Grüneisen parameter at P→∞, and pressure derivatives of bulk modulus with the help of the free-volume formulation without assuming any specific form of equation of state.     

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.     

Hamiltonian treatment of the spherically symmetric einstein-Yang-Mills system

A canonical formalism of the dynamics of interacting spherically symmetric Yang-Mills and gravitational fields is presented. The work is based on Dirac's technique for constrained hamiltonian systems. The gauge freedom of the Yang-Mills field is treated in the same footing with the coordinate transformation freedom of the gravitational field. In particular, the fixation of coordinates and the fixation of the internal gauge are achieved by totally similar techniques. Two classes of spherically symmetric motions are considered: (i) the class for which the Yang-Mills potentials themselves are spherically symmetric (“manifest spherical symmetry”). In this case the results are valid for an arbitrary gauge group; and (ii) the class for which, in the SO(3) gauge group, a rotation in physical space is compensated by a rotation of equal magnitude but opposite direction in isospin space (“spherical symmetry up to a gauge transformation”). For manifest spherical symmetry the problem amounts to effectively dealing with an abelian gauge group and the most general solution of the field equations turns out to be the Reissner-Nordström metric with a Coulomb field. For spherical symmetry up to a gauge transformation the problem is more interesting. the formalism contains then, besides the gravitational variables, three pairs of functions of the radial coordinate that describe the degrees of freedom of the Yang-Mills field. Two pairs of these functions can be combined into a complex field ψ and its conjugate. The hamiltonian is then invariant under r-dependent rotations in the complex ψ-plane. The third degree of freedom plays the role of a compensating field associated with this invariance under localized U(l) rotations. The compensating field can always be brought to zero by a gauge transformation. After this is done the gauge is completely fixed but the problem remains invariant under position independent rotations in the ψ plane. Static solutions of the field equations in this gauge are of the form ψ(r) = (r) exp (iΘ) with Θ independent of position. The particular case Θ = 0 corresponds to the Wu-Yang ansatz. A nontrivial static solution can be found in closed form. The Yang-Mills field is of the generalized Wu-Yang type with an extra electric term, and the metric is the Reissner-Nordström one. It is pointed out that a Higgs field can be easily introduced in the formalism. The addition of the Higgs field does not destroy the invariance of the Hamiltonian under r-dependent rotations in the ψ-plane. The conserved quantity associated with the invariance under ψ → exp (i(const))ψ coincides with the electric charge as defined by 't Hooft in a more general context.     

The parameter in an Sp(2N)×U(1) model

We present a model based upon the gauge group Sp(2N)×U(1) which contains the SU(2)×U(1) electroweak model as an exact subsector. The parameter in this symplectic model is calculated to leading order in 1/N. We illustrate the general dependence of upon the Higgs coupling constant λ with particular interest in th e large λ limit. Finally, the 1/N result is compared with conventional one-and two-loop expressions for in the standard model.     

Renormalized trajectory for non-linear sigma model and improved scaling behavior

We apply the block-spin renormalization group method to the O(N) Heisenberg spin model. Extending a previous work of Hirsch and Shenker, we find the renormalized trajectory for O(∞) in two dimensions. For finite N models, we choose a four-parameter action near the large-N renormalized trajectory and demonstrate a remarkable improvement in the approach to continuum limit by performing Monte Carlo simulation of O(3) and O(4) models.     

On statistical thermodynamics of multicomponent systems II

The equivalent neighbour (EN) model of interacting continuous spherically symmetric spins with the length equal or smaller than unity is solved exactly for all values of the spin dimensionality, D. A surprising result is that only for D 628 the system undergoes phase transitions at temperatures lower than those of the EN model of interacting spins with the hypercubic symmetry. In the D → ∞ limit the equation of state in zero field is derived analytically and gives the Landau type behaviour in the whole range of temperatures.     

Noncommutative theories, the axial anomaly, Fujikawa's method and the Atiyah–Singer index

Fujikawa's method is employed to compute at first order in the noncommutative parameter the U(1)_A anomaly for noncommutative SU(N). We consider the most general Seiberg–Witten map which commutes with hermiticity and complex conjugation and a noncommutative matrix parameter, θ^μν, which is of “magnetic” type. Our results for SU(N) can be readily generalized to cover the case of general nonsemisimple gauge groups when the symmetric Seiberg–Witten map is used. Connection with the Atiyah–Singer index theorem is also made.     

Spanning Forests and the q-State Potts Model in the Limit q →0

We study the q-state Potts model with nearest-neighbor coupling v=e^βJ−1 in the limit q,v → 0 with the ratio w = v/q held fixed. Combinatorially, this limit gives rise to the generating polynomial of spanning forests; physically, it provides information about the Potts-model phase diagram in the neighborhood of (q,v) = (0,0). We have studied this model on the square and triangular lattices, using a transfer-matrix approach at both real and complex values of w. For both lattices, we have computed the symbolic transfer matrices for cylindrical strips of widths 2≤ L ≤ 10, as well as the limiting curves B of partition-function zeros in the complex w-plane. For real w, we find two distinct phases separated by a transition point w=w₀, where w₀ =−1/4 (resp. w₀=−0.1753 ± 0.0002) for the square (resp. triangular) lattice. For w>w₀ we find a non-critical disordered phase that is compatible with the predicted asymptotic freedom as w → +∞. For w0 our results are compatible with a massless Berker–Kadanoff phase with central charge c=−2 and leading thermal scaling dimension x_T,1 = 2 (marginally irrelevant operator). At w=w₀ we find a “first-order critical point”: the first derivative of the free energy is discontinuous at w₀, while the correlation length diverges as w↓ w₀ (and is infinite at w=w₀). The critical ehavior at w=w₀ seems to be the same for both lattices and it differs from that of the Berker–Kadanoff phase: our results suggest that the central charge is c=−1, the leading thermal scaling dimension is x_T,1=0, and the critical exponents are ν=1/d=1/2 and α=1.     

s- and t-Channel transformation matrices for helicity and invariant amplitudes for γ + N → 1 + N

The Algebraic transformation matrices, valid for all s and t, connecting the s- and t-channel helicity amplitudes to a corresponding set of gauge invariant covariant amplitudes are presented for the photoproduction processes γ + N → 1^± + N.     

