arXiv subjects

Jan M. Pawlowski

Publications and source records attributed to Jan M. Pawlowski.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Thermalization and dynamical spectral properties in the quark-meson model

We investigate the nonequilibrium evolution of the quark-meson model using two-particle irreducible effective action techniques. Our numerical simulations, which include the full dynamics of the order parameter of chiral symmetry, show how the model thermalizes into different regions of its phase diagram. In particular, by studying quark and meson spectral functions, we shed light on the real-time dynamics approaching the crossover transition, revealing e.g. the emergence of light effective fermionic degrees of freedom in the infrared. At late times in the evolution, the fluctuation-dissipation relation emerges naturally among both meson and quark degrees of freedom, confirming that the simulation successfully reaches thermal equilibrium.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Gauge-invariant condensation in the nonequilibrium quark-gluon plasma

The large density of gluons, which is present shortly after a nuclear collision at very high energies, can lead to the formation of a condensate. We identify a gauge-invariant order parameter for condensation based on elementary non-perturbative excitations of the plasma, which are described by spatial Wilson loops. Using real-time lattice simulations, we demonstrate that a self-similar transport process towards low momenta builds up a macroscopic zero mode. Our findings reveal intriguing similarities to recent discoveries of condensation phenomena out of equilibrium in table-top experiments with ultracold Bose gases.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Spectral functions in the $ϕ^4$-theory from the spectral DSE

We develop a non-perturbative functional framework for computing real-time correlation functions in strongly correlated systems. The framework is based on the spectral representation of correlation functions and dimensional regularisation. Therefore, the non-perturbative spectral renormalisation setup here respects all symmetries of the theories at hand. In particular this includes space-time symmetries as well as internal symmetries such as chiral symmetry, and gauge symmetries. Spectral renormalisation can be applied within general functional approaches such as the functional renormalisation group, Dyson-Schwinger equations, and two- or $n$-particle irreducible approaches. As an application we compute the full, non-perturbative, spectral function of the scalar field in the $ϕ^4$-theory in $2+1$ dimensions from spectral Dyson-Schwinger equations. We also compute the $s$-channel spectral function of the full $ϕ^4$-vertex in this theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Towards Novel Insights in Lattice Field Theory with Explainable Machine Learning

Machine learning has the potential to aid our understanding of phase structures in lattice quantum field theories through the statistical analysis of Monte Carlo samples. Available algorithms, in particular those based on deep learning, often demonstrate remarkable performance in the search for previously unidentified features, but tend to lack transparency if applied naively. To address these shortcomings, we propose representation learning in combination with interpretability methods as a framework for the identification of observables. More specifically, we investigate action parameter regression as a pretext task while using layer-wise relevance propagation (LRP) to identify the most important observables depending on the location in the phase diagram. The approach is put to work in the context of a scalar Yukawa model in (2+1)d. First, we investigate a multilayer perceptron to determine an importance hierarchy of several predefined, standard observables. The method is then applied directly to the raw field configurations using a convolutional network, demonstrating the ability to reconstruct all order parameters from the learned filter weights. Based on our results, we argue that due to its broad applicability, attribution methods such as LRP could prove a useful and versatile tool in our search for new physical insights. In the case of the Yukawa model, it facilitates the construction of an observable that characterises the symmetric phase.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2020

DoFun 3.0: Functional equations in Mathematica

We present version 3.0 of the Mathematica package DoFun for the derivation of functional equations. In this version, the derivation of equations for correlation functions of composite operators was added. In the update, the general workflow was slightly modified taking into account experience with the previous version. In addition, various tools were included to improve the usage experience and the code was partially restructured for easier maintenance.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Locating the freeze-out curve in heavy-ion collisions

Based on transport equations we argue that the chiral dynamics in heavy-ion collisions at high collision energies effectively decouples from the thermal physics of the fireball. With full decoupling at LHC energies the chiral condensate relaxes to its vacuum expectation value on a much shorter time scale than the typical evolution time of the fluid dynamical fields and their fluctuations. In particular, the net-baryon density remains coupled to the bulk evolution at all collision energies. As the mass scales of the hadrons are controlled by the chiral condensate, it is reasonable to employ vacuum masses in the statistical description of the hadron production at the chemical freeze-out for high collision energies. We predict that at lower collision energies the coupling of the chiral condensate to the thermal medium gradually increases with consequences for the related hadronic masses. A new estimate for the location of the freeze-out curve takes these effects into account.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2020

