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Anna Hasenfratz

Publications and source records attributed to Anna Hasenfratz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Renormalization-guided inverse blocking for lattice field generation: construction and validation

We propose an algorithm for generating lattice field configurations based on the approximate inversion of a renormalization-group blocking transformation. We optimize the blocking transformation using a ``perfect blocking'' condition so that the blocked lattice distribution is well approximated by a simple coarse action. The blocking is separated into an invertible smoothing transformation followed by decimation. Machine learning, in the form of a conditional normalizing flow, is used to reconstruct the short-distance degrees of freedom removed by the decimation. A short fine-action rethermalization then removes the residual mismatch. Because the coarse ensemble supplies the long-distance modes, the same blocking transformation and conditional flow can be reused recursively on larger lattices, producing a cascade of configurations from an initial small-volume ensemble. We test the method in two-dimensional $\phi^4$ theory with $\lambda=1$ at criticality and demonstrate stable cascade upscaling from $16^2$ to $2048^2$ lattices on local computational resources. Controlled rethermalization tests show that short-distance mismatches relax rapidly, whereas a deliberately introduced mismatch in the relevant thermal direction relaxes much more slowly. The construction uses ingredients that admit natural extensions to higher-dimensional systems and, ultimately, to gauge and fermionic degrees of freedom.

hep-lat

Renormalization-guided cascade upscaling for lattice field generation

We introduce a renormalization-group (RG) guided machine-learning algorithm for lattice field generation based on approximate inversion of an RG transformation. A ``perfect blocking'' construction supplies equilibrated long-distance modes, while a conditional normalizing flow reconstructs short-distance details and brief rethermalization removes residual errors. In 2D $\phi^4$ theory at criticality, a flow trained at $L\le32$ is reused recursively in cascades reaching $L=2048$ with correct long-distance physics.

hep-lat

Searching for symmetric mass generation with staggered fermions in four dimensions

We conduct numerical simulations to map out the phase diagram and critical behavior of a lattice Higgs model composed of two massless staggered fermion fields forming a doublet under a global $SU(2)$ and coupled to a scalar field in the adjoint representation of the group. The scalar action consists of a potential comprising quadratic and quartic terms and a scalar kinetic term. At fixed quartic coupling we explore a two-dimensional parameter space finding a massless symmetric phase at weak coupling and a massive symmetric phase (SMG phase) at strong coupling. An intermediate anti-ferromagnetic phase separates these two regimes. These results are consistent with leading order weak and strong coupling expansions. We find that the critical lines bounding the intermediate phase merge at a unique point where all fermion bilinear condensates vanish but fermion susceptibilities diverge as non-trivial powers of the lattice size. We conjecture that this merged point corresponds to a multicritical point and may describe a phase consisting of a condensate of certain topological defects.

hep-lat

Gradient Flow Renormalization Schemes for Composite Fermion Operators

We introduce gradient flow (GF) normalization prescriptions for fermionic composite operators in which the flowed fermion wavefunction renormalization factor is fixed nonperturbatively using either the partially conserved axial charge or the conserved vector current. The resulting $A$ and $V$ schemes are defined through standard flowed two-point correlation functions and therefore avoid the backward-flow construction required by local ringed-scheme definitions. In the short-flow-time limit, the $A$ and $V$ schemes can be matched to $\overline{\mathrm{MS}}$ using known ringed-scheme short-flow-time expansion (SFTX) coefficients. We show how these schemes can be implemented through ratios of two-point correlation functions, leading to simple nonperturbative determinations of renormalization factors, anomalous dimensions, and evolution factors which connect lattice-accessible flow times to shorter flow times where perturbative matching is reliable. We illustrate the method with RBC-UKQCD domain-wall fermion ensembles, including a GF determination of the ratio of matching factors $Z_V/Z_A$, and a new GF determination of the renormalized strange quark mass.

hep-lat

A Guide to Symmetric Mass Generation in Lattice-QCD

Symmetric mass generation (SMG) has attracted growing interest in both condensed matter theory and lattice-QCD communities. Here we formulate general criteria for SMG and examine their compatibility with lattice-QCD. We propose possible RG-flow scenarios near the SMG transition, and argue that meson mass ratio can serve as a probe of the SMG transition viewed as a UV fixed point. We further identify Goldstone tetraquark meson states as phenomenological signatures of the "type-II'' SMG phase.

hep-lat

Towards determination of the strong coupling $\alpha_s(m_Z)$ from four-flavor lattice QCD using the continuous $\beta$-function method

The precise value of the strong coupling $\alpha_s(m_{Z})$ at the $Z$-boson mass $m_{Z}$ is essential for high-energy phenomenology and precision tests of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). We present the status of a program targeting a $\sim 0.3\%$ determination of $\alpha_s(m_{Z})$ using the renormalization group $\beta$-function in the infinite volume gradient flow scheme based on lattice QCD simulations of degenerate four-flavor highly improved staggered quark (HISQ) ensembles. In particular, we analyze both tree-level cutoff effects and finite-mass effects. We also outline the next steps of the analysis, including the infinite-volume and continuum extrapolations required for a precise determination of $\alpha_s(m_Z)$.

