arXiv subjects

G. W. Semenoff

Publications and source records attributed to G. W. Semenoff.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv1997

D-brane Configurations and Nicolai Map in Supersymmetric Yang-Mills Theory

We discuss some properties of a supersymmetric matrix model that is the dimensional reduction of supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory in ten dimensions and which has been recently argued to represent the short-distance structure of M theory in the infinite momentum frame. We describe a reduced version of the matrix quantum mechanics and derive the Nicolai map of the simplified supersymmetric matrix model. We use this to argue that there are no phase transitions in the large-N limit, and hence that S-duality is preserved in the full eleven dimensional theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv1997

Vacuum Structure of Two-Dimensional Gauge Theories for Arbitrary Lie Groups

Using the well established machinery of Wilson loop calculations we investigate the multiple vacua of two dimensional Yang-Mills theories with infinitely massive adjoint matter. In particular, via group theoretical techniques we calculate string tensions between charges and find the number of vacua for each compact Lie symmetry group. The counting of vacua is in agreement with the standard classification based on the topology of the effective gauge group $π_1(G/Z)$ when one considers arbitrary numbers of adjoint charges in the system. For systems with limited numbers of charges we find additional "meta-stable" vacuum states. Finally we discuss t'Hooft's disorder operators in this setting as number operators for the multiple vacua.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1996

Deconfinement Transition for Quarks on a Line

We examine the statistical mechanics of a 1-dimensional gas of both adjoint and fundamental representation quarks which interact with each other through 1+1-dimensional U(N) gauge fields. Using large-N expansion we show that, when the density of fundamental quarks is small, there is a first order phase transition at a critical temperature and adjoint quark density which can be interpreted as deconfinement. When the fundamental quark density is comparable to the adjoint quark density, the phase transition becomes a third order one. We formulate a way to distinguish the phases by considering the expectation values of high winding number Polyakov loop operators.

hep-th↗

arXiv1996

Vacuum Structure and $θ$ States of Adjoint QCD in Two Dimensions

We address the issue of topological angles in the context of two dimensional SU(N) Yang-Mills theory coupled to massive fermions in the adjoint representation. Classification of the resulting multiplicity of vacua is carried outin terms of asymptotic fundamental Wilson loops, or equivalently, charges at the boundary of the world. We explicitly demonstrate that the multiplicity of vacuum states is equal to N for SU(N) gauge group. Different worlds of the theory are classified by the integer number k=0,1,...N-1 (superselection rules) which plays an analogous role to the $θ$ parameter in QCD. Via two completely independent approaches we study the physical properties of these unconnected worlds as a function of k. First, we apply the well known machinery of the loop calculus in order to calculate the effective string tensions in the theory as function of $k$. The second way of doing the same physics is the standard particle/field theoretic calculation for the binding potential of a pair of infinitely massive fermions. We also calculate the vacuum energy as function of k.

hep-th↗

arXiv1996

Adjoint non-Abelian Coulomb gas at large N

The non-Abelian analog of the classical Coulomb gas is discussed. The statistical mechanics of arrays of classical particles which transform under various representations of a non-Abelian gauge group and which interact through non-Abelian electric fields are considered. The problem is formulated on the lattice and, for the case of adjoint charges, it is solved in the large N limit. The explicit solution exhibits a first order confinement-de-confinement phase transition with computable properties. In one dimension, the solution has a continuum limit which describes 1+1-dimensional quantum chromodynamics (QCD) with heavy adjoint matter.

hep-th↗

arXiv1995

Conformal Motions and the Duistermaat-Heckman Integration Formula

We derive a geometric integration formula for the partition function of a classical dynamical system and use it to show that corrections to the WKB approximation vanish for any Hamiltonian which generates conformal motions of some Riemannian geometry on the phase space. This generalizes previous cases where the Hamiltonian was taken as an isometry generator. We show that this conformal symmetry is similar to the usual formulations of the Duistermaat-Heckman integration formula in terms of a supersymmetric Ward identity for the dynamical system. We present an explicit example of a localizable Hamiltonian system in this context and use it to demonstrate how the dynamics of such systems differ from previous examples of the Duistermaat-Heckman theorem.

hep-th↗

arXiv1995

Gauged Yukawa Matrix Models and 2-Dimensional Lattice Theories

We argue that chiral symmetry breaking in three dimensional QCD can be identified with Néel order in 2-dimensional quantum antiferromagnets. When operators which drive the chiral transition are added to these theories, we postulate that the resulting quantum critical behavior is in the universality class of gauged Yukawa matrix models. As a consequence, the chiral transition is typically of first order, although for a limited class of parameters it can be second order with computable critical exponents.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1995

Phase Transitions and Mass Generation in 2+1 Dimensions

The possibility that the epsilon expansion can predict the order of phase transitions in three dimensional field theories is examined. For a Hermitean matrix-valued order parameter, the epsilon expansion predicts fluctuation induced first order phase transitions. We analyze two 2+1-dimensional quantum field theories which exhibit spontaneous symmetry breaking and have martix order parameters. Using the large $N$ expansion, we show that these models exhibit second order transitions and discuss the implications for the chiral symmetry breaking transition in 2+1-dimensional QCD for a critical number of quark flavors.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1994

