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Wolfgang Bock

Publications and source records attributed to Wolfgang Bock.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

On the Phase Diagram of a Lattice U(1) Gauge Theory with Gauge Fixing

As a first step towards a nonperturbative investigation of the gauge-fixing (Rome) approach to lattice chiral gauge theories we study a U(1) model with an action that includes a local gauge-fixing term and a mass counterterm for the gauge fields. The model is studied on the trivial orbit so that only the dynamics of the longitudinal gauge degrees of freedom is taken into account. The phase diagram of this higher-derivative scalar field theory is determined, both in the mean-field approximation and numerically. The continuum limit of the model corresponds to a continuous phase transition between a ferromagnetic (FM) phase where the global U(1) symmetry is broken, and a so-called helicoidal ferromagnetic (FMD) phase with broken U(1) symmetry and a nonvanishing condensate of the vector field. The global U(1) symmetry is restored in this continuum limit. We show that our data for the magnetization in the FM and FMD phases are in good agreement with perturbation theory.

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The Shape of the Renormalized Trajectory in the Two-dimensional O(N) Non-linear Sigma Model

The renormalized trajectory in the multi-dimensional coupling parameter space of the two-dimensional O(3) non-linear sigma model is determined numerically under \linebreak $δ$-function block spin transformations using two different Monte Carlo renormalization group techniques. The renormalized trajectory is compared with the straight line of the fixed point trajectory (fixed point action) which leaves the asymptotically free ultraviolet fixed point of the critical surface in the orthogonal direction. Our results show that the renormalized trajectory breaks away from the fixed point trajectory in a range of the correlation length around $ξ\approx 3$-$7$, flowing into the high temperature fixed point at $ξ=0$. The analytic large $N$ calculation of the renormalized trajectory is also presented in the coupling parameter space of the most general bilinear Hamiltonians. The renormalized trajectory in the large $N$ approximation exhibits a similar shape as in the $N=3$ case, with the sharp break occurring at a smaller correlation length of $ξ\approx 2$-$3$.

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The Renormalized Trajectory of the O(N) Non-linear Sigma Model

The renormalized trajectory (RT) is determined from two different Monte Carlo renormalization group techniques with $δ$-function block spin transformation in the multi-dimensional coupling parameter space of the two-dimensional non-linear sigma model with O(3) symmetry. At a correlation length $ξ\approx 3$-$5$, the RT is shown to break away from the straight line of the fixed point trajectory (FPT) which is orthogonal to the critical surface and originates from the ultraviolet fixed point (UVFP). The large $N$ calculation of the RT is also presented in the coupling parameter space of the most general bilinear Hamiltonian. The RT in the large $N$ approximation exhibits a similar shape with the sharp break occurring at a somewhat smaller correlation length.

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Can baryogenesis occur on the lattice?

We examine the question of how baryogenesis can occur in lattice models of the Standard Model where there is a global $U(1)$ symmetry which is accompanied by an exactly conserved fermion number. We demonstrate that fermion creation and annihilation can occur in these models {\em despite} this exact fermion number conservation, by explicitly computing the spectral flow of the hamiltonian in the two dimensional U(1) axial model with Wilson fermions. For comparison we also study the closely related Schwinger model where a similar mechanism gives rise to anomalous particle creation and annihilation.

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Regge's space-time skeletons and the quantization of 2d gravity

Regge's method for regularizing euclidean quantum gravity is applied to two dimensional gravity. Using topologies with genus zero and two and a scale invariant measure, we show that the Regge method fails to reproduce the values of the string susceptibilities of the continuum model.

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Failure of the Regge approach in two dimensional quantum gravity

Regge's method for regularizing euclidean quantum gravity is applied to two dimensional gravity. We use two different strategies to simulate the Regge path integral at a fixed value of the total area: A standard Metropolis simulation combined with a histogramming method and a direct simulation using a Hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm. Using topologies with genus zero and two and a scale invariant integration measure, we show that the Regge method does not reproduce the value of the string susceptibility of the continuum model. We show that the string susceptibility depends strongly on the choice of the measure in the path integral. We argue that the failure of the Regge approach is due to spurious contributions of reparametrization degrees of freedom to the path integral.

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Fermion production despite fermion number conservation

Lattice proposals for a nonperturbative formulation of the Standard Model easily lead to a global U(1) symmetry corresponding to exactly conserved fermion number. The absence of an anomaly in the fermion current would then appear to inhibit anomalous processes, such as electroweak baryogenesis in the early universe. One way to circumvent this problem is to formulate the theory such that this U(1) symmetry is explicitly broken. However we argue that in the framework of spectral flow, fermion creation and annihilation still in fact occurs, despite the exact fermion number conservation. The crucial observation is that fermions are excitations relative to the vacuum, at the surface of the Dirac sea. The exact global U(1) symmetry prohibits a state from changing its fermion number during time evolution, however nothing prevents the fermionic ground state from doing so. We illustrate our reasoning with a model in two dimensions which has axial-vector couplings, first using a sharp momentum cutoff, then using the lattice regulator with staggered fermions. The difference in fermion number between the time evolved state and the ground state is indeed in agreement with the anomaly. A study of the vacuum energy shows that the perturbative counterterm needed for restoration of gauge invariance is insufficient in a nonperturbative setting. For reference we also study a closely related model with vector couplings, the Schwinger model, and we examine the emergence of the $θ$-vacuum structure of both theories.

