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A. Zee

Publications and source records attributed to A. Zee.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Naked Singularity and Gauss-Bonnet Term in Brane World Scenarios

We add a Gauss-Bonnet term to the Einstein-Hilbert action and study the recent proposal to solve the cosmological constant problem. We also consider the possibility of adding a dilaton potential to the action. In the absence of supersymmetry, we obtain first order Bogomol'nyi equation as a solution-generating method in our scenario. When the coefficient of the Gauss-Bonnet term is positive, the dilaton potential is bounded below. Assuming a simple double-well potential, the dilaton field is found to be a kink in the fifth dimension.

hep-th↗

Radiatively Induced Neutrino Majorana Masses and Oscillation

We review and remark on models of radiatively induced neutrino Majorana masses and oscillations. It is pointed out that while the models are capable of accounting for the observed solar and atmospheric neutrino oscillation, some of them can also induce neutrinoless double beta decay and $μ^-$ -- $e^+$ conversion in nuclei large enough to be potentially observable in the near future.

hep-ph↗

Spectra of Euclidean Random Matrices

We study the spectrum of a random matrix, whose elements depend on the Euclidean distance between points randomly distributed in space. This problem is widely studied in the context of the Instantaneous Normal Modes of fluids and is particularly relevant at the glass transition. We introduce a systematic study of this problem through its representation by a field theory. In this way we can easily construct a high density expansion, which can be resummed producing an approximation to the spectrum similar to the Coherent Potential Approximation for disordered systems.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

Topological Degeneracy of Quantum Hall Fluids

We present a simple approach to calculate the degeneracy and the structure of the ground states of non-abelian quantum Hall (QH) liquids on the torus. Our approach can be applied to any QH liquids (abelian or non-abelian) obtained from the parton construction. We explain our approach by studying a series of examples of increasing complexity. When the effective theory of a non-abelian QH liquid is a non-abelian Chern-Simons (CS) theory, our approach reproduces the well known results for the ground state degeneracy of the CS theory. However, our approach also apply to non-abelian QH liquids whose effective theories are not known and which cannot be written as a non-abelian CS theory. We find that the ground states on a torus of all non-abelian QH liquids obtained from the parton construction can be described by points on a lattice inside a "folded unit cell." The folding is generated by reflection, rotations, etc. Thus the ground state structures on the torus described by the ``folded unit cells'' provide a way to (at least partially) classify non-abelian QH liquids obtained from the parton construction.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Density of states in the non-hermitian Lloyd model

We reconsider the recently proposed connection between density of states in the so-called ``non-hermitian quantum mechanics'' and the localization length for a particle moving in random potential. We argue that it is indeed possible to find the localization length from the density of states of a non-hermitian random ``Hamiltonian''. However, finding the density of states of a non-hermitian random ``Hamiltonian'' remains an open problem, contrary to previous findings in the literature.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

A Non-Hermitean Particle in a Disordered World

There has been much recent work on the spectrum of the random non-hermitean Hamiltonian which models the physics of vortex line pinning in superconductors. This note is loosely based on the talk I gave at the conference "New Directions in Statistical Physics" held in Taipei, August 1997. We describe here new results in spatial dimensions higher than one. We also give an expression for the spectrum within the WKB approximation.

cond-mat↗

Spectral Curves of Non-Hermitean Hamiltonians

Recent analytical and numerical work have shown that the spectrum of the random non-hermitean Hamiltonian on a ring which models the physics of vortex line pinning in superconductors is one dimensional. In the maximally non-hermitean limit, we give a simple "one-line" proof of this feature. We then study the spectral curves for various distributions of the random site energies. We find that a critical transition occurs when the average of the logarithm of the random site energy squared vanishes. For a large class of probability distributions of the site energies, we find that as the randomness increases the energy at which the localization-delocalization transition occurs increases, reaches a maximum, and then decreases. The Cauchy distribution studied previously in the literature does not have this generic behavior. We determine the critical value of the randomness at which "wings" first appear in the energy spectrum. For distributions, such as Cauchy, with infinitely long tails, we show that this critical value is infinitesimally above zero. We determine the density of eigenvalues on the wings for any probability distribution. We show that the localization length on the wings diverges linearly as the energy approaches the energy at which the localization-delocalization transition occurs. These results are all obtained in the maximally non-hermitean limit but for a generic class of probability distributions of the random site energies.

