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arXiv · 2203.05269

Limit shape phase transitions: a merger of arctic circles

J. S. Pallister·D. M. Gangardt·A. G. Abanov
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Abstract

We consider a free fermion formulation of a statistical model exhibiting a limit shape phenomenon. The model is shown to have a phase transition that can be visualized as the merger of two liquid regions - arctic circles. We show that the merging arctic circles provide a space-time resolved picture of the phase transition in lattice QCD known as Gross-Witten-Wadia transition. The latter is a continuous phase transition of the third order. We argue that this transition is universal and is not spoiled by interactions if parity and time-reversal symmetries are preserved. We refer to this universal transition as the Merger Transition.

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J. S. Pallister, D. M. Gangardt, A. G. Abanov. 2022-03-10. Limit shape phase transitions: a merger of arctic circles. https://doi.org/10.1088/1751-8121%2Fac79ad

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