Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

G. M. Prosperi

Publications and source records attributed to G. M. Prosperi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2015

Continuous monitoring and the introduction of a classical level in Quantum Theory

In ordinary Quantum Mechanics only ideally instantaneous observations of a quantity or a set of compatible quantities are usually considered. In an old paper of our group in Milano a formalism was introduced for the continuous monitoring of a system during a certain interval of time in the framework of a somewhat generalized approach to Q. M. The outcome was a distribution of probability on the space of all the possible continuous histories of a set of quantities to be considered as a kind of coarse grained approximation to some ordinary quantum observables commuting or not. The main aim was the introduction of a classical level in the context of Quantum Mechanics, treating formally a set of basic quantities {\it to be considered as beables} in the sense of Bell as continuously taken under observation. However the effect of such assumption was a permanent modification of the Liouville-von Neumann equation for the statistical operator by the introduction of a dissipative term which is in conflict with basic conservation rules in all reasonable models we had considered. Difficulties were even encountered for a relativistic extension of the formalism. In this paper I propose a modified version of the original formalism which seems to overcome both difficulties. First I study the simple models of an harmonic oscillator and a free scalar field in which a coarse grain position and a coarse grained field respectively are treated as beables. Then I consider the more realistic case of Spinor Electrodynamics in which only certain coarse grained electric and magnetic fields and no matter related quantities are introduced as classical variables.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2007

Bound state approach to the QCD coupling at low energy scales

We exploit theoretical results on the meson spectrum within the framework of a Bethe-Salpeter (BS) formalism adjusted for QCD, in order to extract an ``experimental'' coupling α_s^{exp}(Q^2) below 1 GeV by comparison with the data. Our results for α_s^{exp}(Q^2) exhibit a good agreement with the infrared safe Analytic Perturbation Theory (APT) coupling from 1 GeV down to 200 MeV. As a main result, we claim that the combined BS-APT theoretical scheme provides us with a rather satisfactory correlated understanding of very high and low energy phenomena.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2007

QCD coupling below 1 GeV from quarkonium spectrum

In this paper we extend the work synthetically presented in Ref.[1] and give theoretical details and complete tables of numerical results. We exploit calculations within a Bethe-Salpeter (BS) formalism adjusted for QCD, in order to extract an ``experimental'' strong coupling α_s^{exp}(Q^2) below 1 GeV by comparison with the meson spectrum. The BS potential follows from a proper ansatz on the Wilson loop to encode confinement and is the sum of a one-gluon-exchange and a confinement terms. Besides, the common perturbative strong coupling is replaced by the ghost-free expression α_E(Q^2) according to the prescription of Analytic Perturbation Theory (APT). The agreement of α_s^{exp}(Q^2) with the APT coupling α_E(Q^2) turns out to be reasonable from 1 GeV down to the 200 MeV scale, thus confirming quantitatively the validity of the APT prescription. Below this scale, the experimental points could give a hint on the vanishing of α_s(Q^2) as Q approaches zero. This infrared behaviour would be consistent with some lattice results and a ``massive'' generalization of the APT approach. As a main result, we claim that the combined BS-APT theoretical scheme provides us with a rather satisfactory correlated understanding of very high and rather low energy phenomena from few hundreds MeV to few hundreds GeV.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2006

Extracting infrared QCD coupling from meson spectrum

In the framework of the Bethe-Salpeter formalism used in previous papers to evaluate the quarkonium spectrum, here we reverse the point of view to extract an ``experimental'' running coupling alpha_s(Q^2) in the infrared (IR) region from the data. The values so obtained agree within the errors with the Shirkov-Solovtsov analytic coupling for 200 MeV <Q< 1.2 GeV, thus giving a very satisfactory unifying description of high and low energy phenomena. Below 1 GeV however alpha_s(Q^2) seems to vanish as Q to 0. The paper is based on a work in progress in collaboration with D.V.Shirkov.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2006