cond-mat↗

Non-Hermitean Localization and De-Localization

We study localization and delocalization in a class of non-hermitean Hamiltonians inspired by the problem of vortex pinning in superconductors. In various simplified models we are able to obtain analytic descriptions, in particular of the non-perturbative emergence of a forked structure (the appearance of "wings") in the density of states. We calculate how the localization length diverges at the localization-delocalization transition. We map some versions of this problem onto a random walker problem in two dimensions. For a certain model, we find an intricate structure in its density of states.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

Non-Hermitean De-Localization: Multiple Scattering and Bounds

We study localization and delocalization in a class of non-hermitean Hamiltonians inspired by the problem of vortex pinning in superconductors. We show how to take into account multiple scattering. We also obtain some bounds on the complex energy spectrum.

cond-mat↗

Non-Gaussian Non-Hermitean Random Matrix Theory: phase transitions and addition formalism

We apply the recently introduced method of hermitization to study in the large $N$ limit non-hermitean random matrices that are drawn from a large class of circularly symmetric non-Gaussian probability distributions, thus extending the recent Gaussian non-hermitean literature. We develop the general formalism for calculating the Green's function and averaged density of eigenvalues, which may be thought of as the non-hermitean analog of the method due to Brèzin, Itzykson, Parisi and Zuber for analyzing hermitean non-Gaussian random matrices. We obtain an explicit algebraic equation for the integrated density of eigenvalues. A somewhat surprising result of that equation is that the shape of the eigenvalue distribution in the complex plane is either a disk or an annulus. As a concrete example, we analyze the quartic ensemble and study the phase transition from a disk shaped eigenvalue distribution to an annular distribution. Finally, we apply the method of hermitization to develop the addition formalism for free non-hermitean random variables. We use this formalism to state and prove a non-abelian non-hermitean version of the central limit theorem.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

Non-Hermitean Random Matrix Theory: method of hermitization

We consider random non-hermitean matrices in the large $N$ limit. The power of analytic function theory cannot be brought to bear directly to analyze non-hermitean random matrices, in contrast to hermitean random matrices. To overcome this difficulty, we show that associated to each ensemble of non-hermitean matrices there is an auxiliary ensemble of random hermitean matrices which can be analyzed by the usual methods. We then extract the Green's function and the density of eigenvalues of the non-hermitean ensemble from those of the auxiliary ensemble. We apply this "method of hermitization" to several examples, and discuss a number of related issues.

cond-mat↗

Dynamical Generation of Solitons in a 1+1 Dimensional Chiral Field Theory: Non-Perturbative Dirac Operator Resolvent Analysis

We analyze the 1+1 dimensional Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model non-perturbatively. We study non-trivial saddle points of the effective action in which the composite fields $\sigx=<\barψψ>$ and $\pix=<\bar\psii\gam_5ψ>$ form static space dependent configurations. These configurations may be viewed as one dimensional chiral bags that trap the original fermions (``quarks'') into stable extended entities (``hadrons''). We provide explicit expressions for the profiles of some of these objects and calculate their masses. Our analysis of these saddle points, and in particular, the proof that the $\sigx, \pix$ condensations must give rise to a reflectionless Dirac operator, appear to us simpler and more direct than the calculations previously done by Shei, using the inverse scattering method following Dashen, Hasslacher, and Neveu.

hep-th↗

Fermion Bags in the Massive Gross-Neveu Model

As has long been known, it is energetically favorable for massive fermions to deform the homogeneous vacuum around them, giving rise to extended bag-like objects. We study this phenomenon non-perturbatively in a model field theory, the $1+1$ dimensional Massive Gross-Neveu model, in the large $N$ limit. We prove that the bags in this model are necessarily time dependent. We calculate their masses variationally and demonstrate their stability. We find a non-analytic behavior in these masses as we approach the standard massless Gross-Neveu model and argue that this behavior is caused by the kink-antikink threshold. This work extends our previous work to a non-integrable field theory.

