Finite-density lattice QCD and sign problem: current status and open problems
This an English translation of a review of finite-density lattice QCD. The original version in Japanese appeared in Soryushiron Kenkyu Vol 31 (2020) No. 1.
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arXiv subjects
Keitaro Nagata
Publications and source records attributed to Keitaro Nagata.
Complex Langevin calculations in finite density QCD at large $μ/T$ with the deformation technique
It is well known that investigating QCD at finite density by standard Monte Carlo methods is extremely difficult due to the sign problem. Some years ago, the complex Langevin method with gauge cooling was shown to work at high temperature, i.e., in the deconfined phase. The same method was also applied to QCD in the so-called heavy dense limit in the whole temperature region. In this paper we attempt to apply this method to the large $μ/T$ regime with moderate quark mass using four-flavor staggered fermions on a $4^3\times 8$ lattice. While a straightforward application faces with the singular-drift problem, which spoils the validity of the method, we overcome this problem by the deformation technique proposed earlier. Explicit results for the quark number density and the chiral condensate obtained in this way for $3.2\leq μ/T\leq 5.6$ are compared with the results for the phase-quenched model obtained by the standard rational hybrid Monte Carlo calculation. This reveals a clear difference, which is qualitatively consistent with the Silver Blaze phenomenon.
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Testing the criterion for correct convergence in the complex Langevin method
Recently the complex Langevin method (CLM) has been attracting attention as a solution to the sign problem, which occurs in Monte Carlo calculations when the effective Boltzmann weight is not real positive. An undesirable feature of the method, however, was that it can happen in some parameter regions that the method yields wrong results even if the Langevin process reaches equilibrium without any problem. In our previous work, we proposed a practical criterion for correct convergence based on the probability distribution of the drift term that appears in the complex Langevin equation. Here we demonstrate the usefulness of this criterion in two solvable theories with many dynamical degrees of freedom, i.e., two-dimensional Yang-Mills theory with a complex coupling constant and the chiral Random Matrix Theory for finite density QCD, which were studied by the CLM before. Our criterion can indeed tell the parameter regions in which the CLM gives correct results.
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Probing QCD Phase Structure by Baryon Multiplicity Distribution
The canonical partition functions $Z_n$ and the number distributions $P_n$ which are obervable in experiments, are related by a single parameter, the fugacities $ξ=\exp(μ/T)$. With the charge parity invariance, $Z_n$ and $ξ$ can be determined. Thermodynamic quantities such as the number density susceptibility and the kurtosis are then calculated from the grand canonical partition function $Z(ξ,T)=\sum Z_n(T) ξ^n$, ($n=-N_{\rm max},\cdots, N_{\rm max}$), for any chemical potential $μ$, although the region over which the results are reliable for these quantities is constrained by $N_{\rm max}$. We then calculate the Lee-Yang zeros, which are the zeros of $Z(ξ)$ in the complex fugacity plane, as poles of $d\log Z(ξ)/dξ$ by using the Cauchy integral theorem. With the help of a multiple precision library, this method provides any precision required without misidentification of the zeros. We analyse $Z_n$ from the net-proton number distributions recently measured at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) by assuming the net-proton number is approximately propotional to that of the baryon after the freeze-out, and calculate the moments. We also evaluate the Lee-Yang zero structures obtained from RHIC data and compare them with those obtained from lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) calculations. Possible regions of QCD phase transition lines are estimated from the thermodynamics quantities and the Lee-Yang zeros. We discuss how the limited $N_{\rm max}$ in both experimental and numerical studies affects the reliability of the thermodynamic results and Lee-Yang zeros.
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The argument for justification of the complex Langevin method and the condition for correct convergence
The complex Langevin method is a promising approach to the complex-action problem based on a fictitious time evolution of complexified dynamical variables under the influence of a Gaussian noise. Although it is known to have a restricted range of applicability, the use of gauge cooling made it applicable to various interesting cases including finite density QCD in certain parameter regions. In this paper, we revisit the argument for justification of the method. In particular, we point out a subtlety in the use of time-evolved observables, which play a crucial role in the previous argument. This requires that the probability of the drift term should fall off exponentially or faster at large magnitude. We argue that this is actually a necessary and sufficient condition for the method to be justified. Using two simple examples, we show that our condition tells us clearly whether the results obtained by the method are trustable or not. We also discuss a new possibility for the gauge cooling, which can reduce the magnitude of the drift term directly.
