arXiv subjects

Alexander Rothkopf

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander Rothkopf.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Bottomonium suppression at RHIC and LHC

The strong suppression of heavy quarkonia is a good indicator that one has generated a quark-gluon plasma (QGP) in an ultrarelativistic heavy ion collision. Recent advancements in first principles calculations of the heavy quark potential provide additional insight into this suppression and can be used to further pin down the in-medium properties of the QGP. Realistic 3+1d dissipative hydrodynamical models can be used to simulate the QGP and, with bottomonium as a probe, one can make inferences for the initial temperature of the QGP and other phenomenological parameters such as the shear viscosity to entropy density ratio. However, progressing to LHC $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02$ TeV Pb-Pb collisions, one expects regeneration to have an increasingly important impact on the suppression observables. In this proceedings, we present a brief overview to set up the model and then provide model results for bottomonium suppression and regeneration, for ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collision experiments at RHIC and LHC.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Quantum dissipation of a heavy quark from a nonlinear stochastic Schrödinger equation

We study the open system dynamics of a heavy quark in the quark-gluon plasma using a Lindblad master equation. Applying the quantum state diffusion approach by Gisin and Percival, we derive and numerically solve a nonlinear stochastic Schrödinger equation for wave functions, which is equivalent to the Lindblad master equation for the density matrix. From our numerical analysis in one spatial dimension, it is shown that the density matrix relaxes to the Boltzmann distribution in various setups (with and without external potentials), independently of the initial conditions. We also confirm that quantum dissipation plays an essential role not only in the long-time behavior of the heavy quark but also at early times if the heavy quark initial state is localized and quantum decoherence is ineffective.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2018

Dynamical dissociation of quarkonia by wave function decoherence

We investigate the real-time evolution of quarkonium bound states in a quark-gluon plasma in one dimension using an improved QCD based stochastic potential model. This model describes the quarkonium dynamics in terms of a Schrödinger equation with an in-medium potential and two noise terms encoding the residual interactions between the heavy quarks and the medium. The probabilities of bound states in a static medium and in a boost-invariantly expanding quark-gluon plasma are discussed. We draw two conclusions from our results: One is that the outcome of the stochastic potential model is qualitatively consistent with the experimental data in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. The other is that the noise plays an important role in order to describe quarkonium dynamics in medium, in particular it causes decoherence of the quarkonium wave function. The effectiveness of decoherence is controlled by a new length scale $l_{\rm corr}$. It represents the noise correlation length and its effect has not been included in existing phenomenological studies.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2017

Improved real-time dynamics from imaginary frequency lattice simulations

The computation of real-time properties, such as transport coefficients or bound state spectra of strongly interacting quantum fields in thermal equilibrium is a pressing matter. Since the sign problem prevents a direct evaluation of these quantities, lattice data needs to be analytically continued from the Euclidean domain of the simulation to Minkowski time, in general an ill-posed inverse problem. Here we report on a novel approach to improve the determination of real-time information in the form of spectral functions by setting up a simulation prescription in imaginary frequencies. By carefully distinguishing between initial conditions and quantum dynamics one obtains access to correlation functions also outside the conventional Matsubara frequencies. In particular the range between $ω_0$ and $ω_1=2πT$, which is most relevant for the inverse problem may be more highly resolved. In combination with the fact that in imaginary frequencies the kernel of the inverse problem is not an exponential but only a rational function we observe significant improvements in the reconstruction of spectral functions, demonstrated in a simple 0+1 dimensional scalar field theory toy model.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

