arXiv subjects

Bastian B. Brandt

Publications and source records attributed to Bastian B. Brandt.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

QCD at finite isospin chemical potential

We investigate the properties of QCD at finite isospin chemical potential at zero and non-zero temperatures. This theory is not affected by the sign problem and can be simulated using Monte-Carlo techniques. With increasing isospin chemical potential and temperatures below the deconfinement transition the system changes into a phase where charged pions condense, accompanied by an accumulation of low modes of the Dirac operator. The simulations are enabled by the introduction of a pionic source into the action, acting as an infrared regulator for the theory, and physical results are obtained by removing the regulator via an extrapolation. We present an update of our study concerning the associated phase diagram using 2+1 flavours of staggered fermions with physical quark masses and the comparison to Taylor expansion. We also present first results for our determination of the equation of state at finite isospin chemical potential and give an example for a cosmological application. The results can also be used to gain information about QCD at small baryon chemical potentials using reweighting with respect to the pionic source parameter and the chemical potential and we present first steps in this direction.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

Spectrum of the open QCD flux tube and its effective string description I: 3d static potential in SU(N=2,3)

We perform a high precision measurement of the static $q\bar{q}$ potential in three-dimensional SU($N$) gauge theory with $N=2,3$ and compare the results to the potential obtained from the effective string theory. In particular, we show that the exponent of the leading order correction in $1/R$ is 4, as predicted, and obtain accurate results for the continuum limits of the string tension and the non-universal boundary coefficient $\bar{b}_2$, including an extensive analysis of all types of systematic uncertainties. We find that the magnitude of $\bar{b}_2$ decreases with increasing $N$, leading to the possibility of a vanishing $\bar{b}_2$ in the large $N$ limit. In the standard form of the effective string theory possible massive modes and the presence of a rigidity term are usually not considered, even though they might give a contribution to the energy levels. To investigate the effect of these terms, we perform a second analysis, including these contributions. We find that the associated expression for the potential also provides a good description of the data. The resulting continuum values for $\bar{b}_2$ are about a factor of 2 smaller than in the standard analysis, due to contaminations from an additional $1/R^4$ term. However, $\bar{b}_2$ shows a similar decrease in magnitude with increasing $N$. In the course of this extended analysis we also obtain continuum results for the masses appearing in the additional terms and we find that they are around twice as large as the square root of the string tension in the continuum and compatible between SU(2) and SU(3) gauge theory. In the follow up papers we will extend our investigations to the large $N$ limit and excited states of the open flux tube.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

On the strength of the $U_A(1)$ anomaly at the chiral phase transition in $N_f=2$ QCD

We study the thermal transition of QCD with two degenerate light flavours by lattice simulations using $O(a)$-improved Wilson quarks. Temperature scans are performed at a fixed value of $N_t = (aT)^{-1}=16$, where $a$ is the lattice spacing and $T$ the temperature, at three fixed zero-temperature pion masses between 200 MeV and 540 MeV. In this range we find that the transition is consistent with a broad crossover. As a probe of the restoration of chiral symmetry, we study the static screening spectrum. We observe a degeneracy between the transverse isovector vector and axial-vector channels starting from the transition temperature. Particularly striking is the strong reduction of the splitting between isovector scalar and pseudoscalar screening masses around the chiral phase transition by at least a factor of three compared to its value at zero temperature. In fact, the splitting is consistent with zero within our uncertainties. This disfavours a chiral phase transition in the $O(4)$ universality class.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2016

Static and non-static vector screening masses

Thermal screening masses of the conserved vector current are calculated both in a weak-coupling approach and in lattice QCD. The inverse of a screening mass can be understood as the length scale over which an external electric field is screened in a QCD medium. The comparison of screening masses both in the zero and non-zero Matsubara frequency sectors shows good agreement of the perturbative and the lattice results. Moreover, at $T\approx 508\mathrm{MeV}$ the lightest screening mass lies above the free result ($2πT$), in agreement with the $\mathcal{O}(g^2)$ weak-coupling prediction.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2016

QCD phase diagram with isospin chemical potential

In this contribution we investigate the phase diagram of QCD in the presence of an isospin chemical potential. To alleviate the infrared problems of the theory associated with pion condensation, we introduce the pionic source as an infrared regulator. We discuss various methods to extrapolate the results to vanishing pionic source, including a novel method based on the singular value spectrum of the massive Dirac operator, a leading-order reweighting and a spline Monte-Carlo fit. Our main results concern the phase transition boundary between the normal and the pion condensation phases and the chiral/deconfinement transition temperature as a function of the chemical potential. In addition, we perform a quantitative comparison between our direct results and a Taylor-expansion obtained at zero chemical potential to assess the applicability range of the latter.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2016