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On the condition for correct convergence in the complex Langevin method
The complex Langevin method (CLM) provides a promising way to perform the path integral with a complex action using a stochastic equation for complexified dynamical variables. It is known, however, that the method gives wrong results in some cases, while it works, for instance, in finite density QCD in the deconfinement phase or in the heavy dense limit. Here we revisit the argument for justification of the CLM and point out a subtlety in using the time-evolved observables, which play a crucial role in the argument. This subtlety requires that the probability distribution of the drift term should fall off exponentially or faster at large magnitude. We demonstrate our claim in some examples such as chiral Random Matrix Theory and show that our criterion is indeed useful in judging whether the results obtained by the CLM are trustable or not.
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Gauge cooling for the singular-drift problem in the complex Langevin method --- an application to finite density QCD
We study full QCD at finite density and low temperature with light quark mass using the complex Langevin method. Since the singular drift problem turns out to be mild on a $4^3 \times 8$ lattice we use, the gauge cooling is performed only to control the unitarity norm in this exploratory study. We report on our preliminary data obtained from the complex Langevin simulation up to certain Langevin time. While the data are still noisy due to lack of statistics, the onset of the baryon number density seems to occur at larger $μ$ than half the pion mass, which is the value for the phase quenched QCD. The validity of our simulation is tested by the recently proposed criterion based on the probability distribution of the drift term.
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Entanglement entropy for pure gauge theories in 1+1 dimensions using the lattice regularization
We study the entanglement entropy (EE) for pure gauge theories in 1+1 dimensions with the lattice regularization. Using the definition of the EE for lattice gauge theories proposed in a previous paper [1] (S. Aoki, T. Iritani, M. Nozaki, T. Numasawa, N. Shiba and H. Tasaki, JHEP 1506 (2015) 187), we calculate the EE for arbitrary pure as well as mixed states in terms of eigenstates of the transfer matrix in 1+1 dimensional lattice gauge theory. We find that the EE of an arbitrary pure state does not depend on the lattice spacing, thus giving the EE in the continuum limit, and show that the EE for an arbitrary pure state is independent of the real (Minkowski) time evolution. We also explicitly demonstrate the dependence of EE on the gauge fixing at the boundaries between two subspaces, which was pointed out for general cases in the paper [1]. In addition, we calculate the EE at zero as well as finite temperature by the replica method, and show that our result in the continuum limit corresponds to the result obtained before in the continuum theory, with a specific value of the counter term, which is otherwise arbitrary in the continuum calculation. We confirm the gauge dependence of the EE also for the replica method.
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Gauge cooling for the singular-drift problem in the complex Langevin method --a test in Random Matrix Theory for finite density QCD
Recently, the complex Langevin method has been applied successfully to finite density QCD either in the deconfinement phase or in the heavy dense limit with the aid of a new technique called the gauge cooling. In the confinement phase with light quarks, however, convergence to wrong limits occurs due to the singularity in the drift term caused by small eigenvalues of the Dirac operator including the mass term. We propose that this singular-drift problem should also be overcome by the gauge cooling with different criteria for choosing the complexified gauge transformation. The idea is tested in chiral Random Matrix Theory for finite density QCD, where exact results are reproduced at zero temperature with light quarks. It is shown that the gauge cooling indeed changes drastically the eigenvalue distribution of the Dirac operator measured during the Langevin process. Despite its non-holomorphic nature, this eigenvalue distribution has a universal diverging behavior at the origin in the chiral limit due to a generalized Banks-Casher relation as we confirm explicitly.
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Test for a universal behavior of Dirac eigenvalues in the complex Langevin method
We apply the complex Langevin (CL) method to a chiral random matrix theory (ChRMT) at non-zero chemical potential and study the nearest neighbor spacing (NNS) distribution of the Dirac eigenvalues. The NNS distribution is extracted using an unfolding procedure for the Dirac eigenvalues obtained in the CL method. For large quark mass, we find that the NNS distribution obeys the Ginibre ensemble as expected. For small quark mass, the NNS distribution follows the Wigner surmise for correct convergence case, while it follows the Ginibre ensemble for wrong convergence case. The Wigner surmise is physically reasonable from the chemical potential independence of the ChRMT. The Ginibre ensemble is known to be favored in a phase quenched QCD at finite chemical potential. Our result suggests a possibility that the originally universal behavior of the NNS distribution is preserved even in the CL method for correct convergence case.
