arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Ettore Vicari.
We consider ring polymers in good solvents in the dilute limit. We determine the structure factor and the monomer-monomer distribution function. We compute accurately the asymptotic behavior of these functions for small and large momenta and distances by using field-theoretical methods. Phenomenological expressions with the correct asymptotic behaviors are also given.
In the context of four-dimensional SU(N) gauge theories, we study the spectrum of the confining strings. We compute, for the SU(6) gauge theory formulated on a lattice, the three independent string tensions sigma_k related to sources with Z_N charge k=1,2,3, using Monte Carlo simulations. Our results, whose uncertainty is approximately 2% for k=2 and 4% for k=3, are consistent with the sine formula sigma_k/sigma = sin(k pi/N) / \sin(pi/N) for the ratio between sigma_k and the standard string tension sigma, and show deviations from the Casimir scaling. The sine formula is known to emerge in supersymmetric SU(N) gauge theories and in M-theory. We comment on an analogous behavior exhibited by two-dimensional SU(N)xSU(N) chiral models.
We compute the two-point correlation functions of general quadratic operators in the high-temperature phase of the three-dimensional O(N) vector model by using field-theoretical methods. In particular, we study the small- and large-momentum behavior of the corresponding scaling functions, and give general interpolation formulae based on a dispersive approach. Moreover, we determine the crossover exponent $ϕ_T$ associated with the traceless tensorial quadratic field, by computing and analyzing its six-loop perturbative expansion in fixed dimension. We find: $ϕ_T=1.184(12)$, $ϕ_T=1.271(21)$, and $ϕ_T=1.40(4)$ for $N=2,3,5$ respectively.
By using conformal-field theory, we classify the possible irrelevant operators for the Ising model on the square and triangular lattices. We analyze the existing results for the free energy and its derivatives and for the correlation length, showing that they are in agreement with the conformal-field theory predictions. Moreover, these results imply that the nonlinear scaling field of the energy-momentum tensor vanishes at the critical point. Several other peculiar cancellations are explained in terms of a number of general conjectures. We show that all existing results on the square and triangular lattice are consistent with the assumption that only nonzero spin operators are present.
We compute the chiral critical exponents for the chiral transition in frustrated two- and three-component spin systems with noncollinear order, such as stacked triangular antiferromagnets (STA). For this purpose, we calculate and analyze the six-loop field-theoretical expansion of the renormalization-group function associated with the chiral operator. The results are in satisfactory agreement with those obtained in the recent experiment on the XY STA CsMnBr_3 reported by V. P. Plakhty et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 3942 (2000), providing further support for the continuous nature of the chiral transition.
We consider the Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson Hamiltonian with O(n)x O(m) symmetry and compute the critical exponents at all fixed points to O(n^{-2}) and to O(ε^3) in a ε=4-d expansion. We also consider the corresponding non-linear sigma model and determine the fixed points and the critical exponents to O(\tildeε^2) in the \tildeε=d-2 expansion. Using these results, we draw quite general conclusions on the fixed-point structure of models with O(n)xO(m) symmetry for n large and all 2 < d < 4.
We improve the theoretical estimates of the critical exponents for the three-dimensional XY universality class. We find alpha=-0.0146(8), gamma=1.3177(5), nu=0.67155(27), eta=0.0380(4), beta=0.3485(2), and delta=4.780(2). We observe a discrepancy with the most recent experimental estimate of alpha; this discrepancy calls for further theoretical and experimental investigations. Our results are obtained by combining Monte Carlo simulations based on finite-size scaling methods, and high-temperature expansions. Two improved models (with suppressed leading scaling corrections) are selected by Monte Carlo computation. The critical exponents are computed from high-temperature expansions specialized to these improved models. By the same technique we determine the coefficients of the small-magnetization expansion of the equation of state. This expansion is extended analytically by means of approximate parametric representations, obtaining the equation of state in the whole critical region. We also determine the specific-heat amplitude ratio.
We compute the renormalized four-point coupling in the 2d Ising model using transfer-matrix techniques. We greatly reduce the systematic uncertainties which usually affect this type of calculations by using the exact knowledge of several terms in the scaling function of the free energy. Our final result is g4=14.69735(3).
We study the critical behavior of frustrated spin models with noncollinear order, including stacked triangular antiferromagnets and helimagnets. For this purpose we compute the field-theoretic expansions at fixed dimension to six loops and determine their large-order behavior. For the physically relevant cases of two and three components, we show the existence of a new stable fixed point that corresponds to the conjectured chiral universality class. This contradicts previous three-loop field-theoretical results but is in agreement with experiments.
We address the problem of determining the critical equation of state of three-dimensional XY systems. For this purpose we first consider the small-field expansion of the effective potential (Helmholtz free energy) in the high-temperature phase. We compute the first few nontrivial zero-momentum n-point renormalized couplings, which parametrize such expansion, by analyzing the high-temperature expansion of an improved lattice Hamiltonian with suppressed leading scaling corrections. These results are then used to construct parametric representations of the critical equation of state which are valid in the whole critical regime, satisfy the correct analytic properties (Griffith's analyticity), and take into account the Goldstone singularities at the coexistence curve. A systematic approximation scheme is introduced, which is limited essentially by the number of known terms in the small-field expansion of the effective potential. From our approximate representations of the equation of state, we derive estimates of universal ratios of amplitudes. For the specific-heat amplitude ratio we obtain A^+/A^-=1.055(3), to be compared with the best experimental estimate A^+/A^-=1.054(1).