On the running coupling constant in QCD

We try to review the main current ideas and points of view on the running coupling constant in QCD. We begin by recalling briefly the classic analysis based on the Renormalization Group with some emphasis on the exact solutions of the RG equation for a given number of loops, in comparison with the usual approximate expressions. We give particular attention to the problem of eliminating the unphysical Landau singularities, and of defining a coupling that remains significant at the infrared scales. We consider various proposals of couplings directly related to the quark-antiquark potential or to other physical quantities (effective charges) and discuss optimization in the choice of the scale parameter and of the RS. Our main focus is, however, on dispersive methods, their application, their relation with non-perturbative effects. We try also to summarize the main results obtained by Lattice simulations in various MOM schemes. We conclude briefly recalling the traditional comparison with the experimental data.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2004

Running coupling constant and masses in QCD, the meson spectrum

In line with some previous works, we study in this paper the meson spectrum in the framework of a second order quark-antiquark Bethe-Salpeter formalism which includes confinement. An analytic one loop running coupling constant alpha_s(Q), as proposed by Shirkov and Sovlovtsov, is used in the calculations. As for the quark masses, the case of a purely phenomenological running mass for the light quarks in terms of the c. m. momentum is further investigated. Alternatively a more fundamental expression m_P(Q) is introduced for light and strange quarks, combining renormalization group and analyticity requirements with an approximate solution of the Dyson-Schwinger equation. The use of such running coupling constant and masses turns out to be essential for a correct reproduction of the the light pseudoscalar mesons.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2003

Light mesons and infrared behavior of the running coupling constant in QCD

A previous method for handling bound states in QCD is briefly revisited. Taking advantage of the Feynman-Schwinger representation for the iterated quark propagator in an external field, it is possible to give closed representations for certain appropriate (second order) two point and four point Green functions, H^(2)(x-y) and H^(4)(x_1,x_2,y_1,y_2), as path integrals on quark world lines. Then, starting from reasonable assumptions on the Wilson line correlators, a Bethe-Salpeter equation for H^(4) and a Dyson-Schwinger equation for H^(2) can be obtained, which are consistent with the Goldstone theorem in the chiral limit. Such equations are too complicate to be solved directly. However, a reduced Salpeter equation can be derived which is tractable and has been applied to a calculation of the meson spectrum. The results are in general good agreement with the data, but with the important exceptions of the light pseudo scalars (that are related to the breaking of the chiral symmetry). In this scenario two important improvements can be introduced: a) the fixed coupling constant can be replaced by a running coupling constant α_{s}(Q^2) appropriately modified in the infrared region; b) the fixed mass in the reduced equation can be replaced for light quarks by an effective mass depending on the momentum of the particle, as suggested by the form of the DS equation. Then even the light pseudo scalar mesons can be made to agree with to their experimental value.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2002

Confinement and bound states in QCD

I revue the so called Wilson loop approach to bound state problem in QCD. I shall show how using appropriate path integral representations for the quark propagator in an external field it is possible to obtain corresponding path integral representations for various types of gauge invariant Green functions which have the important feature of involving the gauge field only trough Wilson loop correlators or their generalizations. Two different kinds of representations are used, one given in the form of a semi-relativistic expansion, the second completely relativistic of the Feynmann-Schwinger type. In this way starting from reasonable ansatz on the non perturbative part of the Wilson correlator one can obtain: expressions for the semi relativistic (spin dependent and momentum dependent) q \bar q and 3q potentials, a ``second order'' q \bar q Bethe-Salpeter equation and and a related Dyson-Schwinger equation. I shall concentrate on the three quark potential for which new controversial results have been obtained by lattice numerical simulations and on a three dimensional reduction of the BS equation obtained in the form of the eigenvalue equation of of a squared or a usual mass operator. We shall report on a numerical resolution of such equations which seems to give a comprehensive reproduction of the entire meson spectrum with the exception of light pseudo-scalar bound states for which a complete four dimensional treatment should be necessary.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2002

