arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Pengming Zhang.
A prevalence of production of twisted (vortex) particles in noncentral heavy-ion collisions is shown. In such collisions, photons emitted due to the rotation of charges are highly twisted. Charged particles are produced in nonspreading multiwave states and have significant orbital angular momenta. It can be expected that an emission of any twisted particles manifesting themselves in specific effects is rather ubiquitous.
The Abelian decomposition of QCD tells that there are two types of gluons, the color neutral neurons and colored chromons. We propose to confirm the Abelian decomposition testing the existence of two types of gluon jets experimentally. We predict that one quarter of the gluon jet is made of the neurons which has the color factor 3/4 and the sharpest jet radius and smallest charged particle multiplicity, while the three quarters of the gluon jet are made of the chromons with the color factor 9/4 which have the broadest jet radious (broader than the quark jet). Moreover, we argue that the neuron jet has a distinct color flow which forms an ideal color dipole, while the quark and chromon jets have distorted dipole pattern. To test the plausibility of this proposal we suggest to analyse the gluon distribution against the jet shape (the sphericity) and/or particle multiplicity from the existing gluon jet events and look for two distinct peaks in the distribution.
We present the basic non-perturbative structure of the space of classical dynamical solutions and corresponding one particle quantum states in SU(3) Yang-Mills theory. It has been demonstrated that the Weyl group of su(3) algebra plays an important role in constructing non-perturbative solutions and leads to profound changes in the structure of the classical and quantum Yang-Mills theory. We show that the Weyl group as a non-trivial color subgroup of SU(3) admits singlet irreducible representations on a space of classical dynamical solutions which lead to strict concepts of one particle quantum states for gluons and quarks. The Yang-Mills theory is a non-linear theory and, in general, it is not possible to construct a Hilbert space of classical solutions and quantum states as a linear vector space, so, usually, a perturbative approach is applied. We propose a non-perturbative approach based on Weyl symmetric solutions to full non-linear equations of motion and construct a full space of dynamical solutions representing an infinite but countable solution space classified by a finite set of integer numbers. It has been proved that the Weyl singlet structure of classical solutions provides the existence of a stable non-degenerate vacuum which serves as a main precondition of the color confinement phenomenon. Some physical implications in quantum chromodynamics are considered.
The use of a (quasi)uniform magnetic field opens new possibilities for a production of twisted particles having orbital angular momenta. Quantum states suitable for a production of charged particles in a uniform magnetic field are determined. The particle penetration from a solenoid to vacuum or another solenoid is analyzed in detail. Experiments allowing one successful discoveries of twisted positrons and positroniums are developed. We find a new effect of increasing a uncertainty of phase of the particle rotation with the distance passed by the particle in the solenoid. This effect leads to exciting new possibilities of production of twisted particles in real solenoids without additional devices like particle sources.
An atom placed in an optical vortex close to the axis may, upon absorbing a photon, acquire a transverse momentum much larger than the transverse momentum of any plane-wave component of the vortex lightfield. This surprising phenomenon dubbed superkick has been clarified previously in terms of the atom wave packet evolution in the field of an optical vortex treated classically. Here, we study this effect within the quantum field theoretical (QFT) framework. We consider collision of a Bessel twisted wave with a compact Gaussian beam focused to a small focal spot $σ$ located at distance $b$ from the twisted beam axis. Through a qualitative discussion supported by exact analytical and numerical calculations, we recover the superkick phenomenon for $σ\ll b$ and explore its limits when $σ$ becomes comparable to $b$. On the way to the final result within the QFT treatment, we encountered and resolved apparent paradoxes related to subtle issues of the formalism. These results open a way to a detailed QFT exploration of other superkick-related effects recently suggested to exist in high-energy collisions.
As is widely-known, the eigen-functions of the Landau problem in the symmetric gauge are specified by two quantum numbers. The first is the familiar Landau quantum number $n$, whereas the second is the magnetic quantum number $m$, which is the eigen-value of the canonical orbital angular momentum (OAM) operator of the electron. The eigen-energies of the system depend only on the first quantum number $n$, and the second quantum number $m$ does not correspond to any direct observables. This seems natural since the canonical OAM is generally believed to be a {\it gauge-variant} quantity, and observation of a gauge-variant quantity would contradict a fundamental principle of physics called the {\it gauge principle}. In recent researches, however, Bliohk et al. analyzed the motion of helical electron beam along the direction of a uniform magnetic field, which was mostly neglected in past analyses of the Landau states. Their analyses revealed highly non-trivial $m$-dependent rotational dynamics of the Landau electron, but the problem is that their papers give an impression that the quantum number $m$ in the Landau eigen-states corresponds to a genuine observable. This compatibility problem between the gauge principle and the observability of the quantum number $m$ in the Landau eigen-states was attacked in our previous letter paper. In the present paper, we try to give more convincing answer to this delicate problem of physics, especially by paying attention not only to the {\it particle-like} aspect but also to the {\it wave-like} aspect of the Landau electron.