Bottomonium suppression using a lattice QCD vetted potential

We estimate bottomonium yields in relativistic heavy-ion collisions using a lattice QCD vetted, complex-valued, heavy-quark potential embedded in a realistic, hydrodynamically evolving medium background. We find that the lattice-vetted functional form and temperature dependence of the proper heavy-quark potential dramatically reduces the dependence of the yields on parameters other than the temperature evolution, strengthening the picture of bottomonium as QGP thermometer. Our results also show improved agreement between computed yields and experimental data produced in RHIC 200 GeV/nucleon collisions. For LHC 2.76 TeV/nucleon collisions, the excited states, whose suppression has been used as a vital sign for quark-gluon-plasma production in a heavy-ion collision, are reproduced better than previous perturbatively-motivated potential models; however, at the highest LHC energies our estimates for bottomonium suppression begin to underestimate the data. Possible paths to remedy this situation are discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Bayesian analysis of quark spectral properties from the Dyson-Schwinger equation

We report results on the quark spectral function in the Landau gauge at finite temperature determined from its Dyson-Schwinger equation. Compared to earlier quenched results this study encompasses unquenched $N_f=2+1$ fermion flavors in the medium. For the reconstruction of real-time spectra we deploy a recent Bayesian approach (BR method) and develop a new prior in order to better assess the inherent systematic uncertainties. We identify the quark quasi-particle spectrum and analyze the (non-)appearance of zero modes at or around the pseudo-critical temperature. In both, the fully unquenched system and a simpler truncation using a model for the gluon propagator we observe a characteristic three-peak structure at zero three-momentum. The temperature dependence of these structures in case of the gluon propagator model is different than observed in previous studies. For the back-coupled and unquenched case we find interesting modifications at and around the pseudo-critical transition temperature.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

High statistics study of in-medium S- and P-wave quarkonium states in lattice Non-relativistic QCD

Many measurements of quarkonium suppression at the LHC, e.g. the nuclear modification factor $R_{AA}$ of $J/Ψ$, are well described by a multitude of different models. Thus pinpointing the underlying physics aspects is difficult and guidance based on first principles is needed. Here we present the current status of our ongoing high precision study of in-medium spectral properties of both bottomonium and charmonium based on NRQCD on the lattice. This effective field theory allows us to capture the physics of quarkonium without modeling assumptions in a thermal QCD medium. In our study a first principles and realistic description of the QCD medium is provided by state-of-the-art lattices of the HotQCD collaboration at almost physical pion mass. Our updated results corroborate a picture of sequential modification of states with respect to their vacuum binding energy. Using a novel low-gain variant of the Bayesian BR method for reconstructing spectral functions we find that remnant features of the Upsilon may survive up to $T\sim400$MeV, while the $χ_b$ signal disappears around $T\sim270$MeV. The $c\bar{c}$ analysis hints at melting of $χ_c$ below $T\sim190$MeV while some $J/Ψ$ remnant feature might survive up to $T\sim245$MeV. An improved understanding of the numerical artifacts in the Bayesian approach and the availability of increased statistics have made possible a first quantitative study of the in-medium ground state masses, which tend to lower values as $T$ increases, consistent with lattice potential based studies.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

Complex heavy-quark potential and Debye mass in a gluonic medium from lattice QCD

We improve and extend our study of the complex in-medium heavy quark potential and its Debye mass $m_D$ in a gluonic medium with a finer scan around the deconfinement transition and newly generated ensembles closer to the thermodynamic limit. On the lattices with larger physical volume, Re[V] shows signs of screening, i.e. a finite $m_D$, only in the deconfined phase, reminiscent of a genuine phase transition. Consistently Im[V] exhibits nonzero values also only above $T_C$. We compare the behavior of Re[V] with the color singlet free-energies that have been used historically to extract the Debye mass. An effective coupling constant is computed to assess the residual influence of the confining part of the potential at $T>0$. Our previous finding of a gradual screening of Re[V] around $T_C$ on finer lattices is critically reassessed and interpreted to originate from finite volume artifacts that affect the deployed $β=7$, $ξ_b=3.5$ parameter set at $N_s=32$.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

