arXiv subjects

Sachindeo Vaidya

Publications and source records attributed to Sachindeo Vaidya.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The fate of chiral symmetry in two-flavor matrix adjoint QC$_2$D

In the matrix model of two-flavor adjoint QC$_2$D, we study the low-lying states and their properties in the intermediate-to-strong (Yang-Mills) coupling regime. The model has a classical $SU(2)_R$ chiral symmetry and the eigenstates of the Hamiltonian can be organized in its irreps. We construct the energy eigenstates in presence of a chiral chemical potential $c$ using the variational techniques. We find that when $c=0$, the ground state is always a $SU(2)_R$ singlet, irrespective of the coupling strength $g$. However, as $g$ is tuned from intermediate to strong coupling, the system under goes a crossover from a unique to a doubly degenerate ground state. The degeneracy in the strong coupling regime spontaneously breaks the axial $\mathbb{Z}_8$, while preserving the chiral symmetry. When $c \neq 0$, we find that there can be level crossings which correspond to quantum phase transitions (QPTs). Depending on the ground state, there are three possible phases. The $SU(2)_R$ symmetry is spontaneously broken in only one of these phases, and this phase can only emerge for intermediate $g$ with moderate values of $c$. In the $g-c$ plane this phase corresponds to a narrow window, outside which $SU(2)_R$ is always preserved.

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arXiv2026

Quantum phases at high chemical potential in 2-flavor matrix-QC$_2$D

We investigate the matrix model of two-color two-flavor QCD (matrix-QCD$_{2,2}$) in regimes with large baryon ($\mu_{_B}$), isospin ($\mu_{_I}$), and/or chiral ($c$) chemical potentials. In these regimes, the Hamiltonian simplifies considerably, making it possible to investigate the ground state for intermediate and strong Yang-Mills coupling. By diagonalizing the Hamiltonian using the variational techniques, we show that in regimes where $\mu_{_B}$ and $c$ (or $\mu_{_B}$ and $\mu_{_I}$) dominate, tuning the remaining parameters leads to quantum phase transitions (QPTs). These transitions form a complex web of phases, each of which has a ground state uniquely labelled by baryon number $B$ and isospin $I$. Several of these phases are LOFF-like, characterized by a ground state carrying non-zero spin and hence spontaneously breaking rotational symmetry. These results are consistent with older effective field theory predictions by Splittorff-Son-Stephanov \cite{Splittorff:2000mm}. The fermionic content of these LOFF-like ground states consists of spin-1 di-(anti-) quarks which are analogous to Cooper pairs. We compute the spin-fraction carried by the quarks and find that it constitutes a significant portion -- in some cases nearly the entirety -- of the total spin.

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arXiv2026

Localization-delocalization transition at weak coupling in two-color matrix QCD

We numerically investigate the matrix model of two-color one-flavor adjoint QCD (matrix-QCD$_{2,1}^{\text{adj}}$) in the weak coupling regime (small $g$) and in the chiral limit. The Yang-Mills potential has two distinct gauge invariant minima: one at $A_i=0$ and the other at $A_i = \frac{\sigma_i}{2g}$. We show that when the chiral chemical potential $c \leq \frac{3}{2}$, there is a quantum phase transition at $g_0^\ast \simeq 0.143$: for $g g_0^\ast$, the ground state is delocalized over the gauge configuration space. The transition between these two phases is singular, with the ground state at $g_0^\ast$ being distinctly different from that of $g_0^\ast \pm|\epsilon|$. At $g_0^\ast$, we show that the square of the chromoelectric field vanishes, strongly suggesting that the system is in a ``dual superconductor" phase. Numerical evidence shows that the localization-delocalization phenomenon holds for the 1st and 2nd excited states as well, leading us to conjecture that there are an infinite number of isolated singular points $g_0^\ast> g_1^\ast>g_2^\ast> \cdots$ accumulating to $g=0$. For $c=1$, the model formally possesses $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetry. We show that in the localized phase (i.e. for $g<g_0^\ast$) the supermultiplet structure is disrupted and SUSY is spontaneously broken.

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arXiv2024

The matrix model of two-color one-flavor QCD: The ultra-strong coupling regime

Using variational methods, we numerically investigate the matrix model for the two-color QCD coupled to a single quark (matrix-QCD$_{2,1}$) in the limit of ultra-strong Yang-Mills coupling ($g =\infty$). The spectrum of the model has superselection sectors labelled by baryon number $B$ and spin $J$. We study sectors with $B=0,1,2$ and $J=0,1$, which may be organized as mesons, (anti-)diquarks and (anti-)tetraquarks. For each of these sectors, we study the properties of the respective ground states in both chiral and heavy quark limits, and uncover a rich quantum phase transition (QPT) structure. We also investigate the division of the total spin between the glue and the quark and show that glue contribution is significant for several of these sectors. For the $(B,J)=(0,0)$ sector, we find that the dominant glue contribution to the ground state comes from reducible connections. Finally, in the presence of non-trivial baryon chemical potential $μ$, we construct the phase diagram of the model. For sufficiently large $μ$, we find that the ground state of the theory may have non-zero spin.