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Entanglement in Four-Dimensional SU(3) Gauge Theory
We investigate the quantum entanglement entropy for the four-dimensional Euclidean SU(3) gauge theory. We present the first non-perturbative calculation of the entropic $c$-function ($C(l)$) of SU(3) gauge theory in lattice Monte Carlo simulation using the replica method. For $0 \leqslant l \leqslant 0.7$~fm, where $l$ is the length of the subspace, the entropic $c$-function is almost constant, indicating conformally invariant dynamics. The value of the constant agrees with that perturbatively obtained from free gluons, with 20 % discrepancy. When $l$ is close to the Hadronic scale, the entropic $c$-function decreases smoothly, and it is consistent with zero within error bars at $l \gtrsim 0.9$ fm.
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Testing a generalized cooling procedure in the complex Langevin simulation of chiral Random Matrix Theory
The complex Langevin method has been attracting much attention as a solution to the sign problem since the method was shown to work in finite density QCD in the deconfined phase by using the so-called gauge cooling procedure. Whether it works also in the confined phase with light quarks is still an open question, though. In order to shed light on this question, we apply the method to the chiral Random Matrix Theory, which describes the epsilon regime of finite density QCD. Earlier works reported that a naive implementation of the method fails to reproduce the known exact results and that the problem can be solved by choosing a suitable coordinate. In this work we stick to the naive implementation, and show that a generalized gauge cooling procedure can be used to avoid the problem.
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Justification of the complex Langevin method with the gauge cooling procedure
Recently there has been remarkable progress in the complex Langevin method, which aims at solving the complex action problem by complexifying the dynamical variables in the original path integral. In particular, a new technique called the gauge cooling was introduced and the full QCD simulation at finite density has been made possible in the high temperature (deconfined) phase or with heavy quarks. Here we provide a rigorous justification of the complex Langevin method including the gauge cooling procedure. We first show that the gauge cooling can be formulated as an extra term in the complex Langevin equation involving a gauge transformation parameter, which is chosen appropriately as a function of the configuration before cooling. The probability distribution of the complexified dynamical variables is modified by this extra term. However, this modification is shown not to affect the Fokker-Planck equation for the corresponding complex weight as far as observables are restricted to gauge invariant ones. Thus we demonstrate explicitly that the gauge cooling can be used as a viable technique to satisfy the convergence conditions for the complex Langevin method. We also discuss the "gauge cooling" in 0-dimensional systems such as vector models or matrix models.
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Lee-Yang zero distribution of high temperature QCD and Roberge-Weiss phase transition
Canonical partition functions and Lee-Yang zeros of QCD at finite density and high temperature are studied. Recent lattice simulations have confirmed that the free energy of QCD is a quartic function of quark chemical potential at temperature slightly above pseudo-critical temperature $T_c$, as in the case with a gas of free massless fermions. We present analytic derivation of the canonical partition functions and Lee-Yang zeros for this type of free energy using the saddle point approximation. We also perform lattice QCD simulation in a canonical approach using the fugacity expansion of the fermion determinant, and carefully examine its reliability. By comparing the analytic and numerical results, we conclude that the canonical partition functions follow the Gaussian distribution of the baryon number, and the accumulation of Lee-Yang zeros of these canonical partition functions exhibit the first-order Roberge-Weiss phase transition. We discuss the validity and applicable range of the result and its implications both for theoretical and experimental studies.
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A filtering technique for the temporally reduced matrix of the Wilson fermion determinant
The Wilson fermion determinant can be written in the form of a series expansion in fugacity $ξ=\exp(μ/T)$, provided that the eigenmodes of the temporally reduced operator are obtained. Since the calculation of all eigenmodes rapidly becomes prohibitive for larger volumes, we develop a method to calculate only the low-energy eigenmodes of the reduced matrix using a matrix filetering technique. This provides a basis for an approximation to neglect uninteresting ultraviolet contributions.