Induced QCD I: Theory

We explore an alternative discretization of continuum SU(N_c) Yang-Mills theory on a Euclidean spacetime lattice, originally introduced by Budzcies and Zirnbauer. In this discretization the self-interactions of the gauge field are induced by a path integral over N_b auxiliary boson fields, which are coupled linearly to the gauge field. The main progress compared to earlier approaches is that N_b can be as small as N_c. In the present paper we (i) extend the proof that the continuum limit of the new discretization reproduces Yang-Mills theory in two dimensions from gauge group U(N_c) to SU(N_c), (ii) derive refined bounds on N_b for non-integer values, and (iii) perform a perturbative calculation to match the bare parameter of the induced gauge theory to the standard lattice coupling. In follow-up papers we will present numerical evidence in support of the conjecture that the induced gauge theory reproduces Yang-Mills theory also in three and four dimensions, and explore the possibility to integrate out the gauge fields to arrive at a dual formulation of lattice QCD.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2016

Effective string description of confining flux tubes

We review the current knowledge about the theoretical foundations of the effective string theory for confining flux tubes and the comparison of the predictions to pure gauge lattice data. A concise presentation of the effective string theory is provided, incorporating recent developments. We summarize the predictions for the spectrum and the profile/width of the flux tube and their comparison to lattice data. The review closes with a short summary of open questions for future research.

hep-th↗

arXiv2015

Charge transport and vector meson dissociation across the thermal phase transition in lattice QCD with two light quark flavors

We compute and analyze correlation functions in the isovector vector channel at vanishing spatial momentum across the deconfinement phase transition in lattice QCD. The simulations are carried out at temperatures $T/T_c=0.156, 0.8, 1.0, 1.25$ and $1.67$ with $T_c\simeq203$MeV for two flavors of Wilson-Clover fermions with a zero-temperature pion mass of $\simeq270$MeV. Exploiting exact sum rules and applying a phenomenologically motivated ansatz allows us to determine the spectral function $ρ(ω,T)$ via a fit to the lattice correlation function data. From these results we estimate the electrical conductivity across the deconfinement phase transition via a Kubo formula and find evidence for the dissociation of the $ρ$ meson by resolving its spectral weight at the available temperatures. We also apply the Backus-Gilbert method as a model-independent approach to this problem. At any given frequency, it yields a local weighted average of the true spectral function. We use this method to compare kinetic theory predictions and previously published phenomenological spectral functions to our lattice study.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2015

Induced YM theory with auxiliary bosons

We study pure SU(N) lattice gauge theory with a plaquette weight factor given by an inverse determinant which can be written as an integral over auxiliary bosonic fields (modifying a proposal of Budczies and Zirnbauer). We derive conditions for the existence of a continuum limit and its equivalence to Yang-Mills theory. Furthermore, we perturbatively compute the relation between the coupling constants of the `induced' gauge action and the familiar Wilson gauge action using the background-field technique. The perturbative relation agrees well with numerical results for N=2 in three dimensions.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2015

QCD spectroscopy and quark mass renormalisation in external magnetic fields with Wilson fermions

We study the change of the QCD spectrum of low-lying mesons in the presence of an external magnetic field using Wilson fermions in the quenched approximation. Motivated by qualitative differences observed in the spectra of overlap and Wilson fermions for large magnetic fields, we investigate the dependence of the additive quark mass renormalisation on the magnetic field. We provide evidence that the magnetic field changes the critical quark mass both in the free case and on our quenched ensemble. The associated change of the bare quark mass with the magnetic field affects the spectrum and is relevant for the magnetic field dependence of a number of related quantities. We derive Ward identities for lattice and continuum QCD+QED from which we can extract the current quark masses. We also report on a first test of the tuning of the quark masses with the magnetic field using the current quark masses, and show that this tuning resolves the qualitative discrepancy between the Wilson and overlap spectra.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2015

The pion quasiparticle in the low-temperature phase of QCD

We investigate the properties of the pion quasiparticle in the low-temperature phase of two-flavor QCD on the lattice with support from chiral effective theory. We find that the pion quasiparticle mass is significantly reduced compared to its value in the vacuum, in contrast to the static screening mass, which increases with temperature. By a simple argument, the two masses are expected to determine the quasiparticle dispersion relation near the chiral limit. Analyzing two-point functions of the axial charge density at non-vanishing spatial momentum, we find that the predicted dispersion relation and the residue of the pion pole are simultaneously consistent with the lattice data at low momentum. The test, based on fits to the correlation functions, is confirmed by a second analysis using the Backus-Gilbert method.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2015