Bayesian inference of non-positive spectral functions in quantum field theory

We present the generalization to non positive definite spectral functions of a recently proposed Bayesian deconvolution approach (BR method). The novel prior used here retains many of the beneficial analytic properties of the original method, in particular it allows us to integrate out the hyperparameter $α$ directly. To preserve the underlying axiom of scale invariance, we introduce a second default-model related function, whose role is discussed. Our reconstruction prescription is contrasted with existing direct methods, as well as with an approach where shift functions are introduced to compensate for negative spectral features. A mock spectrum analysis inspired by the study of gluon spectral functions in QCD illustrates the capabilities of this new approach.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Thermal dynamics on the lattice with exponentially improved accuracy

We present a novel simulation prescription for thermal quantum fields on a lattice that operates directly in imaginary frequency space. By distinguishing initial conditions from quantum dynamics it provides access to correlation functions also outside of the conventional Matsubara frequencies $ω_n=2πn T$. In particular it resolves their frequency dependence between $ω=0$ and $ω_1=2πT$, where the thermal physics $ω\sim T$ of e.g.~transport phenomena is dominantly encoded. Real-time spectral functions are related to these correlators via an integral transform with rational kernel, so their unfolding is exponentially improved compared to Euclidean simulations. We demonstrate this improvement within a $0+1$-dimensional scalar field theory and show that spectral features inaccessible in standard Euclidean simulations are quantitatively captured.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

Finite temperature gluon spectral functions from $N_f=2+1+1$ lattice QCD

We investigate gluon spectral functions at finite temperature in Landau gauge, based on a subset of lattice QCD ensembles with $N_f=2+1+1$ dynamical twisted mass quarks flavors, generated by the tmfT collaboration. Our study uses a novel Bayesian approach for the extraction of non-positive definite spectral functions, which for each binned spatial momentum takes into account the gluon correlation functions at all available discrete imaginary frequencies. The spectral functions are extracted at three different lattice spacing, where for each of them, a scan of temperatures around the crossover transition is carried out at fixed scale. We find indications for the existence of a well defined quasi-particle peak. Due to a relatively small number of imaginary frequencies available, we focus on the momentum and temperature dependence of the position of this spectral feature. This dispersion relation reveals different in-medium masses for longitudinal and transversal gluons at high temperatures, qualitatively consistent with weak coupling expectations.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2016

A gauge invariant Debye mass for the complex heavy-quark potential

The concept of a screening mass is a powerful tool to simplify the intricate physics of in-medium test charges surrounded by light charge carriers. While it has been successfully used to describe electromagnetic properties, its definition and computation in QCD is plagued by questions of gauge invariance and the presence of non-perturbative contributions from the magnetic sector. Here we present a recent alternative definition of a gauge invariant Debye mass parameter following closely the original idea of Debye and Hueckel. Our test charges are a static heavy quark-antiquark pair whose complex potential and its in-medium modification can be extracted using lattice QCD. By combining in a generalized Gauss-Law the non-perturbative aspects of quark binding with a perturbative ansatz for the medium effects, we succeed to describe the lattice values of the potential with a single temperature dependent parameter, in turn identified with a Debye mass. We find that its behavior, as evaluated in a recent quenched lattice QCD study, deviates from that in other approaches, such as hard-thermal-loop perturbation theory or from electric field correlators on the lattice. In particular around the phase transition its values tend to zero significantly faster than at weak-coupling.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2016

What lattice QCD spectral functions can tell us about heavy quarkonium in the QGP

The bound states of a heavy quark and antiquark ($c\bar{c}, b\bar{b}$) are ideal probes to explore the quark-gluon plasma created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions at the RHIC and LHC. Not only have they become experimentally accessible with high precision but also efficient tools, so called effective field theories (EFT) have been developed to treat them theoretically. Here we present recent progress in understanding the in-medium behavior of heavy-quarkonium with the help of EFT's combined with non-perturbative and first principles simulations in lattice QCD. In particular we discuss computations of heavy quarkonium spectral functions with the help of Bayesian unfolding methods and the physics we can extract from them. Limitations and the underlying assumptions of the used approaches are pointed out.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2016

