Large-$N$ $\mathbb{CP}^{N-1}$ sigma model on a Euclidean torus: uniqueness and stability of the vacuum

Abstract

In this paper we examine analytically the large-$N$ gap equation and its solution for the $2D$ $\mathbb{CP}^{N-1}$ sigma model defined on a Euclidean spacetime torus of arbitrary shape and size ($L, \beta)$, $\beta$ being the inverse temperature. We find that the system has a unique homogeneous phase, with the $\mathbb{CP}^{N-1}$ fields $n_i$ acquiring a dynamically generated mass $\langle\lambda\rangle\ge\Lambda^2$ (analogous to the mass gap of $SU(N)$ Yang-Mills theory in $4D$), for any $\beta$ and $L$. Several related topics in the recent literature are discussed. One concerns the possibility, which turns out to be excluded according to our analysis, of a "Higgs-like" - or deconfinement - phase at small $L$ and at zero temperature. Another topics involves "soliton-like (inhomogeneous) solutions of the generalized gap equation, which we do not find. A related question concerns a possible instability of the standard $\mathbb{CP}^{N-1}$ vacuum on ${\mathbb{R}}^{2}$, which is shown not to occur. In all cases, the difference in the conclusions can be traced to the existence of certain zeromodes and their proper treatment. The $\mathbb{CP}^{N-1}$ model with twisted boundary conditions is also analyzed. The $\theta$ dependence and different limits involving $N$, $\beta$ and $L$ are briefly discussed.