arXiv subjects

L. Ferro

Publications and source records attributed to L. Ferro.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Classical nature of ordered phases: origin of spontaneous symmetry breaking

We investigate the nature of spontaneous symmetry breaking in complex quantum systems by conjecturing that the maximally symmetry breaking quantum ground states are the most classical ones corresponding to an ordered phase. We make this argument quantitatively precise by showing that the ground states which realize the maximum breaking of the Hamiltonian symmetries are the only ones that: I) are always locally convertible, i.e. can be obtained from all other ground states by local operations and classical communication, while the reverse is never possible; II) minimize the monogamy inequality for bipartite entanglement; III) minimize quantum correlations, as measured by the quantum discord, for all pairs of dynamical variables and are the only ground states for which the pairwise quantum correlations vanish asymptotically with the intra-pair distance.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2013

Reduction of Lie-Jordan algebras: Classical

In this paper we present a unified algebraic framework to discuss the reduction of classical and quantum systems. The underlying algebraic structure is a Lie-Jordan algebra supplemented, in the quantum case, with a Banach structure. We discuss the reduction by symmetries, by constraints as well as the possible, non trivial, combinations of both. We finally introduce a new, general framework to perform the reduction of physical systems in an algebraic setup.

math-ph↗

arXiv2013

Reduction of Lie--Jordan algebras: Quantum

In this paper we present a theory of reduction of quantum systems in the presence of symmetries and constraints. The language used is that of Lie--Jordan Banach algebras, which are discussed in some detail together with spectrum properties and the space of states. The reduced Lie--Jordan Banach algebra is characterized together with the Dirac states on the physical algebra of observables.

math-ph↗

arXiv2012

Differential equations for multi-loop integrals and two-dimensional kinematics

In this paper we consider multi-loop integrals appearing in MHV scattering amplitudes of planar N=4 SYM. Through particular differential operators which reduce the loop order by one, we present explicit equations for the two-loop eight-point finite diagrams which relate them to massive hexagons. After the reduction to two-dimensional kinematics, we solve them using symbol technology. The terms invisible to the symbols are found through boundary conditions coming from double soft limits. These equations are valid at all-loop order for double pentaladders and allow to solve iteratively loop integrals given lower-loop information. Comments are made about multi-leg and multi-loop integrals which can appear in this special kinematics. The main motivation of this investigation is to get a deeper understanding of these tools in this configuration, as well as for their application in general four-dimensional kinematics and to less supersymmetric theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2012

Reduction of Lie-Jordan Banach algebras and quantum states

A theory of reduction of Lie-Jordan Banach algebras with respect to either a Jordan ideal or a Lie-Jordan subalgebra is presented. This theory is compared with the standard reduction of C*-algebras of observables of a quantum system in the presence of quantum constraints. It is shown that the later corresponds to the particular instance of the reduction of Lie-Jordan Banach algebras with respect to a Lie-Jordan subalgebra as described in this paper. The space of states of the reduced Lie-Jordan Banach algebras is described in terms of equivalence classes of extensions to the full algebra and their GNS representations are characterized in the same way. A few simple examples are discussed that illustrates some of the main results.

math-ph↗

arXiv2011

Yangian Symmetry in N=4 super Yang-Mills

In this paper we review recent results on symmetries in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. Symmetries are of invaluable help in studying and constraining the scattering amplitudes, and there has been a lot of progress in recent years concerning this topic. It has been realised that the ordinary superconformal symmetry is not the full symmetry of this theory. There is indeed a dual superconformal symmetry, and together they form a Yangian structure, pointing to the underlying integrability of the theory. Here we give an overview of the Yangian algebra and of its action on the scattering amplitudes, at tree and loop level. This article is an invited review for the Focus Issue "Gauge/String Duality 2011" of Advances in High Energy Physics.

hep-th↗

arXiv2011

The Yangian origin of the Grassmannian integral

In this paper we analyse formulas which reproduce different contributions to scattering amplitudes in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory through a Grassmannian integral. Recently their Yangian invariance has been proved directly by using the explicit expression of the Yangian level-one generators. The specific cyclic structure of the form integrated over the Grassmannian enters in a crucial way in demonstrating the symmetry. Here we show that the Yangian symmetry fixes this structure uniquely.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Yangian symmetry of light-like Wilson loops

