arXiv subjects

Michael C. Ogilvie

Publications and source records attributed to Michael C. Ogilvie.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

PT Symmetry in Classical and Quantum Statistical Mechanics

PT-symmetric Hamiltonians and transfer matrices arise naturally in statistical mechanics. These classical and quantum models often require the use of complex or negative weights and thus fall outside of the conventional equilibrium statistical mechanics of Hermitian systems. PT-symmetric models form a natural class where the partition function is necessarily real, but not necessarily positive. The correlation functions of these models display a much richer set of behaviors than Hermitian systems, displaying sinusoidally-modulated exponential decay, as in a dense fluid, or even sinusoidal modulation without decay. Classical spin models with PT symmetry include Z(N) models with a complex magnetic field, the chiral Potts model and the anisotropic next-nearest-neighbor Ising (ANNNI) model. Quantum many-body problems with a non-zero chemical potential have a natural PT-symmetric representation related to the sign problem. Two-dimensional QCD with heavy quarks at non-zero chemical potential can be solved by diagonalizing an appropriate PT-symmetric Hamiltonian.

math-ph↗

arXiv2012

Confinement in a Higgs Model on $R^{3}\times S^{1}$

We determine the phase structure of an SU(2) gauge theory with an adjoint scalar on $R^{3}\times S^{1}$ using semiclassical methods. There are two global symmetries: a $Z(2)_{H}$ symmetry associated with the Higgs field and a $Z(2)_{C}$ center symmetry. We analyze the order of the deconfining phase transition when different deformation terms are used. After finding order parameters for the global symmetries, we show that there are four distinct phases: a deconfined phase, a confined phase, a Higgs phase, and a mixed confined phase. The mixed confined phase occurs where one might expect a phase in which there is both confinement and the Higgs mechanism, but the behavior of the order parameters distinguishes the two phases. In the mixed confined phase, the $Z(2)_{C}\times Z(2)_{H}$ global symmetry breaks spontaneously to a Z(2) subgroup that acts non-trivially on both the scalar field and the Polyakov loop. We find explicitly the BPS and KK monopole solutions of the Euclidean field equations in the BPS limit. In the mixed phase, a linear combination of $ϕ$ and $A_{4}$ enters into the monopole solutions. In all four phases, Wilson loops orthogonal to the compact direction are expected to show area-law behavior. We show that this confining behavior can be attributed to a dilute monopole gas in a broad region that includes portions of all four phases. A duality argument similar to that applied recently [Poppitz and Unsal, 2011] to the Seiberg-Witten model on $R^3 \times S^1$ shows that the monopole gas picture, arrived at using Euclidean instanton methods, can be interpreted as a gas of finite-energy dyons.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Phase Structure of Confining Theories on R^3 x S^1

Recent work on QCD-like theories on R^3 x S^1 has revealed that a confined phase can exist when the circumference L of S^1 is sufficiently small. Adjoint QCD and double-trace deformation theories with certain conditions are such theories, and we present some new results for their phase diagrams. First we show the connection between the large-L and small-L confined regions in the phase diagram of SU(3) adjoint QCD using Polyakov-Nambu-Jona Lasinio models. Then we consider an SU(2) double-trace deformation theory with adjoint scalars and study conflicts between the Higgs and small-L confined phase.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Quark Confinement and the Renormalization Group

Recent approaches to quark confinement are reviewed, with an emphasis on their connection to renormalization group methods. Basic concepts related to confinement are introduced: the string tension, Wilson loops and Polyakov lines, string breaking, string tension scaling laws, center symmetry breaking, and the deconfinement transition at non-zero temperature. Current topics discussed include confinement on $R^3\times S^1$, the real-space renormalization group, the functional renormalization group, and the Schwinger-Dyson equation approach to confinement.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2010