hep-th↗

Renormalizing Rectangles and Other Topics in Random Matrix Theory

We consider random Hermitian matrices made of complex or real $M\times N$ rectangular blocks, where the blocks are drawn from various ensembles. These matrices have $N$ pairs of opposite real nonvanishing eigenvalues, as well as $M-N$ zero eigenvalues (for $M>N$.) These zero eigenvalues are ``kinematical" in the sense that they are independent of randomness. We study the eigenvalue distribution of these matrices to leading order in the large $N,M$ limit, in which the ``rectangularity" $r={M\over N}$ is held fixed. We apply a variety of methods in our study. We study Gaussian ensembles by a simple diagrammatic method, by the Dyson gas approach, and by a generalization of the Kazakov method. These methods make use of the invariance of such ensembles under the action of symmetry groups. The more complicated Wigner ensemble, which does not enjoy such symmetry properties, is studied by large $N$ renormalization techniques. In addition to the kinematical $δ$-function spike in the eigenvalue density which corresponds to zero eigenvalues, we find for both types of ensembles that if $|r-1|$ is held fixed as $N\rightarrow\infty$, the $N$ non-zero eigenvalues give rise to two separated lobes that are located symmetrically with respect to the origin. This separation arises because the non-zero eigenvalues are repelled macroscopically from the origin. Finally, we study the oscillatory behavior of the eigenvalue distribution near the endpoints of the lobes, a behavior governed by Airy functions. As $r\rightarrow 1$ the lobes come closer, and the Airy oscillatory behavior near the endpoints that are close to zero breaks down. We interpret this breakdown as a signal that $r\rightarrow 1$ drives a cross over to the oscillation governed by Bessel functions near the origin for matrices made of square blocks.

cond-mat↗

Dynamical Generation of Extended Objects in a $1+1$ Dimensional Chiral Field Theory: Non-Perturbative Dirac Operator Resolvent Analysis

We analyze the $1+1$ dimensional Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model non-perturbatively. In addition to its simple ground state saddle points, the effective action of this model has a rich collection of non-trivial saddle points in which the composite fields $\sigx=\lag\barψψ\rag$ and $\pix=\lag\barψi\gam_5ψ\rag$ form static space dependent configurations because of non-trivial dynamics. These configurations may be viewed as one dimensional chiral bags that trap the original fermions (``quarks") into stable extended entities (``hadrons"). We provide explicit expressions for the profiles of these objects and calculate their masses. Our analysis of these saddle points is based on an explicit representation we find for the diagonal resolvent of the Dirac operator in a $\{\sigx, \pix\}$ background which produces a prescribed number of bound states. We analyse in detail the cases of a single as well as two bound states. We find that bags that trap $N$ fermions are the most stable ones, because they release all the fermion rest mass as binding energy and become massless. Our explicit construction of the diagonal resolvent is based on elementary Sturm-Liouville theory and simple dimensional analysis and does not depend on the large $N$ approximation. These facts make it, in our view, simpler and more direct than the calculations previously done by Shei, using the inverse scattering method following Dashen, Hasslacher, and Neveu. Our method of finding such non-trivial static configurations may be applied to other $1+1$ dimensional field theories.

cond-mat↗

A Diagrammatic Theory of Random Scattering Matrices for Normal-Superconducting Mesoscopic Junctions

The planar-diagrammatic technique of large-$N$ random matrices is extended to evaluate averages over the circular ensemble of unitary matrices. It is then applied to study transport through a disordered metallic ``grain'', attached through ideal leads to a normal electrode and to a superconducting electrode. The latter enforces boundary conditions which coherently couple electrons and holes at the Fermi energy through Andreev scattering. Consequently, the {\it leading order} of the conductance is altered, and thus changes much larger than $e^2/h$ are observed when, e.g., a weak magnetic field is applied. This is in agreement with existing theories. The approach developed here is intermediate between the theory of dirty superconductors (the Usadel equations) and the random-matrix approach involving transmission eigenvalues (e.g. the DMPK equation) in the following sense: even though one starts from a scattering formalism, a quantity analogous to the superconducting order-parameter within the system naturally arises. The method can be applied to a variety of mesoscopic normal-superconducting structures, but for brevity we consider here only the case of a simple disordered N-S junction.

cond-mat↗

Oscillating density of states near zero energy for matrices made of blocks with possible application to the random flux problem

We consider random hermitian matrices made of complex blocks. The symmetries of these matrices force them to have pairs of opposite real eigenvalues, so that the average density of eigenvalues must vanish at the origin. These densities are studied for finite $N\times N$ matrices in the Gaussian ensemble. In the large $N$ limit the density of eigenvalues is given by a semi-circle law. However, near the origin there is a region of size $1\over N$ in which this density rises from zero to the semi-circle, going through an oscillatory behavior. This cross-over is calculated explicitly by various techniques. We then show to first order in the non-Gaussian character of the probability distribution that this oscillatory behavior is universal, i.e. independent of the probability distribution. We conjecture that this universality holds to all orders. We then extend our consideration to the more complicated block matrices which arise from lattices of matrices considered in our previous work. Finally, we study the case of random real symmetric matrices made of blocks. By using a remarkable identity we are able to determine the oscillatory behavior in this case also. The universal oscillations studied here may be applicable to the problem of a particle propagating on a lattice with random magnetic flux.

cond-mat↗