Renormalization group approach to lattice gauge field theories

We study four-dimensional pure gauge field theories by the renormalization group approach. The analysis is restricted to small field approximation. In this region we construct a sequence of localized effective actions by cluster expansions in one step renormalization transformations. We construct also -functions and we define a coupling constant renormalization by a recursive system of renormalization group equations.     

Renormalization group approach to lattice gauge field theories

The fluctuation field integral, constructed in Part I, is represented by the exponentiated cluster expansion. It is proved that the terms of the expansion satisfy the inductive assumptions. This completes the construction of the sequence of effective actions in the small field approximation.Work supported in part by the Air Force under Grant AFOSR-86-0229 and by the National Science Foundation under Grant DMS-86-02207     

Propagators for lattice gauge theories in a background field

We prove regularity and decay properties for propagators connected with the renormalization group method in lattice gauge theories. These propagators depend on an external gauge field configuration, called a background field.Research supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant PHY-82-0369     

Some topological configurations in gauge theories

A Higgs vacuum field is characterized by the set of conditionsD =0, which lead to a generalized Meissner effect and partially determine the vector potentialA in terms of . Applying this method to the Weinberg-Salam theory, we assert that there exist stringlike configurations in which a pair of magnetic poles are bound by a flux string of theZ ⁰ field, with an energy scale in the TeV range. We also point out that pure gauges in non-Abelian gauge theories are not well-defined due to topological singularities. In order to be meaningful, they must be enlarged to a class of almost pure gauges which include the various known topological configurations.Work supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy, San Francisco Office, and by the Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Scholars Program.On leave from the University of Chicago.     

Higher order mean field expansions for lattice gauge theories

The leading contribution to the free energy of lattice gauge theories is evaluated in the mean field expansion to the two-loop level. The methods are general but we only deal with theU(1) case in this paper. The corrections improve the agreement with Monte Carlo calculations. We show that in order to obtain a satisfactory formalism it is necessary to include a new redundant parameter, γ, in the mean field expansion. For γ→0 we recover the usual mean field expansion whereas for γ→∞ we obtain the weak coupling expansion. Thus γ measures the amount of resummation that is done by the mean field formalism.     

Ultraviolet stability of three-dimensional lattice pure gauge field theories

We prove the ultraviolet stability for three-dimensional lattice gauge field theories. We consider only the Wilson lattice approximation for pure Yang-Mills field theories. The proof is based on results of the previous papers on renormalization group method for lattice gauge theories.Work partially supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant PHY 82-03669 and DMS 84-01989On leave of absence, Postal address: Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA     

Spaces of regular gauge field configurations on a lattice and gauge fixing conditions

We consider spaces of lattice gauge field configurations satisfying gauge invariant regularity conditions, and intersections of these spaces with a surface given by gauge fixing conditions. We prove that if these conditions are chosen properly then configurations belonging to the intersection are small and regular.Research supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant PHY-82-03669     

Selfduality and topological-like properties of lattice gauge field theories. A proposal

We introduce for lattice gauge theories an analogue of the Pontrjagin index and a notion of selfduality and antiselfduality. Selfdual and antiselfdual configurations on the lattice have much of the same properties (with some remarkable differences) as the corresponding configurations on the continuum, to which they converge when the lattice spacing goes to zero.On leave of absence from Istituto di Fisica dell'Università di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy.Research partially supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche and Fondazione A. Della Riccia     

On-shell improved lattice gauge theories

By means of a spectrum conserving transformation, we show that one of the 3 coefficients in Symanzik's improved action can be chosen freely, if only spectral quantities (masses of stable particles, heavy quark potential etc.) are to be improved. In perturbation theory, the other 2 coefficients are however completely determined and their values are obtained to lowest order.Heisenberg foundation fellow     

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.     

Recent advances in lattice gauge theories

Recent progress in the field of lattice gauge theories is briefly reviewed for a nonspecialist audience. While the emphasis is on the latest and more definitive results that have emerged prior to this symposium, an effort has been made to provide them with minimal technicalities.     

Residual gauge invariance of Hamiltonian lattice gauge theories

The time-independent residual gauge invariance of Hamiltonian lattice gauge theories is considered. Eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the unperturbed Hamiltonian are found in terms of Gegenbauer's polynomials. Physical states which satisfy the subsidiary condition corresponding to Gauss' law are constructed systematically.     

Mean field methods for strings and monopoles in abelian lattice gauge theories

Selfconsistent approximations, which join the Bethe-Peierls method and duality transformation, are applied to disorder parameters related to strings (domain boundaries) and monopoles in Z(N) and U(1) lattice gauge theories. The two-phase and the three-phase diagrams are reproduced in three and four dimensions. Nice results are obtained for the internal energy and the monopole charge density. A formulation for gauge theories of the selfconsistent Monte Carlo method is introduced in order to improve these approximations.     

Critical acceleration of lattice gauge simulations

We present a stochastic cluster algorithm that drastically reduces critical slowing down forZ ₂ lattice gauge theory in three dimensions. The dynamical exponentz is reduced fromz>2 (standard Metropolis algorithm) tozO.73. The Monte Carlo pseudodynamics acts on the gauge-invariant flux tubes that are known to be the relevant large-scale low-energy excitations. A comparison of our results with known results for the 3D Ising model and ⁴ model supports the conjecture of universality classes for stochastic cluster algorithms.     

Variational method in hamiltonian lattice gauge theories

A general expression for the expectation value of the hamiltonian of a d + 1 dimensional lattice gauge theory as a function of the norm of the variational state (that itself has the form of a partition function of a d-dimensional lattice gauge theory) is given. Applications include U(1), SU(2), U(2) and U(N) gauge theories for large N in d = 2 + 1 dimensions. It is also demonstrated that the deconfining phase transition is of first order in every dimension above the critical one, provided it is of first or second order at the critical dimension.     

Monte Carlo computations in lattice gauge theories

The formulation of gauge theories on Euclidean space-time lattices and the application of the Monte Carlo computational technique to the ensuing systems are reviewed. A variety of numerical results obtained for lattice gauge theories are presented and discussed.