An effective lagrangian with broken scale and chiral symmetry IV: Nucleons and mesons at finite temperature

We study the finite temperature properties of an effective chiral Lagrangian which describes nuclear matter. Thermal fluctuations in both the nucleon and the meson fields are considered. The logarithmic and square root terms in the effective potential are evaluated by expansion and resummation with the result written in terms of the exponential integral and the error function, respectively. In the absence of explicit chiral symmetry breaking a phase transition restores the symmetry, but when the pion has a mass the transition is smooth. The nucleon and meson masses as a functions of density and temperature are discussed.     

QCD phase diagram according to the center group

We study an effective theory for QCD at finite temperature and density which contains the leading center symmetric and center symmetry breaking terms. The effective theory is studied in a flux representation where the complex phase problem is absent and the model becomes accessible to Monte Carlo techniques also at finite chemical potential. We simulate the system by using a generalized Prokof'ev-Svistunov worm algorithm and compare the results to a low temperature expansion. The phase diagram is determined as a function of temperature, chemical potential, and quark mass. The shape and quark mass dependence of the phase boundaries are as expected for QCD. The transition into the deconfined phase is smooth throughout, without any discontinuities or critical points.     

Disorder-induced rounding of certain quantum phase transitions

We study the influence of quenched disorder on quantum phase transitions in systems with overdamped dynamics. For Ising order-parameter symmetry disorder destroys the sharp phase transition by rounding because a static order parameter can develop on rare spatial regions. This leads to an exponential dependence of the order parameter on the coupling constant. At finite temperatures the static order on the rare regions is destroyed. This restores the phase transition and leads to a double-exponential relation between critical temperature and coupling strength. We discuss the behavior based on Lifshitz-tail arguments and illustrate the results by simulations of a model system.     

Chiral phase transition at finite temperature in the linear sigma model

We study the chiral phase transition at finite temperature in the linear sigma model by employing a self-consistent Hartree approximation. This approximation is introduced by imposing self-consistency conditions on the effective meson mass equations which are derived from the finite temperature one-loop effective potential. It is shown that in the limit of vanishing pion mass, namely when the chiral symmetry is exact, the phase transition becomes a weak first order accompanying a gap in the order parameter as a function of temperature. This is caused by the long range fluctuations of meson fields whose effective masses become small in the transition region. It is shown, however, that with an explicit chiral symmetry breaking term in the Lagrangian which generates the realistic finite pion mass the transition is smoothed out irrespective of the choice of coupling strength. Recieved: 19 September 1997 / Revised version: 30 October 1997     

Supersymmetric field theories at finite temperature

We show by explicit calculations to second and third order in perturbation theory, that finite temperature effects do not break the supersymmetry Ward-Takahashi identities for graded thermal Green functions of the Wess-Zumino model. Moreover, it is argued that this result is true to all orders in perturbation theory, and further, true for a wide class of supersymmetric theories. We point out, however, that these identities can be broken in the course of a phase transition that restores an originally broken internal symmetry.     

Critical behavior at finite-temperature confinement transitions

Confinement in a pure gauge theory at non-zero temperature may be discussed in terms of an order parameter which transforms under a global symmetry group, the center of the gauge group. Integrating out all degrees of freedom except this order parameter generates an effective scalar field theory for the order parameter, globally invariant under the center symmetry. We argue that the effective theory possesses only short-range couplings, and hence that the finite-temperature confinement phase transition (when continuous) is accompanied by long-range fluctuations only in the order parameter. Universality ideas then lead to predictions for the critical properties of U(1), Z(N), and SU(N) gauge theories for all dimensionalities of space-time. An explicit renormalization-group calculation is presented for the U(1) gauge theory in (2 + 1) dimensions, the results of which fit the general picture.     

Symmetry breaking and restoration in Lifshitz type theories

We consider the one-loop effective potential at zero and finite temperature in scalar field theories with anisotropic space-time scaling. For z=2, there is a symmetry breaking term induced at one loop at zero temperature and we find symmetry restoration through a first-order phase transition at high temperature. For z=3, we considered at first the case with a positive mass term at tree level and found no symmetry breaking effects induced at one loop, and then we study the case with a negative mass term at tree level where we cannot conclude about symmetry restoration effects at high temperature because of the imaginary parts that appear in the effective potential for small values of the scalar field.     