The pion quasiparticle in the low-temperature phase of QCD

We investigate the properties of the pion quasiparticle in the low-temperature phase of two-flavor QCD on the lattice with support from chiral effective theory. We find that the pion quasiparticle mass is significantly reduced compared to its value in the vacuum, by contrast with the static screening mass, which increases with temperature. By a simple argument, near the chiral limit the two masses are expected to determine the quasiparticle dispersion relation. Analyzing two-point functions of the axial charge density at non-vanishing spatial momentum, we find that the predicted dispersion relation and the residue of the pion pole are simultaneously consistent with the lattice data at low momentum. The test, based on fits to the correlation functions, is confirmed by a second analysis using the Backus-Gilbert method.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2014

Induced QCD with two auxiliary bosonic fields

Following a proposal of Budczies and Zirnbauer, we investigate an alternative lattice discretization of continuum ${\rm SU}(N_c)$ Yang-Mills theory in which the self-interactions of the gauge field are induced by a path integral over $N_b\ge N_c-1$ auxiliary bosonic fields which are coupled linearly to the gauge field. In two dimensions there exists an analytic proof that the new discretization reproduces Yang-Mills theory in its non-perturbative continuum limit. We provide numerical evidence that this is also the case in three and four dimensions and that, after a suitable matching of the free parameters, the results of the induced theory agree with results from the ordinary plaquette action up to lattice artifacts. The new discretization is ideally suited to change the order of integration in the QCD path integral to arrive at formulations in which the gauge fields have been integrated out. The resulting theories might be amenable to methods previously used in the infinite-coupling limit, and we briefly discuss possibilities to arrive at dual representations of lattice QCD.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2014

Chiral dynamics in the low-temperature phase of QCD

We investigate the low-temperature phase of QCD and the crossover region with two light flavors of quarks. The chiral expansion around the point $(T, m_q = 0)$ in the temperature vs. quark-mass plane indicates that a sharp real-time excitation exists with the quantum numbers of the pion. We determine its dispersion relation and test the applicability of the chiral expansion. The time-dependent correlators are also analyzed using the Maximum Entropy Method (MEM), yielding consistent results. Finally, we test the predictions of ordinary chiral perturbation theory around the point $(T = 0, m_q = 0)$ for the temperature dependence of static observables. Around the crossover temperature, we find that all quantities considered depend only mildly on the quark mass in the considered range 8MeV $\leq \bar{m}^{\bar{\text{MS}}} \leq$ 15MeV.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2014

Chiral dynamics in the low-temperature phase of QCD

We investigate the low-temperature phase of QCD and the crossover region with two light flavors of quarks. The chiral expansion around the point $(T,m=0)$ in the temperature vs. quark-mass plane indicates that a sharp real-time excitation exists with the quantum numbers of the pion. An exact sum rule is derived for the thermal modification of the spectral function associated with the axial charge density; the (dominant) pion pole contribution obeys the sum rule. We determine the two parameters of the pion dispersion relation using lattice QCD simulations and test the applicability of the chiral expansion. The time-dependent correlators are also analyzed using the Maximum Entropy Method, yielding consistent results. Finally, we test the predictions of the chiral expansion around the point $(T=0,m=0)$ for the temperature dependence of static observables.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2014

The electromagnetic form factor of the pion: Results from the lattice

This review contains an overview over recent results for the electromagnetic iso-vector form factor of the pion obtained in lattice QCD with dynamical fermions. Particular attention is given to the extrapolation to the physical point and an easy assessment of the control over the main systematic effects by imposing quality criteria and an associated sign code, similar to the ones used by the FLAG working group. Also included is a brief discussion of recent developments and future challenges concerning the accurate extraction of the form factor in the lattice framework.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2013

QCD thermodynamics with O(a) improved Wilson fermions at Nf=2

We present an update of our study of the phase diagram of two-flavour QCD at zero baryon density with dynamical $O(a)$ improved Wilson quarks. All simulations are done on lattices with a temporal extent of $N_t=16$ and spatial extent $L=32,48$ and 64, ensuring that discretisation effects are small and finite size effects can be controlled. In the approach to the chiral limit we currently have three scans with pion masses between 540 and 200 MeV. In this proceedings article the focus is on the new scan at $m_π=200$ MeV and the measurement of screening masses. We also present first results concerning a test of scaling in the approach to the chiral limit and the chiral extrapolation of the difference of screening masses in scalar and pseudoscalar channels, which provides a measure for the strength of the anomalous breaking of the $U_A(1)$ symmetry.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2013

Antiscreening of the Ampere force in QED and QCD plasmas

The static forces between electric charges and currents are modified at the loop level by the presence of a plasma. While electric charges are screened, currents are not. The effective coupling constant at long distances is enhanced in both cases as compared to the vacuum, and by different amounts, a clear sign that Lorentz symmetry is broken. We investigate these effects quantitatively, first in a QED plasma and secondly using non-perturbative simulations of QCD with two light degenerate flavors of quarks.

hep-lat↗