PT Symmetry and the Sign Problem

Generalized PT symmetry provides crucial insight into the sign problem for two classes of models. In the case of quantum statistical models at non-zero chemical potential, the free energy density is directly related to the ground state energy of a non-Hermitian, but generalized PT-symmetric Hamiltonian. There is a corresponding class of PT-symmetric classical statistical mechanics models with non-Hermitian transfer matrices. For both quantum and classical models, the class of models with generalized PT symmetry is precisely the class where the complex weight problem can be reduced to real weights, i.e., a sign problem. The spatial two-point functions of such models can exhibit three different behaviors: exponential decay, oscillatory decay, and periodic behavior. The latter two regions are associated with PT symmetry breaking, where a Hamiltonian or transfer matrix has complex conjugate pairs of eigenvalues. The transition to a spatially modulated phase is associated with PT symmetry breaking of the ground state, and is generically a first-order transition. In the region where PT symmetry is unbroken, the sign problem can always be solved in principle. Moreover, there are models with PT symmetry which can be simulated for all parameter values, including cases where PT symmetry is broken.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

PNJL model for adjoint fermions

Recent work on QCD-like theories has shown that the addition of adjoint fermions obeying periodic boundary conditions to gauge theories on R^3 X S^1 can lead to a restoration of center symmetry and confinement for sufficiently small circumference L of S^1. At small L, perturbation theory may be used reliably to compute the effective potential for the Polyakov loop P in the compact direction. Periodic adjoint fermions act in opposition to the gauge fields, which by themselves would lead to a deconfined phase at small L. In order for the fermionic effects to dominate gauge field effects in the effective potential, the fermion mass must be sufficiently small. This indicates that chiral symmetry breaking effects are potentially important. We develop a Polyakov-Nambu-Jona Lasinio (PNJL) model which combines the known perturbative behavior of adjoint QCD models at small L with chiral symmetry breaking effects to produce an effective potential for the Polyakov loop P and the chiral order parameter psi-bar psi. A rich phase structure emerges from the effective potential. Our results are consistent with the recent lattice simulations of Cossu and D'Elia, which found no evidence for a direct connection between the small-L and large-L confining regions. Nevertheless, the two confined regions are connected indirectly if an extended field theory model with an irrelevant four-fermion interaction is considered. Thus the small-L and large-L regions are part of a single confined phase.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2009

A PNJL Model for Adjoint Fermions with Periodic Boundary Conditions

Recent work on QCD-like theories has shown that the addition of adjoint fermions obeying periodic boundary conditions to gauge theories on $R^{3}\times S^{1}$ can lead to a restoration of center symmetry and confinement for sufficiently small circumference $L$ of $S^{1}$. At small $L$, perturbation theory may be used reliably to compute the effective potential for the Polyakov loop $P$ in the compact direction. Periodic adjoint fermions act in opposition to the gauge fields, which by themselves would lead to a deconfined phase at small $L$. In order for the fermionic effects to dominate gauge field effects in the effective potential, the fermion mass must be sufficiently small. This indicates that chiral symmetry breaking effects are potentially important. We develop a Polyakov-Nambu-Jona Lasinio (PNJL) model which combines the known perturbative behavior of adjoint QCD models at small $L$ with chiral symmetry breaking effects to produce an effective potential for the Polyakov loop $P$ and the chiral order parameter $\barψψ$. A rich phase structure emerges from the effective potential. Our results are consistent with the recent lattice simulations of Cossu and D'Elia, which found no evidence for a direct connection between the small-$L$ and large-$L$ confining regions. Nevertheless, the two confined regions are connected indirectly if an extended field theory model with an irrelevant four-fermion interaction is considered. Thus the small-$L$ and large-$L$ regions are part of a single confined phase.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2009

Phase diagrams of SU(N) gauge theories with fermions in various representations

We minimize the one-loop effective potential for SU(N) gauge theories including fermions with finite mass in the fundamental (F), adjoint (Adj), symmetric (S), and antisymmetric (AS) representations. We calculate the phase diagram on S^1 x R^3 as a function of the length of the compact dimension, beta, and the fermion mass, m. We consider the effect of periodic boundary conditions [PBC(+)] on fermions as well as antiperiodic boundary conditions [ABC(-)]. The use of PBC(+) produces a rich phase structure. These phases are distinguished by the eigenvalues of the Polyakov loop P. Minimization of the effective potential for QCD(AS/S,+) results in a phase where | Im Tr P | is maximized, resulting in charge conjugation (C) symmetry breaking for all N and all values of (m beta), however, the partition function is the same up to O(1/N) corrections as when ABC are applied. Therefore, regarding orientifold planar equivalence, we argue that in the one-loop approximation C-breaking in QCD(AS/S,+) resulting from the application of PBC to fermions does not invalidate the large N equivalence with QCD(Adj,-). Similarly, with respect to orbifold planar equivalence, breaking of Z(2) interchange symmetry resulting from application of PBC to bifundamental (BF) representation fermions does not invalidate equivalence with QCD(Adj,-) in the one-loop perturbative limit because the partition functions of QCD(BF,-) and QCD(BF,+) are the same. Of particular interest as well is the case of adjoint fermions where for Nf > 1 Majorana flavour confinement is obtained for sufficiently small (m beta), and deconfinement for sufficiently large (m beta). For N >= 3 these two phases are separated by one or more additional phases, some of which can be characterized as partially-confining phases.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

