arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Francis Bursa.
We analyze the meson spectrum in SU(N_c) lattice gauge theory. We use Wilson quarks to measure the pseudoscalar and vector masses in SU(2), SU(3), SU(4) and SU(6), and extrapolate to the large-N_c limit. We find that finite-N_c corrections are small at all values of the quark mass.
We investigate the matching of eigenvalue densities of Wilson loops in SU(N) lattice gauge theory: the eigenvalue densities in 1+1, 2+1 and 3+1 dimensions are nearly identical when the traces of the loops are equal. We show that the matching is present to at least second order in the strong-coupling expansion, and also to second order in perturbation theory. We find that in the continuum limit there is matching at all values of the trace for bare Wilson loops. We confirm numerically that there is matching in these limits and find there are small violations away from them. We discuss the implications for the bulk transitions and for non-analytic gap formation at N = infinity in 2+1 and 3+1 dimensions.
We find a strong-to-weak coupling cross-over in D=2+1 SU(N) lattice gauge theories that appears to become a third-order phase transition at N=\infty, in a similar way to the Gross-Witten transition in the D=1+1 SU(N\to\infty) lattice gauge theory. There is, in addition, a peak in the specific heat at approximately the same coupling that increases with N, which is connected to Z_N monopoles (instantons), reminiscent of the first order bulk transition that occurs in D=3+1 for N > 4. Our calculations are not precise enough to determine whether this peak is due to a second-order phase transition at N=\infty or to a third-order phase transition with different critical behaviour to that of the Gross-Witten transition. We investigate whether the trace of the Wilson loop has a non-analyticity in the coupling at some critical area, but find no evidence for this. However we do find that, just as one can prove occurs in D=1+1, the eigenvalue density of a Wilson loop forms a gap at N=\infty at a critical value of its trace. We show that this gap formation is in fact a corollary of a remarkable similarity between the eigenvalue spectra of Wilson loops in D=1+1 and D=2+1 (and indeed D=3+1): for the same value of the trace, the eigenvalue spectra are nearly identical. This holds for finite as well as infinite N; irrespective of the Wilson loop size in lattice units; and for Polyakov as well as Wilson loops.
We investigate strong-to-weak coupling transitions in D=2+1 SU(N->oo) gauge theories, by simulating lattice theories with a Wilson plaquette action. We find that there is a strong-to-weak coupling cross-over in the lattice theory that appears to become a third-order phase transition at N=oo, in a manner that is essentially identical to the Gross-Witten transition in the D=1+1 SU(oo) lattice gauge theory. There is also evidence for a second order transition at N=oo at approximately the same coupling, which is connected with centre monopoles (instantons) and so analogues to the first order bulk transition that occurs in D=3+1 lattice gauge theories for N>4. We show that as the lattice spacing is reduced, the N=oo gauge theory on a finite 3-torus suffers a sequence of (apparently) first-order ZN symmetry breaking transitions associated with each of the tori (ordered by size). We discuss how these transitions can be understood in terms of a sequence of deconfining transitions on ever-more dimensionally reduced gauge theories.We investigate whether the trace of the Wilson loop has a non-analyticity in the coupling at some critical area, but find no evidence for this although, just as in D=1+1,the eigenvalue density of a Wilson loop forms a gap at N=oo for a critical trace. The physical implications of this are unclear.The gap formation is a special case of a remarkable similarity between the eigenvalue spectra of Wilson loops in D=1+1 and D=2+1 (and indeed D=3+1): for the same value of the trace, the eigenvalue spectra are nearly identical.This holds for finite as well as infinite N; irrespective of the Wilson loop size in lattice units; and for Polyakov as well as Wilson loops.
We investigate numerically various phase transitions and non-analyticities at large N using both twisted Eguchi-Kawai space-time reduction and the standard Wilson theory.
We perform lattice calculations of the spatial 't Hooft k-string tensions in the deconfined phase of SU(N) gauge theories for N=2,3,4,6. These equal (up to a factor of T) the surface tensions of the domain walls between the corresponding (Euclidean) deconfined phases. For T much larger than T_c our results match on to the known perturbative result, which exhibits Casimir Scaling, being proportional to k(N-k). At lower T the coupling becomes stronger and, not surprisingly, our calculations show large deviations from the perturbative T-dependence. Despite this we find that the behaviour proportional to k(N-k) persists very accurately down to temperatures very close to T_c. Thus the Casimir Scaling of the 't Hooft tension appears to be a `universal' feature that is more general than its origin in the low order high-T perturbative calculation. We observe the `wetting' of these k-walls at T around T_c and the (almost inevitable) `perfect wetting' of the k=N/2 domain wall. Our calculations show that as T tends to T_c the magnitude of the spatial `t Hooft string tension decreases rapidly.
We perform lattice calculations of the spatial 't Hooft k-string tensions in the deconfined phase of SU(N) gauge theories for N=2,3,4,6. These equal (up to a factor of T) the surface tensions of the domain walls between the corresponding (Euclidean) deconfined phases. For T much larger than Tc our results match on to the known perturbative result, which exhibits Casimir Scaling, being proportional to k(N-k). At lower T the coupling becomes stronger and, not surprisingly, our calculations show large deviations from the perturbative T-dependence. Despite this we find that the behaviour proportional to k(N-k) persists very accurately down to temperatures very close to Tc. Thus the Casimir Scaling of the 't Hooft tension appears to be a `universal' feature that is more general than its appearance in the low order high-T perturbative calculation. We observe the `wetting' of these k-walls at T around Tc and the (almost inevitable) `perfect wetting' of the k=N/2 domain wall. Our calculations show that as T tends to Tc the magnitude of the spatial `t Hooft string tension decreases rapidly. This suggests the existence of a (would-be) 't Hooft string condensation transition at some temperature which is close to but below Tc. We speculate on the `dual' relationship between this and the (would-be) confining string condensation at the Hagedorn temperature that is close to but above Tc.
We estimate the inclusive double diffractive production of SUSY particles at the LHC using a modified version of the POMWIG Monte Carlo event generator. The diffractive events are produced via the Ingelman-Schlein model for double pomeron exchange. The MSSM parameter space is scanned using the ``Snowmass benchmark points'' and it is shown that the lightest Higgs boson is the only SUSY particle with a large enough rate to be detected using these diffractive events.