arXiv subjects

Cihan Pazarbaşı

Publications and source records attributed to Cihan Pazarbaşı.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Exact WKB in all sectors II: Potentials with non-degenerate saddles

We discuss the exact quantization of general one-dimensional potentials in view of the exact-WKB formalism. Building on our previous work, we perform analytic continuations across different sectors via the complexification to the spectral (energy) parameter $u$ and identify continuous and discontinuous transitions of the exact spectrum for generic potentials. When the transition is discontinuous, it is characterized by the Stokes phenomena, inducing different exact (median) quantization conditions, thereby distinct trans-series structures valid in different sectors. We analyze two illustrative examples, namely asymmetric triple-well (ATW) and tilted double-well (TDW), and verify the general qualitative analysis by deriving exact (median) quantization conditions in each sector. Moreover, by obtaining the trans-series solutions for each system, we identify bion/bounce configurations and show that the trans-series of ATW is organized in accordance with the cluster expansion of the bion gas and there should exist a previously neglected complex saddle in the TDW system. These identifications further strengthen the link between path integral and exact-WKB formalisms, while also demonstrating the predictive power of the latter. In parallel, for the P-NP relations of genus-1 systems, we derive transformation rules between any perturbative and non-perturbative pair of WKB-cycles. Our results show that the entire resurgence data of a genus-1 system transforms only by the change of classical parameters, i.e. frequencies and bion/bounce actions, and the perturbative energy series. This also reveals the underlying reasons of the previously found $S$-duality transformations.

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arXiv2026

Exact WKB analysis of inverted triple-well: resonance, PT-symmetry breaking, and resurgence

We study non-Hermitian quantum mechanics of an inverted triple-well potential within the exact WKB framework. For a single classical potential, different Siegert boundary conditions define three distinct quantum problems: the PT-symmetric, resonance, and anti-resonance systems. For each case, we derive the exact quantization condition and construct the associated trans-series solution. By identifying the resurgent structures and cancellations in these non-Hermitian setups, we obtain the median-summed series, clarifying when the spectra are real or complex in accordance with the physical properties of each system. Establishing explicit links to the semi-classical path integral formalism, we elucidate the roles of bounce and bion configurations in these non-Hermitian systems. This analysis predicts PT-symmetry breaking, which we also verify numerically. Using the median quantization conditions, we prove the existence of this symmetry breaking and establish an exact equation for the exceptional point, which emerges as a remarkably simple algebraic relation between the bounce and bion actions. We further show that the median-summed non-perturbative correction to the spectrum vanishes at the exceptional point, while the resurgent structure survives through a universal minimal trans-series. For the resonance and anti-resonance systems, we find that the exact median-summed spectra are related by complex conjugation, representing time reversal in this setting, are necessarily complex, and do not exhibit an exceptional point. Although their spectra differ significantly from the PT-symmetric case, they share the same minimal trans-series. By maintaining explicit links with the path integral saddles and the formal theory of resurgence, our analysis provides a unified and general perspective on the quantization of non-Hermitian theories.

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arXiv2025

Exact WKB in all sectors I: Potentials with degenerate saddles

We explore the exact-WKB (EWKB) method through the analysis of Airy and Weber types, with an emphasis on the exact quantization of locally harmonic potentials in multiple sectors. The core innovation of our work lies in introducing a novel complexification approach to the energy parameter $u$, distinct from the common complexification of the (semi-classical) expansion parameter used in Borel summability. This new technique allows for continuous analytical continuation across different sectors of a potential while maintaining the exact quantization condition, even before median summation. By redefining the $A$-cycle above the potential barrier top, we ensure the quantization condition remains real and, by use of the Stokes automorphism and the median resummation, show that the resurgence structure is preserved across transitions between sectors. Furthermore, we discuss the Weber-type exact-WKB method, offering exact estimates for quantum actions around all types of saddle points, generalizing previous results. Through the analysis of these quantum actions, we reveal the presence of $S$-duality, facilitating the exchange between perturbative and non-perturbative behaviors, and we conjecture the mapping of the P-NP relations between dual theories. Our study encompasses periodic and symmetric double-well potentials, demonstrating that the exact-WKB method captures intricate structures in quantum systems in all sectors, including multi-instanton contributions and the resurgence of quantum actions.

