arXiv subjects

Lukas Varnhorst

Publications and source records attributed to Lukas Varnhorst.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Entropy, area, and the choice of regulator during gravitational collapse

We present a real time formalism to numerically describe the gravitational collapse of a scalar quantum field in the spherically symmetric case. We employ a Pauli-Villars regulator that is specifically designed to cancel the ultraviolet divergences in the energy-momentum tensor identified by covariant point splitting, including the logarithmic ones. Using this regulator, we find that the leading term of the entanglement entropy, which is proportional to the surface area, vanishes for a spherical region of flat spacetime. First numerical results for the dynamical case indicate that for a collapsing shell of a massless scalar field, the area normalized entropy is concentrated on the shell and has an approximately constant maximum value during time evolution. This maximum value appears to be finite in the continuum limit and only mildly dependent on the regulator mass.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Parallel Tempered Metadynamics for full QCD

We present an algorithm that addresses topological freezing in lattice QCD simulations by combining parallel tempering with collective-variable-based enhanced sampling methods, and apply it to a particularly challenging system with $N_f = 2$ staggered fermions. We find that the algorithm unfreezes the system, which is otherwise completely frozen for approximately 40000 Molecular Dynamics Units with the Rational Hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2026

Enhanced Sampling Techniques for Lattice Gauge Theory

In theories with topological sectors, such as lattice QCD and four-dimensional SU(N) gauge theories with periodic boundary conditions, conventional update algorithms suffer from topological freezing due to large action barriers separating distinct sectors. With appropriately constructed bias potentials, Metadynamics and related enhanced sampling techniques can mitigate this problem and significantly reduce the integrated autocorrelation times of the topological charge and associated observables. We test strategies to accelerate the buildup of bias potentials and the possibility of extrapolating potentials from small to large volumes. We also investigate the effectiveness of orthogonal algorithmic improvements, such as longer HMC trajectories and HMC variants, which may benefit conventional simulations as well.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2025

Lattice calculation of the $π^0$, $η$ and $η^{\prime}$ transition form factors and the hadronic light-by-light contribution to the muon $g-2$

In this paper we present a first ab-initio calculation of the $π^0$, $η$ and $η^{\prime}$ transition form factors performed with physical light-quark masses. We provide a complete parametrization of the form factors that includes both single and double-virtual kinematics. Our results are compared with experimental measurements of the form factors in the space-like region and with the measured two-photon decay widths. In a second step, our parametrizations of the transition form factors are used to compute the dominant pseudoscalar-pole contributions to the hadronic light-by-light scattering in the muon $g-2$. Our final result reads $a_μ^{\rm hlbl, ps-pole} = (85.1 \pm 5.2) \times 10^{-11}$. Although the pion-pole is dominant, we confirm that, together, the $η$ and $η^{\prime}$ provide roughly half of its contribution.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2025

Parallel Tempered Metadynamics

When approaching the continuum limit in lattice QCD or other theories in a setup with topological sectors, conventional update algorithms experience a particularly severe form of critical slowing down that is caused by high action barriers between the sectors. The qualitative scaling behavior of this critical slowing down appears to be universal across different update algorithms and (gauge) actions. We demonstrate that a combination of Metadynamics with parallel tempering, along with other modifications, can significantly reduce autocorrelation times while avoiding the need for reweighting. We also discuss strategies to extend the methods to QCD simulations with dynamical fermions, and present first results for $N_f = 2$ simulations at unphysical pion masses.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2025

Dense and magnetized QCD from imaginary chemical potential

In this work, we computed the equation of state of dense QCD in the presence of background magnetic fields using lattice QCD simulations at imaginary baryon chemical potential. Our simulations include 2+1+1 flavors of stout-smeared staggered fermions with masses at the physical point and a tree-level Symanzik-improved gauge action. Using several expansion schemes, we tuned our simulation parameters such that the equation of state satisfies strangeness neutrality and isospin asymmetry constraints, which are relevant to the phenomenology of heavy-ion collisions. Our results suggest a strong change in the equation of state due to the magnetic field, in particular, around the crossover temperature. A continuum extrapolation of our data is still needed for future applications of our equation of state to heavy-ion-collision phenomenology.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2024

Lattice QCD calculation of the $η$ and $η^{\prime}$ meson masses at the physical point using rooted staggered fermions

