arXiv subjects

Francesco Knechtli

Publications and source records attributed to Francesco Knechtli.

104 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2005

Restoring chiral symmetry to O(a^2) for dynamical Wilson fermions

We present results for the non-perturbative determination of the improvement and renormalization factors of the isovector axial current for lattice QCD with two flavors of dynamical Wilson quarks. The improvement and normalization conditions are formulated in terms of matrix elements of the PCAC relation in the Schroedinger functional setup and results are given in the form of interpolating formulae for bare gauge couplings beta=6/g_0^2>5.2.

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arXiv2005

Gauge theories on a five-dimensional orbifold

We present a construction of non-Abelian gauge theories on the R^4 x S^1/Z_2 orbifold. We show that no divergent boundary mass term for the Higgs field, identified with some of the fifth dimensional components of the gauge field, is generated. The formulation of the theories on the lattice requires only Dirichlet boundary conditions that specify the breaking of the gauge group. The first simulations in order to resolve the issue whether these theories can be used at low energy as weakly interacting effective theories have been performed. In case of a positive answer, these theories could provide us with a new framework for studying electroweak symmetry breaking.

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arXiv2005

Towards a non-perturbative computation of the RGI strange quark mass with two dynamical flavors

The non-perturbative running of the quark mass in the Schroedinger functional scheme is computed over a large energy range (covering scales differing by two orders of magnitude). This allows to relate lattice estimates of the running quark mass to the renormalization group invariant mass. The result is used in a preliminary computation of the strange quark mass in the theory with two flavors of non-perturbatively improved Wilson quarks. A more detailed discussion of the calculation can be found in [1].

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arXiv2005

Cutoff effects in the O(N) sigma model at large N

The computation of the step scaling function for the finite size mass-gap in the O(N) sigma model at large N is reviewed. Practically exact nonperturbative results become available for both finite and vanishing lattice spacing. We use them as a testbed to investigate standard procedures of continuum extrapolation in lattice field theory.

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arXiv2005

Non-perturbative quark mass renormalization in two-flavor QCD

The running of renormalized quark masses is computed in lattice QCD with two flavors of massless O(a) improved Wilson quarks. The regularization and flavor independent factor that relates running quark masses to the renormalization group invariant ones is evaluated in the Schroedinger Functional scheme. Using existing data for the scale r_0 and the pseudoscalar meson masses, we define a reference quark mass in QCD with two degenerate quark flavors. We then compute the renormalization group invariant reference quark mass at three different lattice spacings. Our estimate for the continuum value is converted to the strange quark mass with the help of chiral perturbation theory.

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arXiv2005

Cutoff Effects in O(N) Nonlinear Sigma Models

In the nonlinear O(N) sigma model at N=3 unexpected cutoff effects have been found before with standard discretizations and lattice spacings. Here the situation is analyzed further employing additional data for the step scaling function of the finite volume massgap at N=3,4,8 and a large N-study of the leading as well as next-to-leading terms in 1/N. The latter exact results are demonstrated to follow Symanzik's form of the asymptotic cutoff dependence. At the same time, when fuzzed with artificial statistical errors and then fitted like the Monte Carlo results, a picture similar to N=3 emerges. We hence cannot conclude a truly anomalous cutoff dependence but only relatively large cutoff effects, where the logarithmic component is important. Their size shrinks at larger N, but the structure remains similar. The large N results are particularly interesting as we here have exact nonperturbative control over an asymptotically free model both in the continuum limit and on the lattice.

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arXiv2005

Non-perturbative renormalization of the axial current with dynamical Wilson fermions

We present a new normalization condition for the axial current, derived from the PCAC relation with non-vanishing quark mass. This condition is expected to reduce mass effects in the chiral extrapolation of the results for the normalization factor Z_A. The application to the two-flavor theory with improved Wilson fermions shows that this expectation is indeed fulfilled. Using the Schroedinger functional setup we calculate Z_A(g_0^2) as well as the vector current normalization factor Z_V(g_0^2) for beta = 6/g_0^2 >= 5.2.