We show that a certain class of light-like Wilson loops exhibits a Yangian symmetry at one loop, or equivalently, in an Abelian theory. The Wilson loops we discuss are equivalent to one-loop MHV amplitudes in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory in a certain kinematical regime. The fact that we find a Yangian symmetry constraining their functional form can be thought of as the effect of the original conformal symmetry associated to the scattering amplitudes in the N=4 theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Yangians, Grassmannians and T-duality

We investigate the Yangian symmetry of scattering amplitudes in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory and show that its formulations in twistor and momentum twistor space can be interchanged. In particular we show that the full symmetry can be thought of as the Yangian of the dual superconformal algebra, annihilating the amplitude with the MHV part factored out. The equivalence of this picture with the one where the ordinary superconformal symmetry is thought of as fundamental is an algebraic expression of T-duality. Motivated by this, we analyse some recently proposed formulas, which reproduce different contributions to amplitudes through a Grassmannian integral. We prove their Yangian invariance by directly applying the generators.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Non-perturbative effective interactions from fluxes

Motivated by possible implications on the problem of moduli stabilization and other phenomenological aspects, we study D-brane instanton effects in flux compactifications. We focus on a local model and compute non-perturbative interactions generated by gauge and stringy instantons in a N = 1 quiver theory with gauge group U(N_0) x U(N_1) and matter in the bifundamentals. This model is engineered with fractional D3-branes at a C^3/(Z_2 x Z_2) singularity, and its non-perturbative sectors are described by introducing fractional D-instantons. We find a rich variety of instanton-generated F- and D-term interactions, ranging from superpotentials and Beasley-Witten like multi-fermion terms to non-supersymmetric flux-induced instanton interactions.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Effective string theory description of the interface free energy

We compare the predictions of the Nambu-Goto effective string model with a set of high precision Monte Carlo results for interfaces with periodic boundary conditions in the 3D Ising model. We compute the free energy in the covariant gauge exactly, up to the inclusion of the Liouville mode. The perturbative expansion of this result agrees both with the result evaluated several years ago by Dietz and Filk in the physical gauge and with a recent calculation with the Polchinski-Strominger action. We also derive the effective string spectrum which, because of the different boundary conditions, is very different from the well known one of Arvis. Taking into proper account the effective string corrections and exploiting some technical improvements in the simulations we obtain precise estimate of the amplitude ratios T_c/\sqrt{sigma}, m_{0++}/\sqrtσ and sigma xi_{2nd}^2. We also discuss the behaviour of the effective string free energy in the dimensional reduction limit (i.e., near the deconfinement transition of the dual 3d gauge Ising model) and its relationship with the 2d Ising model interfaces

hep-lat↗

arXiv2007

Universal behaviour of interfaces in 2d and dimensional reduction of Nambu-Goto strings

We propose a simple effective model for the description of interfaces in 2d statistical models, based on the first-order treatment of an action corresponding to the length of the interface. The universal prediction of this model for the interface free energy agrees with the result of an exact calculation in the case of the 2d Ising model. This model appears as a dimensional reduction of the Nambu-Goto stringy description of interfaces in 3d, i.e., of the capillary wave model.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

The partition function of interfaces from the Nambu-Goto effective string theory

We consider the Nambu-Goto bosonic string model as a description of the physics of interfaces. By using the standard covariant quantization of the bosonic string, we derive an exact expression for the partition function in dependence of the geometry of the interface. Our expression, obtained by operatorial methods, resums the loop expansion of the NG model in the "physical gauge" computed perturbatively by functional integral methods in the literature. Recently, very accurate Monte Carlo data for the interface free energy in the 3d Ising model became avaliable. Our proposed expression compares very well to the data for values of the area sufficiently large in terms of the inverse string tension. This pattern is expected on theoretical grounds and agrees with previous analyses of other observables in the Ising model.

hep-th↗