Infrared behavior of the running coupling constant and bound states in QCD

The perturbative expression of the running strong coupling constant α_{\rm s}(Q^{2}) has an unphysical singularity for Q^{2} = Λ^{2}_{\rm QCD}. Various modification have been proposed for the infrared region. The effect of some of such proposals on the quark-antiquark spectrum is tested on a Bethe-Salpeter (second order) formalism which was successfully applied in previous papers to an overall evaluation of the spectrum in the light-light, light-heavy and heavy-heavy sectors (the only serious discrepancy with data being for the light pseudoscalar meson masses). In this paper only the {\rm c} \bar{\rm c}, {\rm b} \bar{\rm b} and {\rm q} \bar{\rm q} (q = u or d) cases are considered and fine structure is neglected. It is found that in the {\rm b} \bar{\rm b} and {\rm c} \bar{\rm c} cases the results are little sensitive to the specific choice. In the light-light case the Dokshitzer et al. prescription is again essentially equivalent to the truncation prescription used in the previous calculation and it is consistent with the same a priori fixing of the quark light masses on the typical current values m_{\rm u} = m_{\rm d} = 10 MeV (only the pion mass resulting completely out of scale of about 500 MeV). With the Shirkov-Solovtsov prescription, on the contrary, a reasonable agreement with the data is obtained only at the price of using a phenomenological momentum dependent effective mass for the quark. The use of such an effective mass should amount to a correction of the free quark propagator. It is remarkable that this has also the effect of bringing the pion mass in the correct range.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2000

B_{c} meson and the light-heavy quarkonium spectrum

We compute the c \bar{b} spectrum from a first principle Salpeter equation obtained in a preceding paper. For comparison we report also the heavy-light quarkonium spectrum and the hyperfine separations previously presented only in a graphical form. Notice that all results are parameter free.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1999

Quark-antiquark Bethe-Salpeter formalism, spectrum and Regge Trajectories

Starting from a path integral representation of appropriate 4-point and 2-point gauge invariant Green functions and from the "Modified Area Law" model for the evaluation of the Wilson loop, a q \bar q Bethe-Salpeter like equation and a related Schwinger-Dyson equation can be obtained. From such equations an effective relativistic Hamiltonian can be derived by standard methods and then applied to the determination of the meson spectrum. The entire known heavy-heavy and heavy-light spectra and the lowest light-light Regge trajectories are rather well reproduced in terms of four parameters alone, the light quark masses being fixed a priori on typical current values.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1999

BS and DS equations in a Wilson loop context in QCD, effective mass operator, q-qbar spectrum

We briefly discuss the quark-antiquark Bethe-Salpeter equation and the quark Dyson-Schwinger equation derived in preceding papers. We also consider the q-qbar quadratic mass operator M^{2} = (w_{1} + w_{2})^{2} + U obtained by three-dimensional reduction of the BS equation and the related approximate center of mass Hamiltonian or linear mass operator H_{CM} = M = w_{1} + w_{2} + V + ... We revue previous results on the spectrum and the Regge trajectories obtained by an approximate diagonalization of H_{CM} and report new results similarly obtained by an approximate diagonalization of H_{CM} and report new results similarly obtained for the original M^{2}. We show that in both cases we succeed to reproduce fairly well the entire meson spectrum in the cases in which the numerical calculations were actually practicable and with the exception of the light pseudoscalar states (related to the chiral symmetry problematic). A small rearrangement of the parameters and the use of a running coupling constant is necessary in the M^{2} case.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1998

First principle qqbar Salpeter equation, spectrum and Regge trajectories

Starting from a first principle Salpeter equation we computed the heavy-heavy, light-light and heavy-light quarkonium spectrum and the ground light-light Regge trajectories. We neglect spin-orbit structures and exclude from our treatment the light pseudoscalar states which in principle would require the use of the full Bethe-Salpeter equation due to the chiral symmetry breaking problem. We found a good agreement with the experimental meson masses and straight Regge trajectories with the right slope and intercepts. Since the parameter are completely specified by the heavy quarkonium spectrum and by high energy scattering, for what concerns light-light and light-heavy quarkonium systems our calculation is essentially parameter free.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1998

Regge trajectories and quarkonium spectrum from a first principle Salpeter equation