Pohlmeyer reduction of superstring sigma model

Motivated by a desire to find a useful 2d Lorentz-invariant reformulation of the AdS₅×S⁵ superstring world-sheet theory in terms of physical degrees of freedom we construct the “Pohlmeyer-reduced” version of the corresponding sigma model. The Pohlmeyer reduction procedure involves several steps. Starting with a coset space string sigma model in the conformal gauge and writing the classical equations in terms of currents one can fix the residual conformal diffeomorphism symmetry and kappa-symmetry and introduce a new set of variables (related locally to currents but non-locally to the original string coordinate fields) so that the Virasoro constraints are automatically satisfied. The resulting equations can be obtained from a Lagrangian of a non-Abelian Toda type: a gauged WZW model with an integrable potential coupled also to a set of 2d fermionic fields. A gauge-fixed form of the Pohlmeyer-reduced theory can be found by integrating out the 2d gauge field of the gauged WZW model. The small-fluctuation spectrum near the trivial vacuum contains 8 bosonic and 8 fermionic degrees of freedom with equal mass. We conjecture that the reduced model has world-sheet supersymmetry and is ultraviolet-finite. We show that in the special case of the AdS₂×S² superstring model the reduced theory is indeed supersymmetric: it is equivalent to the N=2 supersymmetric extension of the sine-Gordon model.     

How to compute the thermal quarkonium spectral function from first principles?

In the limit of a high temperature T and a large quark-mass M, implying a small gauge coupling g, the heavy quark contribution to the spectral function of the electromagnetic current can be computed systematically in the weak-coupling expansion. We argue that the scale hierarchy relevant for addressing the disappearance (“melting”) of the resonance peak from the spectral function reads MT>g²M>gTg⁴M, and review how the heavy scales can be integrated out one-by-one, to construct a set of effective field theories describing the low-energy dynamics. The parametric behaviour of the melting temperature in the weak-coupling limit is specified.     

The simplest spin glass

We study a system of Ising spins with quenched random infinite ranged p-spin interactions. For p → ∞, we can solve this model exactly either by a direct microcanonical argument, or through the introduction of replicas and Parisi's ultrametric ansatz for replica symmetry breaking, or by means of TAP mean field equations. Although the model is extremely simple it retains the characteristic features of a spin glass. We use it to confirm the methods that have been applied in more complicated situations and to explicitlu exhibit the structure of the spin glass phase.     

Focusing of flattened Gaussian beams by an annular lens

Focusing properties of flattened Gaussian beams (FGBs) passing through an annular lens is studied based on the Collins formula. It is found that the on-axis irradiance distributions of focused FGBs are unsymmetrical with respect to the geometrical focal plane even for large values of Fresnel number F_w associated with the beam, so that there exist focal shifts in general. Detailed numerical results show the dependence of focal shifts on the beam and system parameters. Focal shifts of FGBs by a lens without central obscuration and focal shifts of Gaussian beams by an annular lens can be treated as special cases of the obscure ratio =0 and beam order N=0, respectively. Furthermore, focal shifts of plane waves by an annular lens can also be treated as a special case of N=0 and F_w→∞.     

Lyapunov Bounds for Lattice Gauge Dynamics

We study the classical Hamiltonian dynamics of the Kogut–Susskind model for lattice gauge theories on a finite box in a d-dimensional integer lattice. The coupling constant for the plaquette interaction is denoted λ². When the gauge group is a real or a complex subgroup of a unitary matrix group U(N), N≥ 1, we show that the maximal Lyapunov exponent is bounded by , uniformly in the size of the lattice, the energy of the system as well as the order, N, of the gauge group. Received: 20 December 1997 / Accepted: 21 July 1998     

Saturation of Electrostatic Potential: Exactly Solvable 2D Coulomb Models

We test the concepts of renormalized charge and potential saturation, introduced within the framework of highly asymmetric Coulomb mixtures, on exactly solvable Coulomb models. The object of study is the average electrostatic potential induced by a unique “guest” charge immersed in a classical electrolyte, the whole system being in thermal equilibrium at some inverse temperature β. The guest charge is considered to be either an infinite hard wall carrying a uniform surface charge or a charged colloidal particle. The systems are treated as two-dimensional; the electrolyte is modelled by a symmetric two-component plasma (TCP) of point-like ±e charges with logarithmic Coulomb interactions. Two cases are solved exactly: the Debye–Hückel limit β e²→ 0 and the Thirring free-fermion point β e²=2. The results at the free-fermion point can be summarized as follows: (i) The induced electrostatic potential exhibits the asymptotic behavior, at large distances from the guest charge, whose form is different from that obtained in the Debye–Hückel (linear Poisson–Boltzmann) theory. This means that the concept of renormalized charge, developed within the nonlinear Poisson–Boltzmann (PB) theory to describe the screening effect of the electrolyte cloud, fails at the free-fermion point. (ii) In the limit of an infinite bare charge, the induced electrostatic potential saturates at a finite value in every point of the electrolyte region. This fact confirms the previously proposed hypothesis of potential saturation.     

Mesons and baryons at large N and strong coupling

The spectrum of the lattice gauge theory in the limit N → ∞ is studied. We calculate exactly the first two terms in the strong coupling expansion of the masses for the theory with naive fermions.