We present a lattice calculation of the $η$ and $η^{\prime}$ meson masses at the physical point and in the continuum limit, based on $N_f = 2+1+1$ flavors of rooted staggered quarks. Our analysis includes gauge ensembles at the physical pion and kaon masses spread over six lattice spacings in the range [0.064-0.1315]~fm. Our main results read $m_η = 543.5(5.6)~$MeV and $m_{η^{\prime}} = 986(38)~$MeV, consistent with the experimental values. This is an important numerical test that supports the validity of the fourth root procedure used in the staggered quark formalism. This calculation was the first step towards extracting the pseudoscalar transition form factors of the $η$ and $η^{\prime}$ mesons that play a crucial role in the hadronic light-by-light contribution to the muon $g-2$.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2024

Parallel Tempered Metadynamics: Overcoming potential barriers without surfing or tunneling

At fine lattice spacings, Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations of QCD and other gauge theories with or without fermions are plagued by slow modes that give rise to large autocorrelation times. This can lead to simulation runs that are effectively stuck in one topological sector, a problem known as topological freezing. Here, we demonstrate that for a relevant set of parameters, Metadynamics can be used to unfreeze 4-dimensional SU(3) gauge theory. However, compared to local update algorithms and the Hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm, the computational overhead is significant in pure gauge theory, and the required reweighting procedure may considerably reduce the effective sample size. To deal with the latter problem, we propose modifications to the Metadynamics bias potential and the combination of Metadynamics with parallel tempering. We test the new algorithm in 4-dimensional SU(3) gauge theory and find that it can achieve topological unfreezing without compromising the effective sample size, thereby reducing the autocorrelation times of topological observables by at least two orders of magnitude compared to conventional update algorithms. Additionally, we observe significantly improved scaling of autocorrelation times with the lattice spacing in 2-dimensional U(1) gauge theory.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2023

Hadronic vacuum polarization: comparing lattice QCD and data-driven results in systematically improvable ways

The precision with which hadronic vacuum polarization (HVP) is obtained determines how accurately important observables, such as the muon anomalous magnetic moment, a_μ, or the low-energy running of the electromagnetic coupling, α, are predicted. The two most precise approaches for determining HVP are: dispersive relations combined with e+e- to hadrons cross-section data, and lattice QCD. However, the results obtained in these two approaches display significant tensions, whose origins are not understood. Here we present a framework that sheds light on this issue and, if the two approaches can be reconciled, allows them to be combined. Via this framework, we test the hypothesis that the tensions can be explained by modifying the R-ratio in different intervals of center-of-mass energy sqrt(s). As ingredients, we consider observables that have been precisely determined in both approaches. These are the leading hadronic contributions to a_μ, to the so-called intermediate window observable and to the running of αbetween spacelike virtualities 1GeV^2 and 10GeV^2 (for which only a preliminary lattice result exists). Our tests take into account all uncertainties and correlations, as well as uncertainties on uncertainties in the lattice results. Among our findings, the most striking is that results obtained in the two approaches can be made to agree for all three observables by modifying the ρpeak in the experimental spectrum. In particular, we find that this requires a common ~5\% increase in the contributions of the peak to each of the three observables. This finding is robust against the presence or absence of one of the constraining observables. However, such an increase is much larger than the uncertainties on the measured R-ratio. We also discuss a variety of generalizations of the methods used here, as well as the limits in the information that can be extracted...

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Isospin Breaking Effects in the 2-Flavor Schwinger Model

The automatic fine-tuning of isospin breaking effects by conformal coalescence found by Georgi in the 2-flavor Schwinger model is studied. The analytical results obtained for the bosonic correlators are elaborated and the mass splitting parameter in leading order determined. Numerical investigation of meson mass splitting confirms the exponential suppression of symmetry breaking effects even for mass differences $δm$ near the fermion mass $m_f$.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2023

Topology changing update algorithms for SU(3) gauge theory

At fine lattice spacings, lattice simulations are plagued by slow (topological) modes that give rise to large autocorrelation times. These, in turn, lead to statistical and systematic errors that are difficult to estimate. We study the problem and possible algorithmic solutions in 4-dimensional SU(3) gauge theory, with special focus on instanton updates and Metadynamics.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2022