In this work, we self-consistently explore the possibility of charged pion superfluidity and cosmic trajectories in early Universe under the framework of Polyakov-Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model. By taking the badly constrained lepton flavor asymmetries $l_{\rm e}$ and $l_μ$ as free parameters, the upper boundaries of pion superfluidity phase are consistently found to be around the pseudocritical temperature at zero chemical potentials. So the results greatly support the choice of $T=0.16~{\rm GeV}$ as the upper boundary of pion superfluidity in the previous lattice QCD study. Take $l_{\rm e}+l_μ=-0.2$ as an example, we demonstrate the features of pion condensation and the associated cosmic trajectories with the evolution of early Universe. While the trajectory of electric chemical potential reacts strongly at both the lower and upper boundaries of reentrant pion superfluidity, the trajectories of other chemical potentials only respond strongly at the upper boundary.
Lepton scattering is an established ideal tool for studying inner structure of small particles such as nucleons as well as nuclei. As a future high energy nuclear physics project, an Electron-ion collider in China (EicC) has been proposed. It will be constructed based on an upgraded heavy-ion accelerator, High Intensity heavy-ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF) which is currently under construction, together with a new electron ring. The proposed collider will provide highly polarized electrons (with a polarization of $\sim$80%) and protons (with a polarization of $\sim$70%) with variable center of mass energies from 15 to 20 GeV and the luminosity of (2-3) $\times$ 10$^{33}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. Polarized deuterons and Helium-3, as well as unpolarized ion beams from Carbon to Uranium, will be also available at the EicC. The main foci of the EicC will be precision measurements of the structure of the nucleon in the sea quark region, including 3D tomography of nucleon; the partonic structure of nuclei and the parton interaction with the nuclear environment; the exotic states, especially those with heavy flavor quark contents. In addition, issues fundamental to understanding the origin of mass could be addressed by measurements of heavy quarkonia near-threshold production at the EicC. In order to achieve the above-mentioned physics goals, a hermetical detector system will be constructed with cutting-edge technologies. This document is the result of collective contributions and valuable inputs from experts across the globe. The EicC physics program complements the ongoing scientific programs at the Jefferson Laboratory and the future EIC project in the United States. The success of this project will also advance both nuclear and particle physics as well as accelerator and detector technology in China.
The importance of production of twisted (vortex) particles in heavy-ion collisions is analyzed. Free twisted particles can possess giant intrinsic orbital angular momenta. Twisted particles are spatially localized and can be rather ubiquitous in laboratories and nature. Twisted photons have nonzero effective masses. Charged twisted particles can be recognized by their dynamics, magnetic moments, and specific effects in external fields.
We consider two fundamental long-standing problems in quantum chromodynamics (QCD): the origin of color confinement and structure of a true vacuum and color singlet quantum states. There is a common belief that resolution to these problems needs a knowledge of a strict non-perturbative quantum Yang-Mills theory and new ideas. Our principal idea in resolving these problems is that structure of color confinement and color singlet quantum states must be determined by a Weyl symmetry which is an intrinsic symmetry of the Yang-Mills gauge theory, and by properties of a selected class of solutions satisfying special requirements. Following this idea we construct for the first time a space of color singlet one particle quantum states for primary gluons and quarks and reveal the structure of color confinement in quantum Yang-Mills theory. As an application we demonstrate formation of physical observables in a pure QCD, pure glueballs.
We calculate the production cross-section and the transverse single-spin asymmetry for pion in $p^{\uparrow}+p\to π^0 + X$. Our computation is based on existence of the instanton induced effective quark-gluon and quark-gluon-pion interactions with a strong spin dependency. In this framework we calculate the cross section without using fragmentation functions. We compare predictions of the model with data from RHIC. Our numerical results, based on the instanton liquid model for QCD vacuum, are in agreement with unpolarized cross section data. The asymmetry grows with the transverse momentum of pion $k_t$ in accordance with experimental observations. It reach value $\sim 10\%$ but at higher $k_t$ than experiment shows.