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arXiv2023

Order and Chaos in the $SU(2)$ Matrix Model: Ergodicity and Classical Phases

We study the classical non-linear dynamics of the $SU(2)$ Yang-Mills matrix model introduced in [1] as a low-energy approximation to two-color QCD. Restricting to the spin-0 sector of the model, we unearth an unexpected tetrahedral symmetry, which endows the dynamics with an extraordinarily rich structure. Amongst other things, we find that the spin-0 sector contains co-existing chaotic sub-sectors as well as nested chaotic basins, and displays alternation between regular and chaotic dynamics as energy is varied. The symmetries also grant us a considerable amount of analytic control which allows us to make several quantitative observations. Next, by noting that several features of the model have natural thermodynamic interpretations, we switch from our original chaos-theoretic viewpoint to a more statistical perspective. By so doing, we see that the classical spin-0 sector has a rich phase structure, arising from ergodicity breaking, which we investigate in depth. Surprisingly, we find that many of these classical phases display numerous similarities to previously discovered quantum phases of the spin-0 sector [2], and we explore these similarities in a heuristic fashion.

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arXiv2021

Axial Anomaly in the $SU(N)$ Gauge Matrix Model

The $SU(N)$ Yang-Mills matrix model admits self-dual and anti-self-dual instantons. When coupled to $N_f$ flavors of massless quarks, the Euclidean Dirac equation in an instanton background has $n_+$ positive and $n_-$ negative chirality zero modes. We show that the index $(n_+ - n_-)$ is equal to a suitably defined instanton charge. Further, we show that the path integral measure is not invariant under a chiral rotation, and relate the non-invariance of the measure to the index of the Dirac operator. Axial symmetry is broken anomalously, with the residual symmetry being a finite group. For $N_f$ fundamental fermions, this residual symmetry is $\mathbb{Z}_{2N_f}$, whereas for adjoint quarks it is $\mathbb{Z}_{4N_f}$.

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arXiv2020

Born-Oppenheimer Quantization of the Matrix Model for $\mathcal{N}=1$ super-Yang-Mills

We construct a quantum mechanical matrix model that approximates $\mathcal{N}=1$ super-Yang-Mills on $S^3\times\mathbb{R}$. We do so by pulling back the set of left-invariant connections of the gauge bundle onto the real superspace, with the spatial $\mathbb{R}^3$ compactified to $S^3$. We quantize the $\mathcal{N}=1$ $SU(2)$ matrix model in the weak-coupling limit using the Born-Oppenheimer approximation and find that different superselection sectors emerge for the effective gluon dynamics in this regime, reminiscent of different phases of the full quantum theory. We demonstrate that the Born-Oppenheimer quantization is indeed compatible with supersymmetry, albeit in a subtle manner. In fact, we can define effective supercharges that relate the different sectors of the matrix model's Hilbert space. These effective supercharges have a different definition in each phase of the theory.

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arXiv2019

Light Hadron Masses from a Matrix Model for QCD

The $SU(3)$ Yang-Mills matrix model coupled to fundamental fermions is an approximation of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) on a 3-sphere of radius $R$. The spectrum of this matrix model Hamiltonian is estimated using standard variational methods, and is analyzed in the strong coupling limit. By employing a matching prescription to determine the dependence of the Yang-Mills coupling constant $g$ on $R$, we relate the asymptotic values of the energy eigenvalues in the $R \rightarrow \infty$ (flat space) limit to the masses of light hadrons. We find that the matrix model estimates the light hadron spectrum fairly accurately, with the light baryon masses falling within $10\%$, and most light meson masses falling within about $30\%$ of their observed values.

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arXiv2019

Aspects of Boundary Conditions for Nonabelian Gauge Theories

The boundary values of the time-component of the gauge potential form externally specifiable data characterizing a gauge theory. We point out some consequences such as reduced symmetries, bulk currents for manifolds with disjoint boundaries and some nuances of how the charge algebra is realized.

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arXiv2017

Glueball Spectra from a Matrix Model of Pure Yang-Mills Theory

We present variational estimates for the low-lying energies of a simple matrix model that approximates $SU(3)$ Yang-Mills theory on a three-sphere of radius $R$. By fixing the ground state energy, we obtain the (integrated) renormalization group (RG) equation for the Yang-Mills coupling $g$ as a function of $R$. This RG equation allows to estimate the masses of other glueball states, which we find to be in excellent agreement with lattice simulations.