Critical reflections on asymptotically safe gravity

Asymptotic safety is a theoretical proposal for the ultraviolet completion of quantum field theories, in particular for quantum gravity. Significant progress on this program has led to a first characterization of the Reuter fixed point. Further advancement in our understanding of the nature of quantum spacetime requires addressing a number of open questions and challenges. Here, we aim at providing a critical reflection on the state of the art in the asymptotic safety program, specifying and elaborating on open questions of both technical and conceptual nature. We also point out systematic pathways, in various stages of practical implementation, towards answering them. Finally, we also take the opportunity to clarify some common misunderstandings regarding the program.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Partial bosonisation for the two-dimensional Hubbard model: How well does it work?

Partial bosonisation of the two-dimensional Hubbard model focuses the functional renormalisation flow on channels in which interactions become strong and local order sets in. We compare the momentum structure of the four-fermion vertex, obtained on the basis of a patching approximation, to an effective bosonic description. For parameters in the antiferromagnetic phase near the onset of local antiferromagnetic order, the interaction of the electrons is indeed well described by the exchange of collective bosonic degrees of freedom. The residual four-fermion vertex after the subtraction of the bosonic exchange contribution is small. We propose that similar partial bosonisation techniques can improve the accuracy of renormalisation flow studies also for the case of competing order.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Chiral Susceptibility in (2+1)-flavour QCD

We calculate chiral susceptibilities in (2+1)-flavour QCD for different masses of the light quarks using the functional renormalisation group (fRG) approach to first-principles QCD. We follow the evolution of the chiral susceptibilities with decreasing masses as obtained from both the light-quark and the reduced quark condensate. The latter compares very well with recent results from the HotQCD collaboration for pion masses $m_π\gtrsim 100\,\text{MeV}$. For smaller pion masses, the fRG and lattice results are still consistent. In particular, the estimates for the chiral critical temperature are in very good agreement. We close by discussing different extrapolations to the chiral limit.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Simulating gauge theories on Lefschetz thimbles

Lefschetz thimbles have been proposed recently as a possible solution to the complex action problem (sign problem) in Monte Carlo simulations. Here we discuss pure abelian gauge theory with a complex coupling $β$ and apply the concept of Generalized Lefschetz thimbles. We propose to simulate the theory on the union of the tangential manifolds to the thimbles. We construct a local Metropolis-type algorithm, that is constrained to a specific tangential manifold. We also discuss how, starting from this result, successive subleading tangential manifolds can be taken into account via a reweighting approach. We demonstrate the algorithm on $U(1)$ gauge theory in 1+1 dimensions and investigate the residual sign problem.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2020

Strangeness neutrality and baryon-strangeness correlations

We derive a simple relation between strangeness neutrality and baryon-strangeness correlations. In heavy-ion collisions, the former is a consequence of quark number conservation of the strong interactions while the latter are sensitive probes of the character of QCD matter. This relation allows us to directly extract baryon-strangeness correlations from the strangeness chemical potential at strangeness neutrality. The explicit calculations are performed within a low energy theory of QCD with 2+1 dynamical quark flavors at finite temperature and density. Non-perturbative quark and hadron fluctuations are taken into account within the functional renormalization group. The results show the pronounced sensitivity of baryon-strangeness correlations on the QCD phase transition and the crucial role that strangeness neutrality plays for this observable.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Curvature dependence of quantum gravity with scalars

We compute curvature-dependent graviton correlation functions and couplings as well as the full curvature potential $f(R)$ in asymptotically safe quantum gravity coupled to scalars. The setup is based on a systematic vertex expansion about metric backgrounds with constant curvatures initiated in arXiv:1711.09259 for positive curvatures. We extend these results to negative curvature and investigate the influence of minimally coupled scalars. The quantum equation of motion has two solutions for all accessible numbers of scalar fields. We observe that the solution at negative curvature is a minimum, while the solution at positive curvature is a maximum. We find indications that the solution to the equation of motions for scalar-gravity systems is at large positive curvature, for which the system might be stable for all scalar flavours.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