The flux-tube phase transition and bound states at high temperatures

We consider the phase transition in the dual Yang-Mills theory at finite temperature T. The phase transition is associated with a change (breaking) of symmetry. The effective mass of the dual gauge field is derived as a function of the T-dependent gauge coupling constant. We investigate the analytical criterion constraining the existence of a quark-antiquark bound state at temperatures higher than the temperature of deconfinement. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

A Raman and dielectric study of a diffuse phase transition in (Pb<Subscript>1-x</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>x</Subscript>)TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films

Dielectric and Raman scattering experiments were performed on polycrystalline Pb_1-xCa_xTiO₃ thin films (x=0.10, 0.20, 0.30, and 0.40) as a function of temperature. The results showed no shift in the dielectric constant (K) maxima, a broadening with frequency, and a linear dependence of the transition temperature on increasing Ca²⁺ content. On the other hand, a diffuse-type phase transition was observed upon transforming from the cubic paraelectric to the tetragonal ferroelectric phase in all thin films. The temperature dependence of Raman scattering spectra was investigated through the ferroelectric phase transition. The temperature dependence of the phonon frequencies was used to characterize the phase transitions. Raman modes persisted above the tetragonal to cubic phase transition temperature, although all optical modes should be Raman inactive. The origin of these modes was interpreted in terms of a breakdown of the local cubic symmetry due to chemical disorder. The lack of a well-defined transition temperature and the presence of broad bands in some temperature interval above the FE–PE phase transition temperature suggested a diffuse-type phase transition. This result corroborates the dielectric constant versus temperature data, which showed a broad ferroelectric phase transition in these thin films. PACS 77.80.Bh; 77.55.+f; 78.30.-j; 77.80.-e; 68.55.-a     

Finite-temperature Hartree-Fock approximation to λΦ4 theory

The finite-temperature Hartee-Fock approximation to the effective potential for massless λΦ⁴ theory is calculated. The reflection symmetry which, in the same approximation, turns out to be spontaneously broken at zero temperature, is restored at a critical temperature. The nature of the phase transition is analyzed. A comparison with previous calculations is presented.     

Coupling of replicate order-parameters in incommensurate multiferroics

The specific properties of incommensurate multiferroic phases resulting from the coupling of order-parameter replicates are worked out using the illustrative example of iron vanadate. The phase difference between the order-parameter copies induces an additional broken symmetry phase corresponding to the lowest symmetry of the system and varies critically at the transition to the multiferroic phase. It reflects the temperature dependence of the angle between paired spins in the antiferromagnetic spiral structure. Expressing the transition order-parameters in terms of spin-density waves allows us to show that isotropic exchange interactions contribute to the stabilization of the ferroelectric phase.     

Critical behavior of RMn2O5 oxides near the magnetic phase transition to a structure incommensurate in two spatial directions

A phase transition from the paramagnetic state to the long-period magnetic structure in RMn₂O₅ oxides with the star of the wave vector determining the incommensurability of long-range magnetic order in two spatial directions has been investigated. An effective Hamiltonian of the system that allows one to describe this transition in the framework of the renormalization group approach has been constructed. It has been shown that there is a stable critical point of transformations of this group at which there occurs a second-order phase transition. The critical indices have been found. The obtained results have been compared with the results for phase transitions occurring in these oxides in accordance with the star of the wave vector, which provides incommensurability in one of the spatial directions. It has been found that fluctuations of the four-component order parameter due to the low spatial symmetry of these compounds do not change the order of the phase transition, which was found in terms of the Landau theory.     

Thermo-field dynamics and quark–hadron phase transition in QCD

Based on the topological structure of gauge theory, an effective dual version of QCD has been reviewed and analyzed for the phase structure and color confining properties of QCD by invoking the dynamical magnetic symmetry breaking. The multi-flux-tube configuration of condensed QCD vacuum has been explored and associated glueball masses and inter-quark potential have been derived. Thermal response of QCD vacuum has been analyzed using path-integral formalism alongwith the mean-field approach and associated thermodynamical potential is used to derive thermal form of glueball masses, monopole condensate, inter-quark potential and monopole density which then lead to an estimate of the critical temperature of QCD phase transition. During its thermal evolution, a smooth transition of hadronic system via a weakly bound QGP phase to the fully deconfined phase is established and the thermal evolution profiles of various parameters are shown to indicate a second-order deconfinement phase transition and the restoration of magnetic symmetry. Monopole density calculations have been shown to lead to gradual evaporation of magnetic condensate into thermal monopoles during QCD phase transition.     

