arXiv subjects

M. Alford

Publications and source records attributed to M. Alford.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2014

The Large Observatory For x-ray Timing

The Large Observatory For x-ray Timing (LOFT) was studied within ESA M3 Cosmic Vision framework and participated in the final down-selection for a launch slot in 2022-2024. Thanks to the unprecedented combination of effective area and spectral resolution of its main instrument, LOFT will study the behaviour of matter under extreme conditions, such as the strong gravitational field in the innermost regions of accretion flows close to black holes and neutron stars, and the supra-nuclear densities in the interior of neutron stars. The science payload is based on a Large Area Detector (LAD, 10 m 2 effective area, 2-30 keV, 240 eV spectral resolution, 1 deg collimated field of view) and a WideField Monitor (WFM, 2-50 keV, 4 steradian field of view, 1 arcmin source location accuracy, 300 eV spectral resolution). The WFM is equipped with an on-board system for bright events (e.g. GRB) localization. The trigger time and position of these events are broadcast to the ground within 30 s from discovery. In this paper we present the status of the mission at the end of its Phase A study.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2004

Critical phenomena from the two-particle irreducible 1/N expansion

The 1/N expansion of the two-particle irreducible (2PI) effective action is employed to compute universal properties at the second-order phase transition of an O(N)-symmetric N-vector model directly in three dimensions. At next-to-leading order the approach cures the spurious small-N divergence of the standard (1PI) 1/N expansion for a computation of the critical anomalous dimension eta(N), and leads to improved estimates already for moderate values of N.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2003

Scalar Mesons as qbar^2 q^2? Insight from the Lattice

I describe some insight obtained from a lattice calculation on the possibility that the light scalar mesons are \qbar^2 q^2 states rather than \qbar q. First I review some general features of \qbar^2 q^2 states in QCD inspired quark models. Then I describe a lattice QCD calculation of pseudoscalar meson scattering amplitudes, ignoring quark loops and quark annihilation, which finds indications that for sufficiently heavy quarks there is a stable four-quark bound state with JPC=0{++} and non-exotic flavor quantum numbers.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2002

The determination of alpha_s from lattice QCD with 2+1 flavors of dynamical quarks

We describe the first lattice determination of the strong coupling constant with 3 flavors of dynamical quarks. The method follows previous analyses in using a perturbative expansion for the plaquette and Upsilon spectroscopy to set the scale. Using dynamical configurations from the MILC collaboration with 2+1 flavors of dynamical quarks we are able to avoid previous problems of having to extrapolate to 3 light flavors from 0 and 2. Our results agree with our previous work: alpha_s_MSbar(M_Z) = 0.121(3).

hep-lat↗

arXiv2002

The Upsilon Spectrum from Lattice QCD with 2+1 Flavors of Dynamical Quarks

We describe the bottomonium spectrum obtained on the MILC configurations which incorporate 2+1 flavors of dynamical quarks. We compare to quenched and 2 flavor results also on MILC configurations. We show that the lattice spacing determination using different quantities shows clear signs of convergence with 2+1 flavors and give results for the leptonic width and hyperfine splitting, in the form of the ratio of the 1st excited state of the Upsilon to that of the ground state.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2001

Solution of the Complex Action Problem in the Potts Model for Dense QCD

Monte Carlo simulations of lattice QCD at non-zero baryon chemical potential $μ$ suffer from the notorious complex action problem. We consider QCD with static quarks coupled to a large chemical potential. This leaves us with an SU(3) Yang-Mills theory with a complex action containing the Polyakov loop. Close to the deconfinement phase transition the qualitative features of this theory, in particular its Z(3) symmetry properties, are captured by the 3-d 3-state Potts model. We solve the complex action problem in the Potts model by using a cluster algorithm. The improved estimator for the $μ$-dependent part of the Boltzmann factor is real and positive and is used for importance sampling. We localize the critical endpoint of the first order deconfinement phase transition line and find consistency with universal 3-d Ising behavior. We also calculate the static quark-quark, quark-anti-quark, and anti-quark-anti-quark potentials which show screening as expected for a system with non-zero baryon density.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2000