hep-lat

Symmetric Mass Generation

In recent years tantalizing signs for a novel phase have been reported that is chirally symmetric but nevertheless exhibits massive bound states. The necessary condition for such a phase, referred to as Symmetric Mass Generation (SMG), is the cancellation of all (continuous and discrete) 't~Hooft anomalies. In 3+1 dimensions this occurs in systems containing a multiple of 16 massless Weyl fermions. SMG was originally discovered in lower dimensional condensed matter systems. We present results investigating four dimensional field theories with gauge group SU(3). Our findings suggest that SU(3) with $N_f=8$ fundamental fermions exhibits an SMG phase not only on the lattice but also in the infinite cutoff continuum limit. If confirmed, SMG could provide a new UV completion of the standard model and give rise to new scenarios for beyond standard model physics.

hep-lat

Renormalized quark masses using gradient flow

We propose a new and simple method for determining the renormalized quark masses from lattice simulations. Renormalized quark masses are an important input to many phenomenological applications, including searching and modeling physics beyond the Standard Model. The non-perturbative renormalization is performed using gradient flow combined with the short-flow-time expansion that is improved by renormalization-group (RG) running to match to the $\overline{\text{MS}}$-scheme. Implementing the RG running perturbatively, we demonstrate this method works reliably at least up to the charm-quark mass and exhibits an easily-attainable ``windowing condition''. Using RBC/UKQCD's (2+1)-flavor Shamir domain-wall fermion ensembles with Iwasaki gauge action, we find $m_s^\overline{\text{MS}}(\mu=2 \text{ GeV}) = 90(3)$ MeV and $m_c^\overline{\text{MS}}(\mu=3 \text{ GeV}) = 972(16)$ MeV. These results predict the scale-independent ratio $m_c/m_s= 12.1(4)$. Generalization to other observables is possible, providing an efficient approach to determine non-perturbatively renormalized fermionic observables like form factors or bag parameters from lattice simulations.

hep-lat

Reproducibility and Open Science in Lattice Quantum Field Theory

Reproducibility and Open Science are increasingly discussed as essential aspects of the research process. While there are areas where the Lattice community has been ahead of the curve with respect to the broader research world in this space, including early adoption of open publications via the arXiv, and the introduction of the International Lattice Data Grid in the 2000s, there are other areas where lattice practitioners could benefit from practices already adopted in other disciplines. In this Contribution, we report the outcomes of a panel discussion on this topic at the Lattice 2024 conference; after a discussion on motivations for work in this space, and introductory discussions of the relevant experiences of the panelists, we provide summaries of answers to the questions posed by the audience in the panel.

hep-lat

Symmetric Mass Generation with four SU(2) doublet fermions

We study a single exactly massless staggered fermion in the fundamental representation of an $SU(2)$ gauge group. We utilize an nHYP-smeared fermion action supplemented with additional heavy Pauli-Villars fields which serve to decrease lattice artifacts. The phase diagram exhibits a clear two-phase structure with a conformal phase at weak coupling and a novel new phase, the Symmetric Mass Generation (SMG) phase, appearing at strong coupling. The SMG phase is confining with all states gapped and chiral symmetry unbroken. Our finite size scaling analysis provides strong evidence that the phase transition between these two phases is continuous, which would allow for the existence of a continuum SMG phase. Furthermore, the RG flows are consistent with a $β$-function that vanishes quadratically at the new fixed point suggesting that the $N_f=4$ flavor SU(2) gauge theory lies at the opening of the conformal window.

hep-lat

Investigating SU(3) with Nf=8 fundamental fermions at strong renormalized coupling

Lattice simulations have observed a novel strong coupling symmetric mass generation (SMG) phase for the SU(3) gauge system with $N_f=8$ fundamental fermions (represented by two sets of staggered fields) at very large renormalized coupling ($g^2_{GF} \gtrsim 25$). The results of Phys.Rev.D 106 (2022) 014513 suggest that the SMG phase is separated from the weak coupling, conformal phase by a continuous phase transition, implying that the SMG phase exists in the continuum limit. To scrutinize these findings, we are generating a set of large volume zero temperature ensembles using nHYP improved staggered fermions with additional Pauli-Villars fields to tame gauge field fluctuations. We consider the low-lying meson spectrum and verify the existence of the SMG phase. Based on a finite size scaling analysis we predict that the phase transition between the strong and weak coupling phases is likely governed by a merged fixed point that is ultraviolet in the strong coupling but infrared in the weak coupling side. This finding suggests that the SU(3) 8-flavor system sits at the opening of the conformal window

hep-lat

Infrared fixed point in the massless twelve-flavor SU(3) gauge-fermion system

We present strong numerical evidence for the existence of an infrared fixed point in the renormalization group flow of the SU(3) gauge-fermion system with twelve massless fermions in the fundamental representation. Our numerical simulations using nHYP-smeared staggered fermions with Pauli-Villars improvement do not exhibit any first-order bulk phase transition in the investigated parameter region. We utilize an infinite volume renormalization scheme based on the gradient flow transformation to determine the renormalization group $β$ function. We identify an infrared fixed point at $g^2_{\mathrm{GF}\star}=6.60(62)$ in the GF scheme and calculate the leading irrelevant critical exponent $γ_{g}^{\star}=0.199(32)$. Our prediction for $γ_{g}^{\star}$ is consistent with available literature at the $1\mbox{-}2σ$ level.