Metadynamics Surfing on Topology Barriers in the Schwinger Model

Topological freezing is a well known problem in lattice simulations: with shrinking lattice spacing a transition between topological sectors becomes increasingly improbable, leading to a problematic increase of the autocorrelation time regarding several observables. We present our investigation of metadynamics as a solution for topological freezing in the Schwinger model. Specifically, we take a closer look at the collective variable and its scaling behaviour, visualize the effects of topological freezing and how metadynamics helps in that respect and explore alternatives for a more efficient building process. Possible implications for and differences to four-dimensional SU(3) theory are briefly discussed.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2022

Round table on Standard Model Anomalies

This contribution to the XVth Quark Confinement and the Hadron Spectrum conference covers a description, both theoretical and experimental, of the present status of a set of very different anomalies. The discussion ranges from the long standing $b \to sll$ anomalies, $(g-2)$ and the new $M_W$ anomaly.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Pseudoscalar transition form factors and the hadronic light-by-light contribution to the muon $g-2$

We report on our progress toward the computation of the $π^0$, $η$ and $η^{\prime}$ transition form factors using staggered quarks on $N_f=2+1+1$ gauge ensembles generated by the Budapest-Marseille-Wuppertal collaboration. These form factors are essential ingredients to evaluate the pseudoscalar-pole contributions to the hadronic light-by-light scattering in the muon $g-2$. Preliminary results for the pseudoscalar-pole contributions are presented, at finite lattice spacing, for all three light mesons.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2022

Semiclassical gravitational collapse of a radially symmetric massless scalar quantum field

We present a method to study the semiclassical gravitational collapse of a radially symmetric scalar quantum field in a coherent initial state. The formalism utilizes a Fock space basis in the initial metric, is unitary and time reversal invariant up to numerical precision. It maintains exact compatibility of the metric with the expectation values of the energy momentum tensor in the scalar field coherent state throughout the entire time evolution. We find a simple criterion for the smallness of discretization effects, which is violated when a horizon forms. As a first example, we study the collapse of a specific state in the angular momentum $l=0$ approximation. Outside the simulated volume it produces a Schwarzschild metric with $r_s \sim 3.5 \ell_p$. We see behaviour that is compatible with the onset of horizon formation both in the semiclassical and corresponding classical cases in a regime where we see no evidence for large discretization artefacts. In our example setting, we see that quantum effects accelerate the possible horizon formation and move it radially outward. We find that this effect is robust against variations of the radial resolution, the time step, the volume, the initial position and shape of the inmoving state, the vacuum subtraction, the discretization of the time evolution operator and the integration scheme of the metric. We briefly discuss potential improvements of the method and the possibility of applying it to black hole evaporation. We also briefly touch on the extension of our formalism to higher angular momenta, but leave the details and numerics for a forthcoming publication.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Pseudoscalar transition form factors and the hadronic light-by-light contribution to the muon $g-2$

We present preliminary results from our calculation of the pseudoscalar transition form factors of the $η$ and $η'$ mesons using staggered quarks on $N_f=2+1+1$ gauge ensembles generated by the Budapest-Marseille-Wuppertal collaboration. These transition form factors are an important input for the hadronic light-by-light contribution to the muon $(g-2)$. We first elaborate on the extraction of the masses of the $η$ and $η'$ mesons, that mix under the dynamics of QCD. Thereafter, we show our preliminary results for the pseudoscalar transition form factors, focusing on the $η$ meson in the absence of mixing.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2021

Real time dynamics of a semiclassical gravitational collapse of a scalar quantum field

We present a new formalism for numerically treating the semiclassical gravitational collapse of a scalar quantum field in the radially symmetric case. Our formalism is time reversal invariant and the evolution of the scalar fields is unitary. We present some first results in the angular momentum $l=0$ approximation for an initially coherent state of a massless field and briefly discuss future prospects.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Leptonic decay-constant ratio $f_K/f_π$ from lattice QCD using 2+1 clover-improved fermion flavors with 2-HEX smearing

We present a calculation of the leptonic decay-constant ratio $f_K/f_π$ in 2+1 flavor QCD. Our data set includes five lattice spacings and pion masses reaching down below the physical one. Special emphasis is placed on a careful study of all systematic uncertainties, especially the continuum extrapolation. Our result is perfectly compatible with the first-row unitarity constraint of the Standard Model.

hep-lat↗