arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Erhard Seiler.
A formula expressing the fermionic determinant as an infinite product of smaller determinants is derived and discussed. These smaller determinants are of a fixed size, independent of the size of the lattice and are indexed by loops of increasing length.
Monte Carlo methods cannot probe far into the QCD phase diagram with a real chemical potential, due to the famous sign problem. Complex Langevin simulations, using adaptive step-size scaling and gauge cooling, are suited for sampling path integrals with complex weights. We report here on tests of the deconfinement transition in pure Yang-Mills SU(3) simulations and present an update on the QCD phase diagram in the limit of heavy and dense quarks.
Complex Langevin simulations provide an alternative to sample path integrals with complex weights and therefore are suited to determine the phase diagram of QCD from first principles. Adaptive step-size scaling and gauge cooling are used to improve the convergence of our simulations. We present results for the phase diagram of QCD in the limit of heavy quarks and discuss the order of the phase transitions, which are studied by varying the spatial simulation volume.
The sign problem of QCD prevents standard lattice simulations to determine the phase diagram of strong interactions with a finite chemical potential directly. Complex Langevin simulations provide an alternative method to sample path integrals with complex weights. We report on our ongoing project to determine the phase diagram of QCD in the limit of heavy quarks (HDQCD) using Complex Langevin simulations.
It has been noticed long ago that in Higgs models with `complete symmetry breaking' one can move from the confinement to the Higgs regime without crossing a phase boundary, a fact sometimes called referred to as `complementarity'. In a recent paper some doubt was raised about the correctness of the mathematics underlying this fact and it was claimed that the supposed `flaw' would resolve the `paradox' seen in this complementarity. Here we briefly revisit the facts both from a mathematical and a physical point of view and point out that (a) there is no paradox and (b) there is no flaw in the mathematical reasoning.
We use the heavy dense formulation of QCD (HD-QCD) as the basis for an analytic expansion as systematic approximation to QCD at non-zero density, keeping the full Yang-Mills action. We analyse the structure of the baryonic density and other quantities and present data from the complex Langevin equation (CLE) and reweighting (RW) calculations for 2 flavours of Wilson fermions.
We summarise recent progress in simulating QCD at nonzero baryon density using complex Langevin dynamics. After a brief outline of the main idea, we discuss gauge cooling as a means to control the evolution. Subsequently we present a status report for heavy dense QCD and its phase structure, full QCD with staggered quarks, and full QCD with Wilson quarks, both directly and using the hopping parameter expansion to all orders.
Progress in simulating QCD at nonzero baryon density requires, amongst others, substantial numerical effort. Here we propose two different expansions to all orders in the hopping parameter, preserving the full Yang-Mills action, which are much cheaper to simulate. We carry out simulations using complex Langevin dynamics, both in the hopping expansions and in the full theory, for two flavours of Wilson fermions, and agreement is seen at sufficiently high order in the expansion. These results provide support for the use of complex Langevin dynamics to study QCD at nonzero density, both in the full and the expanded theory, and for the convergence of the latter.
Simulations of QCD with a finite chemical potential typically lead to a severe sign problem, prohibiting any standard Monte Carlo approach. Complex Langevin simulations provide an alternative to sample path integrals with oscillating weight factors and therefore potentially enable the determination of the phase diagram of QCD. Here we present results for QCD in the limit of heavy quarks and show evidence that the phase diagram can be mapped out by direct simulation. We apply adaptive step-size scaling and adaptive gauge cooling to ensure the convergence of these simulations.
One of the yet unsolved questions of QCD in the context of the Standard Model is to explain the strong CP problem. A way to look for a better understanding of it is to investigate the theory in the presence of a non-zero topological theta term. On the lattice such a term is complex: hence it introduces a sign problem which, in general, limits the applicability of standard Monte Carlo methods. Here we will discuss the approach of complex Langevin dynamics and show results for both real and imaginary values of theta. We also report on our experience with the gradient flow for real and imaginary theta.
Lefschetz thimbles and complex Langevin dynamics both provide a means to tackle the numerical sign problem prevalent in theories with a complex weight in the partition function, e.g. due to nonzero chemical potential. Here we collect some findings for the quartic model, and for U(1) and SU(2) models in the presence of a determinant, which have some features not discussed before, due to a singular drift. We find evidence for a relation between classical runaways and stable thimbles, and give an example of a degenerate fixed point. We typically find that the distributions sampled in complex Langevin dynamics are related to the thimble(s), but with some important caveats, for instance due to the presence of unstable fixed points in the Langevin dynamics.
In the case of nonabelian gauge theories with a complex weight, a controlled exploration of the complexified configuration space during a complex Langevin process requires the use of SL(N,C) gauge cooling, in order to minimize the distance from SU(N). Here we show that adaptive gauge cooling can lead to an efficient implementation of this idea. First results for SU(3) Yang-Mills theory in the presence of a nonzero theta-term are presented as well.
We first test the Complex Langevin method (CLE) on various simple models. We then introduce the method of Gauge Cooling to control the dynamics of the process and ensure thin distributions in the imaginary direction. We finally apply CLE with gauge cooling to a QCD-related lattice model (HQCD) and compare the results by CLE and by a refined Reweighting method (rRW). Very good agreement is found in all regions of physical interest.
Complex Langevin dynamics can be used to perform numerical simulations of theories with a complex action. In order to justify the procedure, it is important to understand the properties of the real and positive distribution, which is effectively sampled during the stochastic process. In the context of a simple model, we study this distribution and relate the results to the recently derived criteria for correctness. We demonstrate analytically that if the distribution has support only on a strip in the complexified configuration space, correct results are expected.
Complex Langevin dynamics can solve the sign problem appearing in numerical simulations of theories with a complex action. In order to justify the procedure, it is important to understand the properties of the real and positive distribution, which is effectively sampled during the stochastic process. In the context of a simple model, we study this distribution by solving the Fokker-Planck equation as well as by brute force and relate the results to the recently derived criteria for correctness. We demonstrate analytically that it is possible that the distribution has support in a strip in the complexified configuration space only, in which case correct results are expected.
At nonzero chemical potential the numerical sign problem in lattice field theory limits the use of standard algorithms based on importance sampling. Complex Langevin dynamics provides a possible solution, but it has to be applied with care. In this review, we first summarise our current understanding of the approach, combining analytical and numerical insight. In the second part we study SL(N,C) gauge cooling, which was introduced recently as a tool to control complex Langevin dynamics in nonabelian gauge theories. We present new results in Polyakov chain models and in QCD with heavy quarks and compare various adaptive cooling implementations.
The sign problem at nonzero chemical potential prohibits the use of importance sampling in lattice simulations. Since complex Langevin dynamics does not rely on importance sampling, it provides a potential solution. Recently it was shown that complex Langevin dynamics fails in the disordered phase in the case of the three-dimensional XY model, while it appears to work in the entire phase diagram in the case of the three-dimensional SU(3) spin model. Here we analyse this difference and argue that it is due to the presence of the nontrivial Haar measure in the SU(3) case, which has a stabilizing effect on the complexified dynamics. The freedom to modify and stabilize the complex Langevin process is discussed in some detail.
We employ a new method, "gauge cooling", to stabilize complex Langevin simulations of QCD with heavy quarks. The results are checked against results obtained with reweigthing; we find agreement within the estimated errors. The method allows us to go to previously unaccessible high densities.