String Tension Scaling in High-Temperature Confined SU(N) Gauge Theories

SU(N) gauge theories, extended with adjoint fermions having periodic boundary conditions, are confining at high temperature for sufficiently light fermion mass $m$. In the high temperature confining region, the one-loop effective potential for Polyakov loops has a Z(N)-symmetric confining minimum. String tensions associated with Polyakov loops are calculable in perturbation theory, and display a novel scaling behavior in which higher representations have smaller string tensions than the fundamental representation. In the magnetic sector, the Polyakov loop plays a role similar to a Higgs field, leading to an apparent breaking of SU(N) to $U(1)^{N-1}$. This is turn yields a dual effective theory where magnetic monopoles give rise to string tensions for spatial Wilson loops. The spatial string tensions are calculable semiclassically from kink solutions of the dual system. We show that the spatial string tensions $σ^{(s)}_k$ associated with each $N$-ality $k$ obey a variant of Casimir scaling $σ^{(s)}_k /σ^{(s)}_1 \leq \sqrt{k(N-k)/(N-1)} $. Although lattice simulations indicate that the high temperature confining region is smoothly connected to the confining region of low-temperature pure SU(N) gauge theory, the electric and magnetic string tension scaling laws are different and readily distinguishable.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2009

PT Symmetry and QCD: Finite Temperature and Density

The relevance of PT symmetry to quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the gauge theory of the strong interactions, is explored in the context of finite temperature and density. Two significant problems in QCD are studied: the sign problem of finite-density QCD, and the problem of confinement. It is proven that the effective action for heavy quarks at finite density is PT-symmetric. For the case of 1+1 dimensions, the PT-symmetric Hamiltonian, although not Hermitian, has real eigenvalues for a range of values of the chemical potential $μ$, solving the sign problem for this model. The effective action for heavy quarks is part of a potentially large class of generalized sine-Gordon models which are non-Hermitian but are PT-symmetric. Generalized sine-Gordon models also occur naturally in gauge theories in which magnetic monopoles lead to confinement. We explore gauge theories where monopoles cause confinement at arbitrarily high temperatures. Several different classes of monopole gases exist, with each class leading to different string tension scaling laws. For one class of monopole gas models, the PT-symmetric affine Toda field theory emerges naturally as the effective theory. This in turn leads to sine-law scaling for string tensions, a behavior consistent with lattice simulations.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

High Temperature Confinement in SU(N) Gauge Theories

SU(N) gauge theories, extended with adjoint fermions having periodic boundary conditions, are confining at high temperature for sufficiently light fermion mass m. Lattice simulations indicate that this confining region is smoothly connected to the confining region of low-temperature pure SU(N) gauge theory. In the high temperature confining region, the one-loop effective potential for Polyakov loops has a Z(N)-symmetric confining minimum. String tensions associated with Polyakov loops are smooth functions of m/T. In the magnetic sector, the Polyakov loop plays a role similar to a Higgs field, leading to a breaking of SU(N) to U(1)^{N-1}. This is turn yields an effective theory where magnetic monopoles give rise to string tensions for spatial Wilson loops. These string tensions are calculable semiclassically. There are many analytical predictions for the high-temperature region that can be tested by lattice simulations, but lattice work will be crucial for exploring the crossover from this region to the low-temperature confining behavior of pure gauge theories.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2008

Exotic phases of finite temperature SU(N) gauge theories

We calculate the phase diagrams at high temperature of SU(N) gauge theories with massive fermions by minimizing the one-loop effective potential. Considering fermions in the adjoint (Adj) representation at various N we observe a variety of phases when Nf >= 2 Majorana flavours and periodic boundary conditions are applied to fermions. Also the confined phase is perturbatively accessible. For N = 3, we add Fundamental (F) representation fermions with antiperiodic boundary conditions to adjoint QCD to show how the Z(3)-symmetry breaks in the confined phase.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Exotic phases of finite temperature SU(N) gauge theories with massive fermions: F, Adj, A/S

