arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D. Sexty.
We investigate simulations for gauge theories on a Minkowskian space-time lattice. We employ stochastic quantization with optimized updating using stochastic reweighting or gauge fixing, respectively. These procedures do not affect the underlying theory but strongly improve the stability properties of the stochastic dynamics, such that simulations on larger real-time lattices can be performed.
We compute nonequilibrium dynamics for classical-statistical SU(2) pure gauge theory on a lattice. We consider anisotropic initial conditions with high occupation numbers in the transverse plane on a characteristic scale ~ Q_s. This is used to investigate the very early stages of the thermalization process in the context of heavy-ion collisions. We find Weibel or "primary" instabilities with growth rates similar to those obtained from previous treatments employing anisotropic distributions of hard modes (particles) in the weak coupling limit. We observe "secondary" growth rates for higher-momentum modes reaching substantially larger values and we analyse them in terms of resummed loop diagrams beyond the hard-loop approximation. We find that a coarse grained pressure isotropizes "bottom-up" with a characteristic inverse rate of gamma^{-1} ~ 1 - 2 fm/c for coarse graining momentum scales of p < 1 GeV choosing an initial energy density for RHIC of epsilon = 30 GeV/fm^3. The nonequilibrium spatial Wilson loop is found to exhibit an area law and to become isotropic on a similar time scale.
We investigate lattice simulations of scalar and nonabelian gauge fields in Minkowski space-time. For SU(2) gauge-theory expectation values of link variables in 3+1 dimensions are constructed by a stochastic process in an additional (5th) ``Langevin-time''. A sufficiently small Langevin step size and the use of a tilted real-time contour leads to converging results in general. All fixed point solutions are shown to fulfil the infinite hierarchy of Dyson-Schwinger identities, however, they are not unique without further constraints. For the nonabelian gauge theory the thermal equilibrium fixed point is only approached at intermediate Langevin-times. It becomes more stable if the complex time path is deformed towards Euclidean space-time. We analyze this behavior further using the real-time evolution of a quantum anharmonic oscillator, which is alternatively solved by diagonalizing its Hamiltonian. Without further optimization stochastic quantization can give accurate descriptions if the real-time extend of the lattice is small on the scale of the inverse temperature.
Real time rearrangement of particle spectra is studied numerically in a U(1) Gauge+Higgs system, in the unitary gauge and in three spatial dimensions. The cold system starts from the symmetric phase. Evolution of the partial energy densities and pressures reveal well-defined equations of state for the longitudinal and transversal gauge fields very early. Longitudinal modes are excited more efficiently and thermalize the slowest. Hausdorff-dimension of the Higgs-defect manifold, eventually seeding vortex excitations is thoroughly discussed. Scaling dependence of the vortex density on the characteristic time of the symmetry breaking transition is established.
Real time excitations in the broken symmetry phase of the classical Abelian Higgs model are investigated numerically in the unitary gauge. Persistent correlation is detected at finite energy density between the scalar and the longitudinal vector modes, the latter itself displaying non-Gaussian fluctuations. The effect diminishes when the energy density is lowered. Candidate effective mode variables are constructed by non-linear canonical point transformations. Their dispersion relations and equations of state are carefully tested.
Real time field excitations in the broken symmetry phase of the classical abelian Gauge+Higgs model are studied numerically in the unitary gauge, for systems starting from the unstable maximum of the Higgs potential.
The dominance of the direct production of elementary Goldstone waves is demonstrated in tachyonic preheating by numerically determining the evolution of the dispersion relation, the equation of state and the kinetic power spectra for the angular degree of freedom of the complex matter field. The importance of the domain structure in the order parameter distribution for the quantitative understanding of the excitation mechanism is emphasized. Evidence is presented for the very early decoupling of the low-momentum Goldstone modes.
We study the onset of Goldstone phenomenon in a hybrid inflation scenario. The physically motivated range of parameters is analyzed in order to meet the cosmological constraints. Classical equations of motion are solved and the evolution through the spontaneous symmetry breaking is followed. We emphasize the role of topological defects that partially maintain the disordered phase well after the waterfall. We study the emergence of the Goldstone excitations and their role in the onset of the radiation dominated universe.
The squared mass of a complex scalar field is turned dynamically into negative by its O(2)-invariant coupling to a real field slowly rolling down in a quadratic potential. The emergence of gapless excitations is studied in real time simulations after spinodal instability occurs. Careful tests demonstrate that the Goldstone modes appear almost instantly after the symmetry breaking is over, much before thermal equilibrium is established.
An increase in the size of coherent domains in the one component $Φ^4$ field theory under the influence of a uniformly changing external magnetic field near the critical end-point $T_Φ=T_c, h_Φ=0$ was proposed recently as an estimate also for the variation of the chiral correlation length of QCD near its respective hypothetical end point in the $T_{QCD}-μ_{QCD}$ plane. The present detailed numerical investigation of the effective model suggests that passing by the critical QCD end point with realistic rate of temperature change will trigger large amplitude oscillations in the temporal variation of the chiral correlation length. A simple mechanism for producing this phenomenon is suggested.