We compute the heavy-heavy, light-light and light-heavy quarkonium spectrum starting from a first principle Salpeter equation obtained in a preceding paper. We neglect spin-orbit structures and exclude from our treatment the light pseudoscalar states which in principle would require the use of the full Bethe-Salpeter equation due to the chiral symmetry breaking problem. For the rest we find an overall good agreement with the experimental data. In particular for the light-light case we find straight Regge trajectories with the right slope and intercepts. The strong coupling constant $α_s$, the string tension $σ$ occurring in the potential and the heavy quark masses are taken from the heavy quarkonium semirelativistic fit with only a small rearrangement. The light quark masses are set equal to baricentral value of the current quark masses as reported by the particle data group. For what concerns the light-light and the light-heavy systems the calculation is essentially parameter free.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1997

Schwinger-Dyson Equation, Area Law and Chiral Symmetry in QCD

A Schwinger-Dyson equation for the quark propagator is derived in the context of a Bethe-Salpeter second order formalism developped in preceding papers and of the Minimal Area Law model for the evaluation of the Wilson loop. We discuss how the equal time straight line approximation has to be modified to include correctly trajectories going backwards in time. We also show, by an appropriate selection of the solution of the SD equation, that in the limit of zero quark mass chiral symmetry breaking and a zero mass pseudoscalar meson actually occur. The inclusion of backward quark trajectories proves to be essential to make the model consistent with Goldstone's theorem.

hep-th↗
arXiv1996

The relativistic and nonrelativistic quark-antiquark bound state problem in a Wilson loop context

Taking advantage of a semirelativistic and a full relativistic representation of the quark propagator in an external field we present an unified derivation of the semirelativistic potential and of a Bethe-Salpeter like equation for the quark-antiquark system. We consider three different models for the evaluation of the Wilson loop: the Modified Area Law model (MAL), the Stochastic Vacuum Model (SVM) and the Dual QCD (DQCD). We compare the corresponding potentials and show that they all agree at the short and the long distances. In the case of the Bethe-Salpeter equation we treat explicitly only the MAL model and give an expression for the kernel. Then we show that an effective mass operator can be obtained which agrees with the MAL potential in the semirelativistic limit. In the light quark mass limit this mass operator produces straight Regge trajectories with Nambu-Goto slope in agreement with the data. Finally we briefly discuss the mass independence of the hyperfine splitting in the heavy-light case.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1996

Confinement: Understanding the Relation Between the Wilson Loop and Dual Theories of Long Distance Yang Mills Theory

In this paper we express the velocity dependent, spin dependent heavy quark potential $V_{q\bar q}$ in QCD in terms of a Wilson Loop $W(Γ)$ determined by pure Yang Mills theory. We use an effective dual theory of long-distance Yang Mills theory to calculate $W(Γ)$ for large loops; i.e. for loops of size $R > R_{FT}$. ($R_{FT}$ is the flux tube radius, fixed by the value of the Higgs (monopole) mass of the dual theory, which is a concrete realization of the Mandelstam 't Hooft dual superconductor mechanism of confinement). We replace $W(Γ)$ by $W_{eff}(Γ)$, given by a functional integral over the dual variables, which for $R > R_{FT}$ can be evaluated by a semiclassical expansion, since the dual theory is weakly coupled at these distances. The classical approximation gives the leading contribution to $W_{eff}(Γ)$ and yields a velocity dependent heavy quark potential which for large $R$ becomes linear in $R$, and which for small $R$ approaches lowest order perturbative QCD. This latter fact means that these results should remain applicable down to distances where radiative corrections giving rise to a running coupling constant become important. The spin dependence of the potential reflects the vector coupling of the quarks at long range as well as at short range. The methods developed here should be applicable to any realization of the dual superconductor mechanism. They give an expression determining $W_{eff}(Γ)$ independent of the classical approximation, but semi classical corrections due to fluctuations of the flux tube are not worked out in this paper. Taking these into account should lead to an effective string theory free from the conformal anomaly.

hep-ph↗