The phase diagrams at high temperature of SU(N) gauge theories with massive fermions are calculated by numerically minimizing the one-loop effective potential. We consider fermions in the Fundamental (F), Adjoint (Adj), Antisymmetric (AS), and Symmetric (S) representations, for N from 3 to 9, with periodic and antiperiodic boundary conditions applied. For one flavour of AS/S (Dirac) fermion with periodic boundary conditions the C-breaking phase is favoured perturbatively for all values of the fermion mass. In the case of one flavour of adjoint Majorana fermion, and periodic boundary conditons, the deconfined phase is favoured for any fermion mass. For one or more adjoint Dirac fermion (two or more Majorana fermions) we find partially-confining phases as well as new phases with unusual properties. Our results for SU(3) and SU(4) are consistent with our lattice simulations of a related model.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2008

PT symmetry and large-N models

Recently developed methods for PT-symmetric models can be applied to quantum-mechanical matrix and vector models. In matrix models, the calculation of all singlet wave functions can be reduced to the solution a one-dimensional PT-symmetric model. The large-N limit of a wide class of matrix models exists, and properties of the lowest-lying singlet state can be computed using WKB. For models with cubic and quartic interactions, the ground state energy appears to show rapid convergence to the large-N limit. For the special case of a quartic model, we find explicitly an isospectral Hermitian matrix model. The Hermitian form for a vector model with O(N) symmetry can also be found, and shows many unusual features. The effective potential obtained in the large-N limit of the Hermitian form is shown to be identical to the form obtained from the original PT-symmetric model using familiar constraint field methods. The analogous constraint field prescription in four dimensions suggests that PT-symmetric scalar field theories are asymptotically free.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Exploring Partially Confined Phases

Phases of SU(N) gauge theories in which the global Z(N) symmetry breaks spontaneously to a subgroup Z(L) can be realized by adding appropriate Wilson line terms to the gauge action. These phases are partially confining, in the sense that quarks are confined but bound states of L quarks are not. At temperatures large compared to the normal deconfinement temperature, the phase diagram, pressure, string tensions, and 't Hooft loop surface tensions can be calculated analytically. Approximate scaling laws emerge naturally for both string tensions and surface tensions.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2007

New phases of finite temperature gauge theory from an extended action

We study the behavior of the order parameter, the phase diagram, and the thermodynamics of exotic phases of finite temperature gauge theory. Lattice simulations were performed in SU(3) and SU(4) with an adjoint Polyakov loop term added to the standard Wilson action. In SU(3), the pattern of Z(3) symmetry breaking in the new phase is distinct from the pattern observed in the deconfined phase. In SU(4), the Z(4) symmetry is spontaneously broken down to Z(2), representing a partially-confined phase. The existence of the new phases is confirmed in analytical calculations of the free energy based on high-temperature perturbation theory.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2007

New Phases of SU(3) and SU(4) at Finite Temperature

The addition of an adjoint Polyakov loop term to the action of a pure gauge theory at finite temperature leads to new phases of SU(N) gauge theories. For SU(3), a new phase is found which breaks Z(3) symmetry in a novel way; for SU(4), the new phase exhibits spontaneous symmetry breaking of Z(4) to Z(2), representing a partially confined phase in which quarks are confined, but diquarks are not. The overall phase structure and thermodynamics is consistent with a theoretical model of the effective potential for the Polyakov loop based on perturbation theory.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2007

PT-symmetric Models with O(N) Symmetry

We construct PT-symmetric quantum mechanical models with an O(N)-symmetric interaction term of the form $-g(\vec{x}^{2})^{2}/N$. Using functional integral methods, we find the equivalent Hermitian model, which has several unusual features. The effective potential obtained in the large-N limit of the Hermitian form is shown to be identical to the form obtained from the original PT-symmetric model using familiar constraint field methods. The analogous constraint field prescription in four dimensions suggests that $-g(\vecϕ^{2})^{2}/N$ PT-symmetric scalar field theories are asymptotically free.

hep-th↗