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arXiv2005

Non-perturbative definition of five-dimensional gauge theories on the R^4 x S^1/Z_2 orbifold

We construct a Z_2 orbifold projection of SU(N) gauge theories formulated in five dimensions with a compact fifth dimension. We show through a non-perturbative argument that no boundary mass term for the Higgs field, identified with some of the fifth dimensional components of the gauge field, is generated, which would be quadratically divergent in the five-dimensional ultraviolet cutoff. This opens the possibility of studying these theories non-perturbatively in order to establish if they can be used as effective weakly interacting theories at low energies. We make preparations for a study on the lattice. In particular we show that only Dirichlet boundary conditions are needed, which specify the breaking pattern of the gauge group at the orbifold fixpoints.

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arXiv2004

Impact of large cutoff-effects on algorithms for improved Wilson fermions

As a feasibility study for a scaling test we investigate the behavior of algorithms for dynamical fermions in the N_f=2 Schroedinger functional at an intermediate volume of 1 fm^4. Simulations were performed using HMC with two pseudo-fermions and PHMC at lattice spacings of approximately 0.1 and 0.07 fm. We show that some algorithmic problems are due to large cutoff-effects in the spectrum of the improved Wilson-Dirac operator and disappear at the smaller lattice spacing. The problems discussed here are not expected to be specific to the Schroedinger functional.

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arXiv2003

Numerical confirmation of analytic predictions for the finite volume mass gap of the XY-model

Recent exact predictions for the massive scaling limit of the two dimensional XY-model are based on the equivalence with the sine-Gordon theory and include detailed results on the finite size behavior. The so-called step-scaling function of the mass gap is simulated with very high precision and found consistent with analytic results in the continuum limit. To come to this conclusion, an also predicted form of a logarithmic decay of lattice artifacts was essential to use for the extrapolation.

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arXiv2003

Dynamical fermions by global acceptance steps

A study of principle is conducted on the inclusion of the fermionic determinant as a Metropolis acceptance correction. It is carried out in the 2-D Schwinger model to prepare later applications to the Schr"odinger functional. A mixed stochastic/determistic acceptance step is found that allows to include some problematic modes in a way to avoid the collapse of the acceptance rate due to fluctuations.

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arXiv2003

Dynamical fermions as a global correction

In the simplified setting of the Schwinger model we present a systematic study on the simulation of dynamical fermions by global accept/reject steps that take into account the fermion determinant. A family of exact algorithms is developed, which combine stochastic estimates of the determinant ratio with the exploitation of some exact extremal eigenvalues of the generalized problem defined by the `old' and the `new' Dirac operator. In this way an acceptable acceptance rate is achieved with large proposed steps and over a wide range of couplings and masses.

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arXiv2001

Two Flavors of Staggered Fermions with Smeared Links

Staggered fermions with smeared links can have greatly improved chiral properties. In a recent paper we introduced a simple and effective method to simulate four flavors of staggered smeared link fermions. In this work we extend the four flavor method to two flavors. We define the two flavor action by the square root of the four flavor fermionic determinant and show that by using a polynomial approximation the two flavor action can be evaluated with the necessary accuracy. We test this method by studying the finite temperature phase structure with hypercubic smeared (HYP) link staggered action on N_t=4 temporal lattices.

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arXiv1999

String breaking in SU(2) gauge theory with scalar matter fields

We investigate the static potential in the confinement phase of the SU(2) Higgs model on the lattice, where this model is expected to have properties similar to QCD. We observe that Wilson loops are inadequate to determine the potential at large distances, where the formation of two color-neutral mesons is expected. Introducing smeared fields and a suitable matrix correlation function, we are able to overcome this difficulty. We observe string breaking at a distance $r_b \approx 1.8 r_0$, where the length scale $r_0$ has a value $r_0 \approx 0.5 fm$ in QCD. The method presented here may lead the way towards a treatment of string breaking in QCD.

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