Measuring the aspect ratio renormalization of anisotropic-lattice gluons

Using tadpole inproved actions we investigate the consistency between different methods of measuring the aspect ratio renormalization of anisotropic-lattice gluons for bare aspect ratios χ_0=4,6,10 and inverse lattice spacing in the range a_s^{-1}=660-840 MeV. The tadpole corrections to the action, which are established self-consistently, are defined for two cases, mean link tadpoles in Landau gauge and gauge invariant mean plaquette tadpoles. Parameters in the latter case exhibited no dependence on the spatial lattice size, L, while in the former, parameters showed only a weak dependence on L easily extrapolated to L=\infty. The renormalized anisotropy χ_R was measured using both the torelon dispersion relation and the sideways potential method. We found good agreement between these different approaches. Any discrepancy was at worst 3-4% which is consistent with the effect of lattice artifacts that for the torelon we estimate as O(\a_Sa_s^2/R^2) where R is the flux-tube radius. We also present some new data that suggests that rotational invariance is established more accurately for the mean-link action than the plaquette action.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2000

Color superconductivity in dense quark matter

I discuss recent developments in our understanding of the color-superconducting phases of cold, dense quark matter. I describe the phase diagram as a function of density and the strange quark mass, and outline some ideas about possible observational consequences of these exotic phases.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1999

Magnetic fields within color superconducting neutron star cores

We discuss the Meissner effect for a color superconductor formed by cold dense quark matter. Though color and ordinary electromagnetism are broken in a color superconductor, there is a linear combination of the photon and a gluon that remains massless. Consequently, a color superconducting region may be penetrated by an external magnetic field. We show that at most a small fraction of the magnetic field is expelled, and if the screening distance is the smallest length scale in the problem there is no expulsion at all. We calculate the behavior of the magnetic field for a spherical geometry relevant for compact stars. If a neutron star contains a quark matter core, this core is a color superconductor. Our results demonstrate that such cores admit magnetic fields without restricting them to quantized flux tubes. Such magnetic fields within color superconducting neutron star cores are stable on time scales longer than the age of the universe, even if the spin period of the neutron star is changing.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1999

High-density QCD: the effects of strangeness

I discuss the zero temperature phase diagram of QCD, as a function of baryon density and strange quark mass. The noteworthy points are that at sufficiently high density chiral symmetry is always restored, and at low strange quark mass there need be no phase transition between nuclear matter and quark matter. I comment on the possibility that introducing a strange quark may make it easier to see finite-density physics on the lattice.

hep-lat↗

arXiv1999

Gapless Color Superconductivity

We present the dispersion relations for quasiparticle excitations about the color-flavor locked ground state of QCD at high baryon density. In the presence of condensates which pair light and strange quarks there need not be an energy gap in the quasiparticle spectrum. This raises the possibility of gapless color superconductivity, with a Meissner effect but no minimum excitation energy. Analysis within a toy model suggests that gapless color superconductivity may occur only as a metastable phase.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1999

Unlocking Color and Flavor in Superconducting Strange Quark Matter

We explore the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter with massless u and d quarks as a function of the strange quark mass m_s and the chemical potential mu for baryon number. Neglecting electromagnetism, we describe the different baryonic and quark matter phases at zero temperature. For quark matter, we support our model-independent arguments with a quantitative analysis of a model which uses a four-fermion interaction abstracted from single-gluon exchange. For any finite m_s, at sufficiently large mu we find quark matter in a color-flavor locked state which leaves a global vector-like SU(2)_{color+L+R} symmetry unbroken. As a consequence, chiral symmetry is always broken in sufficiently dense quark matter. As the density is reduced, for sufficiently large m_s we observe a first order transition from the color-flavor locked phase to a color superconducting phase analogous to that in two flavor QCD. At this unlocking transition chiral symmetry is restored. For realistic values of m_s our analysis indicates that chiral symmetry breaking may be present for all densities down to those characteristic of baryonic matter. This supports the idea that quark matter and baryonic matter may be continuously connected in nature. We map the gaps at the quark Fermi surfaces in the high density color-flavor locked phase onto gaps at the baryon Fermi surfaces at low densities.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1998