Sampling scheme for neuromorphic simulation of entangled quantum systems

Due to the complexity of the space of quantum many-body states the computation of expectation values by statistical sampling is, in general, a hard task. Neural network representations of such quantum states which can be physically implemented by neuromorphic hardware could enable efficient sampling. A scheme is proposed which leverages this capability to speed up sampling from so-called neural quantum states encoded by a restricted Boltzmann machine. Due to the complex network parameters a direct hardware implementation is not feasible. We overcome this problem by considering a phase reweighting scheme for sampling expectation values of observables. Applying our method to a set of paradigmatic entangled quantum states we find that, in general, the phase-reweighted sampling is subject to a form of sign problem, which renders the sampling computationally costly. The use of neuromorphic chips could allow reducing computation times and thereby extend the range of tractable system sizes.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Curvature dependence of quantum gravity

We investigate the phase diagram of quantum gravity with a vertex expansion about constantly-curved backgrounds. The graviton two- and three-point function are evaluated with a spectral sum on a sphere. We obtain, for the first time, curvature-dependent UV fixed point functions of the dynamical fluctuation couplings $g^*(R)$, $μ^*(R)$, and $λ_3^*(R)$, and the background $f(R)$-potential. Based on these fixed point functions we compute solutions to the quantum and the background equation of motion with and without Standard Model matter. We have checked that the solutions are robust against changes of the truncation.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

Strangeness Neutrality and QCD Thermodynamics

Since the incident nuclei in heavy-ion collisions do not carry strangeness, the global net strangeness of the detected hadrons has to vanish. We investigate the impact of strangeness neutrality on the phase structure and thermodynamics of QCD at finite baryon and strangeness chemical potential. To this end, we study the low-energy sector of QCD within a Polyakov loop enhanced quark-meson effective theory with 2+1 dynamical quark flavors. Non-perturbative quantum, thermal, and density fluctuations are taken into account with the functional renormalization group. We show that the impact of strangeness neutrality on thermodynamic quantities such as the equation of state is sizable.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Asymptotic safety, string theory and the weak gravity conjecture

We propose a scenario with string theory in the deep ultraviolet, an intermediate asymptotically safe scaling regime for gravity and matter, and the Standard Model in the infrared. This could provide a new perspective to tackle challenges of the two models: For instance, the gravitational Renormalization Group flow could connect a negative microscopic to a positive macroscopic cosmological constant, potentially rendering string theory on an anti-de Sitter background observationally viable. Further, the unitarity of a string-theoretic ultraviolet completion could be inherited by an asymptotically safe fixed point, despite the presence of higher-order interactions. We discuss necessary conditions on the scale of asymptotic safety and the string scale for our scenario to be viable. As a first test, we explore the weak-gravity conjecture in the context of asymptotically safe gravity.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

Exploring the Tan contact term in Yang-Mills theory

Reliably computing the free energy in a gauge theory like QCD is a challenging and resource-demanding endeavor. As an alternative, we explore here the possibility to obtain the associated thermodynamic anomaly by exploiting its relation to the Tan contact. Optimally, this would reduce the determination of the free energy to a high-precision calculation of two-point correlators. We study this possibility using the lattice and functional methods and compare them to the expected behavior for the SU(2) Yang-Mills case.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

The QCD phase structure at finite temperature and density

We discuss the phase structure of QCD for $N_f=2$ and $N_f=2+1$ dynamical quark flavours at finite temperature and baryon chemical potential. It emerges dynamically from the underlying fundamental interactions between quarks and gluons in our work. To this end, starting from the perturbative high-energy regime, we systematically integrate-out quantum fluctuations towards low energies by using the functional renormalisation group. By dynamically hadronising the dominant interaction channels responsible for the formation of light mesons and quark condensates, we are able to extract the phase diagram for $μ_B/T \lesssim 6$. We find a critical endpoint at $(T_\text{CEP},{μ_B}_{\text{CEP}})=(107, 635)\,\text{MeV}$. The curvature of the phase boundary at small chemical potential is $κ=0.0142(2)$, computed from the renormalised light chiral condensate $Δ_{l,R}$. Furthermore, we find indications for an inhomogeneous regime in the vicinity and above the chiral transition for $μ_B\gtrsim 417$ MeV. Where applicable, our results are in very good agreement with the most recent lattice results. We also compare to results from other functional methods and phenomenological freeze-out data. This indicates that a consistent picture of the phase structure at finite baryon chemical potential is beginning to emerge. The systematic uncertainty of our results grows large in the density regime around the critical endpoint and we discuss necessary improvements of our current approximation towards a quantitatively precise determination of QCD phase diagram.

hep-ph↗