Driven spin wave modes in XY ferromagnet: non-equilibrium phase transition

The dynamical responses of XY ferromagnet driven by linearly polarised propagating and standing magnetic field wave have been studied by Monte Carlo simulation in three dimensions. In the case of propagating magnetic field wave (with specified amplitude, frequency and the wavelength), the low temperature dynamical mode is a propagating spin wave and the system becomes structureless (or random) in the high temperature. A dynamical symmetry breaking phase transition is observed at a finite (non-zero) temperature. This symmetry breaking is confirmed by studying the statistical distribution of the angle of the spin vector. The dynamic non-equilibrium transition temperature was found to decrease as the amplitude of the propagating magnetic field wave increased. A comprehensive phase boundary is drawn in the plane formed by temperature and amplitude of propagating field wave. The phase boundary was observed to shrink (in the low temperature side) for longer wavelength of the propagating magnetic wave. In the case of standing magnetic field wave, the low temperature excitation is a standing spin wave which becomes structureless (or random) in the high temperature. Here also, like the case of propagating magnetic wave, a dynamical symmetry breaking non-equilibrium phase transition was observed. A comprehensive phase boundary was drawn. Unlike the case of propagating magnetic wave, the phase boundary does not show any systematic variation with the wavelength of the standing magnetic field wave. In the limit of vanishingly small amplitude of the field, the phase boundaries approach the recent Monte Carlo estimate of equilibrium transition temperature.     

Structural and lattice-energy analyses of the different low-temperature phases of ferrocene Fe(C5H5)2: Relation between the molecular packings

X-Ray analysis of the metastable triclinic phase of ferrocene has been carried out at 130 K, from a single crystal cooled through the transition temperature (164 K). The molecular packing is close to a face centred one; however the numerous reflections breaking this symmetry give evidence for a P1 or P1&#x0304; superstructure which appears to be disordered. Calculations of lattice energy performed at 130 K and 15 K show that the triclinic phase of ferrocene has two possible molecular packings, quite energetically similar, of face-centred or P1&#x0304; symmetry. Thus, when the triclinic phase is obtained by cooling a crystal from room temperature, its structure is constituted by a mixture of both packings whose ratio depends on the thermal history. On the other hand, the molecular coordinates and the configuration of ferrocene (D_5h) in the stable ordered orthorhombic phase have been determined by minimizing the lattice energy. The mechanism of the order-disorder phase transition at 250 K (orthorhombic monoclinic), as also the existence below 164 K of another ordered packing, the triclinic one, are discussed in terms of ring libration.     

Absence of relaxor-like ferroelectric phase transition in (Pb,Sr)TiO3 thin films

We have performed dielectric and micro-Raman spectroscopy measurements in the 298–673 K temperature range in polycrystalline Pb_0.50Sr_0.50TiO₃ thin films prepared by a soft chemical method. The phase transition have been investigated by dielectric measurements at various frequencies during the heating cycle. It was found that the temperature corresponding to the peak value of the dielectric constant is frequency-independent, indicating a non-relaxor ferroelectric behavior. However, the dielectric constant versus temperature curves associated with the ferroelectric to paraelectric phase transition showed a broad maximum peak at around 433 K. The observed behavior is explained in terms of a diffuse phase transition. The obtained Raman spectra indicate the presence of a local symmetry disorder, due to a higher strontium concentration in the host lattice. The monitoring of some modes, conducted in the Pb_0.50Sr_0.50TiO₃ thin films, showed that the ferroelectric tetragonal phase undergoes a transition to the paraelectric cubic phase at around 423 K. However, the Raman activity did not disappear, as would be expected from a transition to the cubic paraelectric phase. The strong Raman spectrum observed for this cubic phase is indicative that a diffuse-type phase transition is taking place. This behavior is attributed to distortions of the perovskite structure, allowing the persistence of low-symmetry phase features in cubic phase high above the transition temperature. This result is in contrast to the forbidden first-order Raman spectrum, which would be expected from a cubic paraelectric phase, such as the one observed at high temperature in pure PbTiO₃ perovskite. PACS 78.30.-j; 77.80.Bh; 64.70.Kb; 68.55.-a; 77.22.-a; 77.55.+f     

Leakage current, ferroelectric and structural properties in Pb1−xBaxTiO3 thin films prepared by chemical route

Single-phase perovskite structure Pb_1−xBa_xTiO₃ thin films (x=0.30, 0.50 and 0.70) were deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates by the spin-coating technique. The dielectric study reveals that the thin films undergo a diffuse type ferroelectric phase transition, which shows a broad peak. An increase of the diffusivity degree with the increasing Barium contents was observed, and it was associated to a grain decrease in the studied composition range. The temperature dependence of the phonon frequencies was used to characterize the phase transition temperatures. Raman modes persist above tetragonal to cubic phase transition temperature, although all optical modes should be Raman inactive. The origin of these modes was interpreted in terms of breakdown of the local cubic symmetry by chemical disorder. The absence of a well-defined transition temperature and the presence of broad bands in some interval temperature above FE-PE phase transition temperature suggested a diffuse type phase transition. This result corroborates the dielectric constant versus temperature data, which showed a broad ferroelectric phase transition in these thin films. The leakage current density of the PBT thin films was studied at different temperatures and the data follow the Schottky emission model. Through this analysis the Schottky barrier height values 0.75, 0.53 and 0.34 eV were obtained to the PBT70, PBT50 and PBT30 thin films, respectively.