hep-lat

Constrained curve fitting for semi-parametric models with radial basis function networks

Common to many analysis pipelines in lattice gauge theory and the broader scientific discipline is the need to fit a semi-parametric model to data. We propose a fit method that utilizes a radial basis function network to approximate the non-parametric component of such models. The approximate parametric model is fit to data using the basin hopping global optimization algorithm. Parameter constraints are enforced through Gaussian priors. The viability of our method is tested by examining its use in a finite-size scaling analysis of the $q$-state Potts model and $p$-state clock model with $q=2,3$ and $p=4,\infty$.

hep-lat

Stealth dark matter spectrum using LapH and Irreps

We present non-perturbative lattice calculations of the low-lying meson and baryon spectrum of the SU(4) gauge theory with fundamental fermion constituents. This theory is one instance of stealth dark matter, a class of strongly coupled theories, where the lowest mass stable baryon is the dark matter candidate. This work constitutes the first milestone in the program to study stealth dark matter self-interactions. Here, we focus on reducing excited state contamination in the single baryon channel by applying the Laplacian Heaviside method, as well as projecting our baryon operators onto the irreducible representations of the octahedral group. We compare our resulting spectrum to previous work involving Gaussian smeared non-projected operators and find good agreement with reduced statistical uncertainties. We also present the spectrum of the low-lying odd-parity baryons for the first time.

hep-lat

$Λ$ parameter of the SU(3) Yang-Mills theory from the continuous $β$ function

Nonperturbative determinations of the renormalization group $β$ function are essential to connect lattice results to perturbative predictions of strongly coupled gauge theories and to determine the $Λ$ parameter or the strong coupling constant. The continuous $β$ function is very well suited for this task because it is applicable both in the weakly coupled deconfined regime as well as the strongly coupled confined regime. Here we report on our results for the $β$ function of the pure gauge SU(3) Yang-Mills theory in the gradient flow scheme. Our calculations cover the renormalized coupling range $g^2_{\textrm{GF}} \sim 1.2 - 27$, allowing for a direct determination of $\sqrt{8t_0} Λ_{\overline{\textrm{MS}}}$ in this system. Our prediction, $\sqrt{8 t_0} Λ_{\overline{\textrm{MS}}}=0.622(10)$, is in good agreement with recent direct determinations of this quantity.

hep-lat

Infrared fixed point of the SU(3) gauge theory with $N_f = 10$ flavors

We use lattice simulations and the continuous renormalization-group method, based on the gradient flow, to calculate the $β$ function and anomalous dimensions of the SU(3) gauge theory with $N_f=10$ flavors of fermions in the fundamental representation. We employ several improvements to extend the range of available renormalized couplings, including the addition of heavy Pauli-Villars bosons to reduce cutoff effects and the combination of a range of gradient flow transformations. While in the weak coupling regime our result is consistent with those of earlier studies, our techniques allow us to study the system at much stronger couplings than previously possible. We find that the renormalization group $β$ function develops a zero, corresponding to an infrared-stable fixed point, at gradient-flow coupling $g^2=15.0(5)$. We also determine the mass and tensor anomalous dimensions: At the fixed point we find $γ_m\simeq0.6$, suggesting that this system might be deep inside the conformal window.

hep-lat

Infrared fixed point and anomalous dimensions in a composite Higgs model

We use lattice simulations and the continuous renormalization-group method, based on the gradient flow, to study a candidate theory of composite Higgs and a partially composite top. The model is an SU(4) gauge theory with four Dirac fermions in each of the fundamental and two-index antisymmetric representations. We find that the theory has an infrared fixed point at $g^2 \simeq 15.5$ in the gradient flow scheme. The mass anomalous dimension of each representation is large at the fixed point. On the other hand, the anomalous dimensions of top-partner operators do not exceed 0.5 at the fixed point. This may not be large enough for a phenomenologically successful model of partial compositeness.

hep-lat

Gradient flow scale setting with tree-level improvement

Lattice scales defined using gradient flow are typically very precise, while also easy to calculate. However, different definitions of flows and operators can differ significantly, suggesting possible systematical effects. Using a subset of RBC-UKQCD's 2+1 flavor domain wall fermion and Iwasaki gauge action ensembles, we explore differences between $\sqrt{t_0}$ and $w_0$ gradient flow scales, compare the impact of different operators to define the energy density, and study the effect of using tree-level improvement for the gradient flow. We find that for this set of gauge field ensembles Zeuthen flow with Symanzik operators has the most consistent approach to the continuum limit and exhibit very small cutoff corrections. Tree-level improvement, traditionally used in step-scaling studies, significantly reduces the spread between different operators, but does not lead to an overall improvement when it comes to reducing cutoff effects for gradient flow scales $\sqrt{t_0}$ or $w_0$.

hep-lat