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Heavy quark potential at finite imaginary chemical potential
We investigate chemical-potential ($μ$) dependence of the static-quark free energies in both the real and imaginary $μ$ regions, using the clover-improved two-flavor Wilson fermion action and the renormalization-group improved Iwasaki gauge action. Static-quark potentials are evaluated from Polyakov-loop correlators in the deconfinement phase and the imaginary $μ=iμ_{\rm I}$ region and extrapolated to the real $μ$ region with analytic continuation. As the analytic continuation, the potential calculated at imaginary $μ=iμ_{\rm I}$ is expanded into a Taylor-expansion series of $iμ_{\rm I}/T$ up to 4th order and the pure imaginary variable $iμ_{\rm I}/T$ is replaced by the real one $μ_{\rm R}/T$. At real $μ$, the 4th-order term weakens $μ$ dependence of the potential sizably. Also, the color-Debye screening mass is extracted from the color-singlet potential at imaginary $μ$, and the mass is extrapolated to real $μ$ by analytic continuation. The screening mass thus obtained has stronger $μ$ dependence than the prediction of the leading-order thermal perturbation theory at both real and imaginary $μ$.
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Color screening potential at finite density in two-flavor lattice QCD with Wilson fermions
We investigate chemical-potential (μ) dependence of static-quark free energies in both the real and imaginary μregions, performing lattice QCD simulations at imaginary μand extrapolating the results to the real μregion with analytic continuation. Lattice QCD calculations are done on a 16^{3}\times 4 lattice with the clover-improved two-flavor Wilson fermion action and the renormalization-group improved Iwasaki gauge action. Static-quark potential is evaluated from the Polyakov-loop correlation functions in the deconfinement phase. As the analytic continuation, the potential calculated at imaginary μ=iμ_{\rm I} is expanded into a Taylor-expansion series of iμ_{\rm I}/T up to 4th order and the pure imaginary variable iμ_{\rm I}/T is replaced by the real one μ_{\rm R}/T. At real μ, the 4th-order term weakens μdependence of the potential sizably. At long distance, all of the color singlet and non-singlet potentials tend to twice the single-quark free energy, indicating that the interactions between heavy quarks are fully color-screened for finite μ. For both real and imaginary μ, the color-singlet q{\bar q} and the color-antitriplet qq interaction are attractive, whereas the color-octet q{\bar q} and the color-sextet qq interaction are repulsive. The attractive interactions have stronger μ/T dependence than the repulsive interactions. The color-Debye screening mass is extracted from the color-singlet potential at imaginary μ, and the mass is extrapolated to real μby analytic continuation. The screening mass thus obtained has stronger μdependence than the prediction of the leading-order thermal perturbation theory at both real and imaginary μ.
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Towards extremely dense matter on the lattice
QCD is expected to have a rich phase structure. It is empirically known to be difficult to access low temperature and nonzero chemical potential $μ$ regions in lattice QCD simulations. We address this issue in a lattice QCD with the use of a dimensional reduction formula of the fermion determinant. We investigate spectral properties of a reduced matrix of the reduction formula. Lattice simulations with different lattice sizes show that the eigenvalues of the reduced matrix follow a scaling law for the temporal size $N_t$. The properties of the fermion determinant are examined using the reduction formula. We find that as a consequence of the $N_t$ scaling law, the fermion determinant becomes insensitive to $μ$ as $T$ decreases, and $μ$-independent at T=0 for $μ<m_π/2$. The $N_t$ scaling law provides two types of the low temperature limit of the fermion determinant: (i) for low density and (ii) for high-density. The fermion determinant becomes real and the theory is free from the sign problem in both cases. In case of (ii), QCD approaches to a theory, where quarks interact only in spatial directions, and gluons interact via the ordinary Yang-Mills action. The partition function becomes exactly $Z_3$ invariant even in the presence of dynamical quarks because of the absence of the temporal interaction of quarks. The reduction formula is also applied to the canonical formalism and Lee-Yang zero theorem. We find characteristic temperature dependences of the canonical distribution and of Lee-Yang zero trajectory. Using an assumption on the canonical partition function, we discuss physical meaning of those temperature dependences and show that the change of the canonical distribution and Lee-Yang zero trajectory are related to the existence/absence of $μ$-induced phase transitions.
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