A theory of twisted (and other structured) paraxial electrons in a uniform magnetic field is developed. The obtained general quantum-mechanical solution of the relativistic paraxial equation contains the commonly accepted result as a specific case of unstructured electron waves. In the weak-field limit, our solution (unlike the existing theory) is consistent with the well-known equation for free twisted electron beams. The observable effect of a different behavior of relativistic Laguerre-Gauss beams with opposite directions of the orbital angular momentum penetrating from the free space into a magnetic field is predicted. Distinguishing features of the quantization of the velocity and the effective mass of structured electrons in the uniform magnetic field are analyzed.
We consider the q-derivatives of the Srivastava and Daoust basic multivariable hypergeometric function with respect to the parameters. This function embodies a entire number of various q-hypergeometric series of one and several variables. Explicit equations are given for general case of summation indexes with positive real coefficients. As an example derivatives of q-analog of non-confluent Horn type hypergeometric function $H_3$ is presented.
There is an interesting but not so popular quantity called pseudo orbital angular momentum (OAM) in the Landau-level system, besides the well-known canonical and mechanical OAMs. The pseudo OAM can be regarded as a gauge-invariant extension of the canonical OAM, which is formally gauge invariant and reduces to the canonical OAM in a certain gauge. Since both of the pseudo OAM and the mechanical OAM are gauge invariant, it is impossible to judge which of those is superior to the other solely from the gauge principle. However, these two OAMs have totally different physical meanings. The mechanical OAM shows manifest observability and clear correspondence with the classical OAM of the cyclotron motion. On the other hand, we demonstrate that the standard canonical OAM as well as the pseudo OAM in the Landau problem are the concepts which crucially depend on the choice of the origin of the coordinate system. We try to reveal the relation between the pseudo OAM and the mechanical OAM as well as their observability by paying special attention to the role of guiding-center operator in the Landau problem.
The problem of the position and spin in relativistic quantum mechanics is analyzed in detail. It is definitively shown that the position and spin operators in the Foldy-Wouthuysen representation (but not in the Dirac one) are quantum-mechanical counterparts of the classical position and spin variables. The probabilistic interpretation is valid only for Foldy-Wouthuysen wave functions. The relativistic spin operators are discussed. The spin-orbit interaction does not exist for a free particle if the conventional operators of the orbital angular momentum and the rest-frame spin are used. Alternative definitions of the orbital angular momentum and the spin are based on noncommutative geometry, do not satisfy standard commutation relations, and can allow the spin-orbit interaction.
Electron microscopy stands out as electron waves providing higher spatial resolving power compared to their optical counterpart. Here we investigate theoretically the interaction of twisted electrons generated in transmission electron microscope (TEM) and magnetic impurity, in which the magnetic dipole moment is taken as a demonstration element. In addition to the usual optical phase, the inhomogeneous vector potential generated by the magnetic dipole moment makes additional contribution to the intrinsic orbital angular momentum of electrons, resulting in a Gouy phase shift. By interfering the outgoing twisted electron beam with a reference Gaussian-cylindrical wave, one can determine the magnitude and orientation of magnetic dipole directly via the rotational and deformed interference pattern. The obtained results demonstrate the usefulness of twisted electron beams for probing the atomic- and nanoscale magnetism of impurity by TEM and the proposed model provides the conceptual basis for future developments of the TEM method.
A connection between relativistic quantum mechanics in the Foldy-Wouthuysen representation and the paraxial equations is established for a Dirac particle in external fields. The paraxial form of the Landau eigenfunction for a relativistic electron in a uniform magnetic field is determined. The obtained wave function contains the Gouy phase and significantly approaches to the paraxial wave function for a free electron.
Collisions of twisted particles --- that is, non-plane-wave states of photons, electrons, or any other particle, equipped with a non-zero orbital angular momentum (OAM) with respect to its propagation direction --- offer novel ways to probe particle structure and interactions. In the recent paper \cite{Ivanov:2019vxe}, we argued that resonance production in twisted photon collisions or twisted $e^+e^-$ annihilation gives access to parity- and spin-sensitive observables in inclusive cross sections, even when the initial particles are unpolarized. Here, we explore these features in detail, providing a qualitative picture and illustrating it with numerical examples. We show how one can detect parity-violating effects in collisions of unpolarized twisted photons and how one can produce almost $100\%$ polarized vector mesons in unpolarized twisted $e^+e^-$ annihilation. These examples highlight the unprecedented level of control over polarization offered by twisted particles, impossible in the usual plane wave collisions.