Quarkonia at $T>0$ and lattice QCD

We report here on recent progress in the determination of S-wave and P-wave heavy-quarkonium states at finite temperature. Our results are based on the combination of effective field theories with numerical lattice QCD simulations. These non-perturbative tools allow us to compute the heavy-quarkonium in-medium spectral functions, from which we in turn determine the melting temperatures of individual states and estimate phenomenologically relevant observables, such as the $ψ^\prime$ to J/$ψ$ ratio in heavy-ion collisions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

In-medium P-wave quarkonium from the complex lattice QCD potential

We extend our lattice QCD potential based study arXiv:1509.07366 (JHEP 1512 (2015) 101) of the in-medium properties of heavy quark bound states to P-wave bottomonium and charmonium. Similar to the behavior found in the S-wave channel their spectra show a characteristic broadening, as well as mass shifts to lower energy with increasing temperature. In contrast to the S-wave states, finite angular momentum leads to the survival of spectral peaks even at temperatures, where the continuum threshold reaches below the bound state remnant mass. We elaborate on the ensuing challenges in defining quarkonium dissolution, present estimates of melting temperatures for the spin averaged $χ_b$ and $χ_c$ states and contrast the findings to recent direct lattice NRQCD studies of P-wave quarkonium. As an application to heavy-ion collisions we estimate the contribution of feed down to S-wave quarkonium through the P-wave states after freezeout.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

In-medium quarkonium properties from a lattice QCD based effective field theory

In order to understand the experimental data on heavy quarkonium production in heavy ion collisions at RHIC and LHC it is necessary (though not sufficient) to pinpoint the properties of heavy $Q\bar{Q}$ bound states in the deconfined quark-gluon plasma, including their dissolution. Here we present recent results on the temperature dependence of bottomonium and charmonium correlators, as well as their spectral functions in a lattice QCD based effective field theory called NRQCD, surveying temperatures close to the crossover transition $140 {\rm MeV} < T< 249 {\rm MeV}$. The spectra are reconstructed based on a novel Bayesian prescription, whose systematic uncertainties are assessed. We present indications for sequential melting of different quarkonium species with respect to their vacuum binding energies and give estimates on the survival of S-wave and P-wave ground states.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2015

Non-Abelian chiral instabilities at high temperature on the lattice

We report on an exploratory lattice study on the phenomenon of chiral instabilities in non-Abelian gauge theories at high temperature. It is based on a recently constructed anomalous Langevin-type effective theory of classical soft gauge fields in the presence of a chiral number density $n_5=n_{\rm R}-n_{\rm L}$. Evaluated in thermal equilibrium using classical lattice techniques it reveals that the fluctuating soft fields indeed exhibit a rapid energy increase at early times and we observe a clear dependence of the diffusion rate of topological charge (sphaleron rate) on the the initial $n_5$, relevant in both early universe baryogenesis and relativistic heavy-ion collisions. The topological charge furthermore shows a drift among distinct vacuum sectors, roughly proportional to the initial $n_5$ and in turn the chiral imbalance is monotonously reduced as required by helicity conservation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Lattice NRQCD study of quarkonium at non-zero temperature

To study the in-medium modification of quarkonium properties, charmonium correlators at $140.4 (β=6.664) \le T \le 221 (β= 7.280)$ (MeV) are calculated using the NRQCD formalism on $48^3 \times 12$ gauge configurations with dynamical $N_f = 2 + 1$ flavors of Highly Improved Staggered Quarks (HISQ). To determine the "zero energy shift" for these lattices, we perform a fine zero temperature scan ($β=6.664, 6.740, 6.800, 6.880, 6.950, 7.030, 7.150$ and $7.280$). We find that the temperature dependence of charmonium correlators is stronger than the temperature dependence of bottomonium correlators in a given channel. This fits into the expected pattern of sequential quarkonium melting.

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