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arXiv2023

Pair Production in Real Proper Time and Unitarity Without Borel Ambiguity

The pair production of scalar particles in electromagnetic background fields is analyzed using real proper time formulation of 1-loop effective action. After explaining how real proper time formulation keeps unitarity of the particle creation process in an unambiguous way and discussing the (lack of) pair production in uniform (magnetic) electric backgrounds, we apply these ideas to general electric field backgrounds. Our approach is based on a recursive perturbative expansion of the proper time propagator $U(t)$ and we show how the pair production probabilities can be obtained from its singularities which arises upon a Pade summation of the expansion. We computed the pair production probabilities for general space or time dependent electric fields in locally constant approximation and showed they match with the well-known worldline instanton calculations of pulse and periodic backgrounds. Later, for one dimensional periodic electric and magnetic backgrounds, we showed how the WKB integrals appear in the classical limit. We linked both cases to specific WKB cycles in different spectral regions of the WKB problem and computed the WKB actions by evaluating the WKB integrals as well as by taking phase space integrals directly along Lefschetz thimbles. Finally, we explain the equivalence of our construction with exact WKB method in the classical limit by showing how the WKB cycles precisely contribute to the pair production process which is in complete agreement with our time dependent setting.

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arXiv2022

Polyakov Model in 't Hooft flux background: A quantum mechanical reduction with memory

We construct a compactification of Polyakov model on $T^2 \times \mathbb R $ down to quantum mechanics which remembers non-perturbative aspects of field theory even at an arbitrarily small area. Standard compactification on small $T^2 \times \mathbb R $ possesses a unique perturbative vacuum (zero magnetic flux state), separated parametrically from higher flux states, and the instanton effects do not survive in the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. By turning on a background magnetic GNO flux in co-weight lattice corresponding to a non-zero 't Hooft flux, we show that $N$-degenerate vacua appear at small torus, and there are $N-1$ types of flux changing instantons between them. We construct QM instantons starting with QFT instantons using the method of replicas. For example, $SU(2)$ gauge theory with flux reduces to the double-well potential where each well is a fractional flux state. Despite the absence of a mixed anomaly, the vacuum structure of QFT and the one of QM are continuously connected. We also compare the quantum mechanical reduction of the Polyakov model with the deformed Yang-Mills, by coupling both theories to TQFTs. In particular, we compare the mass spectrum for dual photons and energy spectrum in the QM limit. We give a detailed description of critical points at infinity in the semi-classical expansion, and their role in resurgence structure.

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arXiv2021

Cluster expansion and resurgence in Polyakov model

In Polyakov model, a non-perturbative mass gap is formed at leading order semi-classics by instanton effects. By using the notions of critical points at infinity, cluster expansion and Lefschetz thimbles, we show that a third order effect in semi-classics gives an imaginary ambiguous contribution to mass gap, which is supposed to be real and unambiguous. This is troublesome for the original analysis, and it is difficult to resolve this issue directly in QFT. However, we find a new compactification of Polyakov model to quantum mechanics, by using a background 't Hooft flux (or coupling to TQFT). The compactification has the merit of remembering the monopole-instantons of the full QFT within Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation, while the periodic compactification does not. In QM, we prove the resurgent cancellation of the ambiguity in 3-instanton sector against ambiguity in the Borel resummation of the perturbation theory around 1-instanton. Assuming that this result holds in QFT, we provide a large-order asymptotics of perturbation theory around perturbative vacuum and instanton.

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arXiv2021

Recursive Generation of The Semi-Classical Expansion in Arbitrary Dimension

We present a recursive procedure, which is based on the small time expansion of the propagator, in order to generate a semi-classical expansion of the \textit{quantum action} for a quantum mechanical potential in arbitrary dimensions. In the method we use the spectral information emerges from the singularities of the propagator on the complex $t$ plane, which are handled by the $i\ve$ prescription and basic complex analysis. This feature allows for generalization to higher dimensions. We illustrate the procedure by providing simple examples in non-relativistic quantum mechanics.

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