High-temperature series are computed for a generalized $3d$ Ising model with arbitrary potential. Two specific ``improved'' potentials (suppressing leading scaling corrections) are selected by Monte Carlo computation. Critical exponents are extracted from high-temperature series specialized to improved potentials, achieving high accuracy; our best estimates are: $γ=1.2371(4)$, $ν=0.63002(23)$, $α=0.1099(7)$, $η=0.0364(4)$, $β=0.32648(18)$. By the same technique, the coefficients of the small-field expansion for the effective potential (Helmholtz free energy) are computed. These results are applied to the construction of parametric representations of the critical equation of state. A systematic approximation scheme, based on a global stationarity condition, is introduced (the lowest-order approximation reproduces the linear parametric model). This scheme is used for an accurate determination of universal ratios of amplitudes. A comparison with other theoretical and experimental determinations of universal quantities is presented.
We determine the critical exponents for the XY universality class in three dimensions, which is expected to describe the $λ$-transition in ${}^4$He. They are obtained from the analysis of high-temperature series computed for a two-component $λϕ^4$ model. The parameter $λ$ is fixed such that the leading corrections to scaling vanish. We obtain $ν= 0.67166(55)$, $γ= 1.3179(11)$, $α=-0.0150(17)$. These estimates improve previous theoretical determinations and agree with the more precise experimental results for liquid Helium.
We study the Euclidean two-point correlation function $G_q(x)$ of the topological charge density in QCD. A general statement based on reflection positivity tells us that $G_q(x)<0$ for $x\neq 0 $. On the other hand the topological susceptibility $χ_q=\int d^d x G_q(x)$ is a positive quantity. This indicates that $G_q(x)$ developes a positive contact term at $x=0$, that contributes to the determination of the physical value of $χ_q$. We show explicitly these features of $G_q(x)$ in a solvable nontrivial continuum model, the two-dimensional $CP^{N-1}$ model in the large-N limit. A similar analysis is done on the lattice.
Interacting physical systems in the neighborhood of criticality (and massive continuum field theories) can often be characterized by just two physical scales: a (macroscopic) correlation length and a (microscopic) interaction range, related to the coupling and measured by the Ginzburg number $G$. A critical crossover limit can be defined when both scales become large while their ratio stays finite. The corresponding scaling functions are universal, and they are related to the standard field-theory renormalization-group functions. The critical crossover describes the unique flow from the Gaussian to the nonclassical fixed point.
In three-dimensional O(N) models, we investigate the low-momentum behavior of the two-point Green's function G(x) in the critical region of the symmetric phase. We consider physical systems whose criticality is characterized by a a rotationally-invariant fixed point. In non rotationally-invariant physical systems with O(N)-invariant interactions, the vanishing of anisotropy in approaching the rotationally-invariant fixed point is described by a critical exponent rho, which is universal and is related to the leading irrelevant operator breaking rotational invariance. At N=infinity one finds rho=2. 1/N expansion and strong-coupling calculations show that, for all values of N>=0, rho~2. Non-Gaussian corrections to the universal low-momentum behavior of G(x) are evaluated, and found to be very small.
We construct sequences of ``field theoretical'' (analytical) lattice topological charge density operators which formally approach geometrical definitions in 2-d $CP^{N-1}$ models and 4-d $SU(N)$ Yang Mills theories. The analysis of these sequences of operators suggests a new way of looking at the geometrical method, showing that geometrical charges can be interpreted as limits of sequences of field theoretical (analytical) operators. In perturbation theory renormalization effects formally tend to vanish along such sequences. But, since the perturbative expansion is asymptotic, this does not necessarily lead to well behaved geometrical limits. It indeed leaves open the possibility that non-perturbative renormalizations survive.
The general features of the 1/N expansion in statistical mechanics and quantum field theory are briefly reviewed both from the theoretical and from the phenomenological point of view as an introduction to a more detailed analysis of the large-N properties of spin and gauge models possessing the symmetry group $SU(N) \times SU(N)$. An extensive discussion of the known properties of the single-link integral (equivalent to YM_2 and one-dimensional chiral models) includes finite-$N$ results, the external field solution, properties of the determinant, and the double scaling limit. Two major classes of solvable generalizations are introduced: one-dimensional closed chiral chains and models defined on a $d-1$ dimensional simplex. In both cases large-N solutions are presented with emphasis on their double scaling properties. The available techniques and results concerning unitary-matrix models that correspond to asymptotically free quantum field theories (two-dimensional chiral models and four-dimensional QCD) are discussed, including strong-coupling methods, reduced formulations, and the Monte Carlo approach.
The possibility of removing the one-loop perturbative effects of lattice artifacts by a proper choice of the lattice action is explored, and found to depend crucially on the properties of the physical quantity considered. In this respect the finite-space-volume mass gap m(L) is an improved observable. We find an explicit momentum space representation of the one-loop contribution to m(L) for arbitrary lattice actions in the case of two-dimensional O(N) sigma models. We define a ``tree perfect'' Symanzik action and find that it formally removes all one-loop lattice artifacts in m(L). On-shell improved actions do not share this property.