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arXiv2016

Quantum Phases of Yang-Mills Matrix Model Coupled to Fundamental Fermions

By investigating the $SU(2)$ Yang-Mills matrix model coupled to fundamental fermions in the adiabatic limit, we demonstrate quantum critical behaviour at special corners of the gauge field configuration space. The quantum scalar potential for the gauge field induced by the fermions diverges at the corners, and is intimately related to points of enhanced degeneracy of the fermionic Hamiltonian. This in turn leads to superselection sectors in the Hilbert space of the gauge field, the ground states in different sectors being orthogonal to each other. As a consequence of our analysis, we show that 2-color QCD coupled to two Weyl fermions has three quantum phases. When coupled to a massless Dirac fermion, the number of quantum phases is four. One of these phases is the color-spin locked phase.

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arXiv2016

BRST Symmetry: Boundary Conditions and Edge States in QED

In manifolds with spatial boundary, BRST formalism can be used to quantize gauge theories. We show that, in a $U(1)$ gauge theory, only a subset of all the boundary conditions allowed by the self-adjointness of the Hamiltonian preserves BRST symmetry. Hence, the theory can be quantized using BRST formalism only when that subset of boundary conditions is considered. We also show that for such boundary conditions, there exist fermionic states which are localized near the boundary.

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arXiv2015

Supersymmetry: Boundary Conditions and Edge States

When spatial boundaries are inserted, SUSY can be broken. We show that in an $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric theory, all the boundary conditions allowed by self-adjointness of the Hamiltonian break $\mathcal{N}=2$ SUSY while only a few of these boundary conditions preserve $\mathcal{N}=1$ SUSY. We also show that for a subset of the boundary conditions compatible with $\mathcal{N}=1$ SUSY, there exist fermionic ground states which are localized near the boundary.

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arXiv2014

A Matrix Model for QCD

Gribov's observation that global gauge fixing is impossible has led to suggestions that there may be a deep connection between gauge-fixing and confinement. We find an unexpected relation between the topological non-triviality of the gauge bundle and coloured states in $SU(N)$ Yang-Mills theory, and show that such states are necessarily impure. We approximate QCD by a rectangular matrix model that captures the essential topological features of the gauge bundle, and demonstrate the impure nature of coloured states explicitly. Our matrix model also allows the inclusion of the QCD $θ$-term, as well as to perform explicit computations of low-lying glueball masses. This mass spectrum is gapped. Since an impure state cannot evolve to a pure one by a unitary transformation, our result shows that the solution to the confinement problem in pure QCD is fundamentally quantum information-theoretic.

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arXiv2014

A Matrix Model for QCD: QCD Colour is Mixed

We use general arguments to show that coloured QCD states when restricted to gauge invariant local observables are mixed. This result has important implications for confinement: a pure colourless state can never evolve into two coloured states by unitary evolution. Furthermore, the mean energy in such a mixed coloured state is infinite. Our arguments are confirmed in a matrix model for QCD that we have developed using the work of Narasimhan and Ramadas and Singer. This model, a $(0+1)$-dimensional quantum mechanical model for gluons free of divergences and capturing important topological aspects of QCD, is adapted to analytical and numerical work. It is also suitable to work on large $N$ QCD. As applications, we show that the gluon spectrum is gapped and also estimate some low-lying levels for $N=2$ and 3 (colors). Incidentally the considerations here are generic and apply to any non-abelian gauge theory.

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arXiv2014

Quantum Entropy for the Fuzzy Sphere and its Monopoles

Using generalized bosons, we construct the fuzzy sphere $S_F^2$ and monopoles on $S_F^2$ in a reducible representation of $SU(2)$. The corresponding quantum states are naturally obtained using the GNS-construction. We show that there is an emergent non-abelian unitary gauge symmetry which is in the commutant of the algebra of observables. The quantum states are necessarily mixed and have non-vanishing von Neumann entropy, which increases monotonically under a bistochastic Markov map. The maximum value of the entropy has a simple relation to the degeneracy of the irreps that constitute the reducible representation that underlies the fuzzy sphere.

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arXiv2013

Fuzzy Conifold $Y_F^6$ and Monopoles on $S_F^2\times S_F^2$

In this article, we construct the fuzzy (finite dimensional) analogues of the conifold $Y^6$ and its base $X^5$. We show that fuzzy $X^5$ is (the analogue of) a principal U(1) bundle over fuzzy spheres $S^2_F \times S^2_F$ and explicitly construct the associated monopole bundles. In particular our construction provides an explicit discretization of the spaces $T^{κ,κ}$ and $T^{κ,0}$.

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arXiv2013

Poincaré Invariant Quantum Field Theories With Twisted Internal Symmetries

Following up the work of [1] on deformed algebras, we present a class of Poincaré invariant quantum field theories with particles having deformed internal symmetries. The twisted quantum fields discussed in this work satisfy commutation relations different from the usual bosonic/fermionic commutation relations. Such twisted fields by construction are nonlocal in nature. Despite this nonlocality we show that it is possible to construct local interaction Hamiltonians which satisfy cluster decomposition principle and are Lorentz invariant. We further illustrate these ideas by considering global SU(N) symmetries. Specifically we show that twisted internal symmetries can significantly simplify the discussion of the marginal deformations (β-deformations) of the N=4 SUSY theories.

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