QCD(1+1) with massless quarks and gauge covariant Sugawara construction

We use the Hamiltonian framework to study massless QCD$_{1+1}$, i.e.\ Yang-Mills gauge theories with massless Dirac fermions on a cylinder (= (1+1) dimensional spacetime $S^1\times \R$) and make explicite the full, non-perturbative structure of these quantum field theory models. We consider $N_F$ fermion flavors and gauge group either $\U(N_C)$, $\SU(N_C)$ or another Lie subgroup of $\U(N_C)$. In this approach, anomalies are traced back to kinematical requirements such as positivity of the Hamiltonian, gauge invariance, and the condition that all observables are represented by well-defined operators on a Hilbert space. We also give equal time commutators of the energy momentum tensor and find a gauge-covariant form of the (affine-) Sugawara construction. This allows us to represent massless QCD$_{1+1}$ as a gauge theory of Kac-Moody currents and prove its equivalence to a gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten model with a dynamical Yang-Mills field.

hep-th↗

arXiv1993

Correlators of the Kazakov-Migdal Model

We derive loop equations for the one-link correlators of gauge and scalar fields in the Kazakov-Migdal model. These equations determine the solution of the model in the large N limit and are similar to analogous equations for the Hermitean two-matrix model. We give an explicit solution of the equations for the case of a Gaussian, quadratic potential. We also show how similar calculations in a non-Gaussian case reduce to purely algebraic equations.

hep-th↗

arXiv1993

Gribov ambiguity and non-trivial vacuum structure of gauge theories on a cylinder

Using the hamiltonian framework, we analyze the Gribov problem for U(N) and SU(N) gauge theories on a cylinder (= (1+1) dimensional spacetime with compact space S^1). The space of gauge orbits is found to be an orbifold. We show by explicit construction that a proper treatment of the Gribov ambiguity leads to a highly non-trivial structure of all physical states in these quantum field theory models. The especially interesting example of massless QCD is discussed in more detail: There, some of the special static gauge transformations which are responsible for the Gribov ambiguity also lead to a spectral flow, and this implies a chiral condensate in all physical states. We also show that the latter is closely related to the Schwinger term and the chiral anomaly.

hep-th↗

arXiv1992

Induced QCD Without Local Confinement

We examine some properties of the filled Wilson loop observables in the Kazakov-Migdal model of induced QCD. We show that they have a natural interpretation in a modification of the original model in which the $Z_N$ gauge symmetry is broken explicitly by a Wilson kinetic term for the gauge fields. We argue that there are two large N limits of this theory, one leads to ordinary Wilson lattice gauge theory coupled to a dynamical scalar field and the other leads to a version of the Kazakov-Migdal model in which the large N solution found by Migdal can still be used. We discuss the properties of the string theory which emerges.

hep-th↗

arXiv1992

Continuum Limits of ``Induced QCD": Lessons of the Gaussian Model at d=1 and Beyond

We analyze the scalar field sector of the Kazakov--Migdal model of induced QCD. We present a detailed description of the simplest one dimensional {($d$$=$$1$)} model which supports the hypothesis of wide applicability of the mean--field approximation for the scalar fields and the existence of critical behaviour in the model when the scalar action is Gaussian. Despite the ocurrence of various non--trivial types of critical behaviour in the $d=1$ model as $N\rightarrow\infty$, only the conventional large-$N$ limit is relevant for its {\it continuum} limit. We also give a mean--field analysis of the $N=2$ model in {\it any} $d$ and show that a saddle point always exists in the region $m^2>m_{\rm crit}^2(=d)$. In $d=1$ it exhibits critical behaviour as $m^2\rightarrow m_{\rm crit}^2$. However when $d$$>$$1$ there is no critical behaviour unless non--Gaussian terms are added to the scalar field action. We argue that similar behaviour should occur for any finite $N$ thus providing a simple explanation of a recent result of D. Gross. We show that critical behaviour at $d$$>$$1$ and $m^2>m^2_{\rm crit}$ can be obtained by adding a $logarithmic$ term to the scalar potential. This is equivalent to a local modification of the integration measure in the original Kazakov--Migdal model. Experience from previous studies of the Generalized Kontsevich Model implies that, unlike the inclusion of higher powers in the potential, this minor modification should not substantially alter the behaviour of the Gaussian model.

hep-th↗

arXiv1992

Area Law and Continuum Limit in "Induced QCD"

We investigate a class of operators with non-vanishing averages in a D-dimensional matrix model recently proposed by Kazakov and Migdal. Among the operators considered are ``filled Wilson loops" which are the most reasonable counterparts of Wilson loops in the conventional Wilson formulation of lattice QCD. The averages of interest are represented as partition functions of certain 2-dimensional statistical systems with nearest neighbor interactions. The ``string tension" $α'$, which is the exponent in the area law for the ``filled Wilson loop" is equal to the free energy density of the corresponding statistical system. The continuum limit of the Kazakov--Migdal model corresponds to the critical point of this statistical system. We argue that in the large $N$ limit this critical point occurs at zero temperature. In this case we express $α'$ in terms of the distribution density of eigenvalues of the matrix-valued master field. We show that the properties of the continuum limit and the description of how this limit is approached is very unusual and differs drastically from what occurs in both the Wilson theory ($S\propto({\rm Tr}\prod U +{\rm c.c.})$) and in the ``adjoint'' theory ($S\propto\vert{\rm Tr}\prod U\vert^2$). Instead, the continuum limit of the model appears to be intriguingly similar to a $c>1$ string theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv1992

Investigations of Pairing in Anyon Systems

We investigate pairing instabilities in the Fermi-liquid-like state of a single species of anyons. We describe the anyons as Fermions interacting with a Chern-Simons gauge field and consider the weak coupling limit where their statistics approaches that of Fermions. We show that, within the conventional BCS approach, due to induced repulsive Coulomb and current-current interactions, the attractive Aharonov-Bohm interaction is not sufficient to generate a gap in the Fermion spectrum.

cond-mat↗