New possibilities for QCD at finite density

I review the growing theoretical indications that at high densities color SU(3) gauge symmetry is spontaneously broken by the formation of a quark pair condensate. This leads to a rich phase structure for QCD as a function of temperature and chemical potential. I also discuss the prospects for lattice QCD calculations at finite density, including the Glasgow algorithm and imaginary chemical potential.

hep-lat↗

arXiv1998

Imaginary chemical potential and finite fermion density on the lattice

Standard lattice fermion algorithms run into the well-known sign problem at real chemical potential. In this paper we investigate the possibility of using imaginary chemical potential, and argue that it has advantages over other methods, particularly for probing the physics at finite temperature as well as density. As a feasibility study, we present numerical results for the partition function of the two-dimensional Hubbard model with imaginary chemical potential. We also note that systems with a net imbalance of isospin may be simulated using a real chemical potential that couples to I_3 without suffering from the sign problem.

hep-lat↗

arXiv1998

Color-Flavor Locking and Chiral Symmetry Breaking in High Density QCD

We propose a symmetry breaking scheme for QCD with three massless quarks at high baryon density wherein the color and flavor SU(3)_color times SU(3)_L times SU(3)_R symmetries are broken down to the diagonal subgroup SU(3)_{color+L+R} by the formation of a condensate of quark Cooper pairs. We discuss general properties that follow from this hypothesis, including the existence of gaps for quark and gluon excitations, the existence of Nambu-Goldstone bosons which are excitations of the diquark condensate, and the existence of a modified electromagnetic gauge interaction which is unbroken and which assigns integral charge to the elementary excitations. We present mean-field results for a Hamiltonian in which the interaction between quarks is modelled by that induced by single-gluon exchange. We find gaps of order 10-100 MeV for plausible values of the coupling. We discuss the effects of nonzero temperature, nonzero quark masses and instanton-induced interactions on our results.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1998

QCD at Finite Baryon Density: Nucleon Droplets and Color Superconductivity

We use a variational procedure to study finite density QCD in an approximation in which the interaction between quarks is modelled by that induced by instantons. We find that uniform states with conventional chiral symmetry breaking have negative pressure with respect to empty space at all but the lowest densities, and are therefore unstable. This is a precisely defined phenomenon which motivates the basic picture of hadrons assumed in the MIT bag model, with nucleons as droplets of chiral symmetry restored phase. At all densities high enough that the chirally symmetric phase fills space, we find that color symmetry is broken by the formation of a condensate of quark Cooper pairs. A plausible ordering scheme leads to a substantial gap in a Lorentz scalar channel involving quarks of two colors, and a much smaller gap in an axial vector channel involving quarks of the third color.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1998

Color Superconductivity and Signs of its Formation

We study finite density QCD in an approximation in which the interaction between quarks is modelled on that induced by instantons. We sketch the mechanism by which chiral symmetry restoration at finite density occurs in this model. At all densities high enough that the chirally symmetric phase fills space, we find that color symmetry is broken by the formation of a $< qq >$ condensate of quark Cooper pairs. The formation of this color superconductor condensate lowers the energy of the system most if the up and down quark chemical potentials are equal. This suggests that the formation of such a condensate in a heavy ion collision may be accompanied by radiation of negative pions, and its decay may yield more protons than were present in the incident nuclei.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1997

A quark action for very coarse lattices

We investigate a tree-level O(a^3)-accurate action, D234c, on coarse lattices. For the improvement terms we use tadpole-improved coefficients, with the tadpole contribution measured by the mean link in Landau gauge. We measure the hadron spectrum for quark masses near that of the strange quark. We find that D234c shows much better rotational invariance than the Sheikholeslami-Wohlert action, and that mean-link tadpole improvement leads to smaller finite-lattice-spacing errors than plaquette tadpole improvement. We obtain accurate ratios of lattice spacings using a convenient ``Galilean quarkonium'' method. We explore the effects of possible O(alpha_s) changes to the improvement coefficients, and find that the two leading coefficients can be independently tuned: hadron masses are most sensitive to the clover coefficient, while hadron dispersion relations are most sensitive to the third derivative coefficient C_3. Preliminary non-perturbative tuning of these coefficients yields values that are consistent with the expected size of perturbative corrections.

hep-lat↗