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Fermion Number Conservation Isn't Fermion Conservation

A nonperturbative regularization of the Standard Model may have a superficially undesirable exact global U(1) symmetry corresponding to exact fermion number conservation. We argue that such a formulation can still have the desired physics of fermion nonconservation, i.e. fermion particle creation and annihilation by sphaleron transitions. We illustrate our reasoning in massless axial QED in 1+1 dimensions.

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Chiral gauge theories on the lattice and restoration of gauge symmetry

We investigate a proposal for the construction of models with chiral fermions on the lattice using staggered fermions. In this approach the gauge invariance is broken by the coupling of the staggered fermions to the gauge fields. We aim at a dynamical restoration of the gauge invariance in the full quantum model. If the gauge symmetry breaking (SB) is not too severe, this procedure could lead in the continuum limit to the desired gauge invariant chiral gauge theory.

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Chiral gauge theories on the lattice without gauge fixing?

We discuss two proposals for a non-perturbative formulation of chiral gauge theories on the lattice. In both cases gauge symmetry is broken by the regularization. We aim at a dynamical restoration of symmetry. If the gauge symmetry breaking is not too severe this procedure could lead in the continuum limit to the desired chiral gauge theory.

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Non-gauge fixing approach to chiral gauge theories using staggered fermions

We investigate a proposal for the construction of models with chiral fermions on the lattice using staggered fermions. In this approach the gauge invariance is broken by the coupling of the staggered fermions to the gauge fields. Motivated by previous results in the non-gauge invariant massive Yang-Mills theory and certain gauge-fermion models we aim at a dynamical restoration of the gauge invariance in the full quantum model. If the gauge symmetry breaking is not too severe, this procedure could lead in the continuum limit to the desired gauge invariant chiral gauge theory. This scenario is very attractive since it does not rely on gauge fixing. We investigate a simple realization of this approach in a U(1) axial-vector model with dynamical fermions in four dimensions.

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Staggered fermions for chiral gauge theories: Test on a two-dimensional axial-vector model

As a first step towards constructing chiral models on the lattice with staggered fermions, we study a U(1) model with axial-vector coupling to an external gauge field in two dimensions. In our approach gauge invariance is broken, but it is restored in the classical continuum limit. We find that the continuum divergence relations for the vector and axial-vector currents are reproduced, up to contact terms, which we determine analytically. The current divergence relations are also studied numerically for smooth external gauge fields with topological charge zero. We furthermore investigate the effect of fluctuating gauge transformations and of gauge configurations with non-trivial topological charge.

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Can the Couplings in the Fermion-Higgs Sector of the Standard Model be Strong?

We present results for the renormalized quartic self-coupling $λ_R$ and the Yukawa coupling $y_R$ in a lattice fermion-Higgs model with two SU(2)$_L$ doublets, mostly for large values of the bare couplings. One-component (`reduced') staggered fermions are used in a numerical simulation with the Hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm. The fermion and Higgs masses and the renormalized scalar field expectation value are computed on $L^3 24$ lattices, where $L$ ranges from $6$ to $16$. In the scaling region these quantities are found to have a $1/L^2$ dependence, which is used to determine their values in the infinite volume limit. We then calculate the $y_R$ and $λ_R$ from their tree level definitions in terms of the masses and renormalized scalar field expectation value, extrapolated to infinite volume. The scalar field propagators can be described for momenta up to the cut-off by one fermion loop renormalized perturbation theory and the results for $λ_R$ and $y_R$ come out to be close to the tree level unitarity bounds. There are no signs that are in contradiction with the triviality of the Yukawa and quartic self-coupling.

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Chiral fermions in two dimensions?

Quenched studies of a global U(1) symmetric Wilson-Yukawa model in two dimensions show no evidence of a charged fermion in the vortex phase at strong Wilson-Yukawa coupling while there is strong indication of a massive neutral fermion. However, with the U(1)$_L$ gauge field turned on, we use dimensional arguments to suggest that the neutral fermion appears to couple chirally to a massive vector boson state.

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Fermion-Higgs model with strong Wilson-Yukawa coupling in two dimensions

The fermion mass spectrum is studied in the quenched approximation in the strong coupling vortex phase (VXS) of a globally U(1)$_L \otimes$U(1)$_R$ symmetric scalar-fermion model in two dimensions. In this phase fermion doublers can be completely removed from the physical spectrum by means of a strong Wilson-Yukawa coupling. The lowest lying fermion spectrum in this phase consists most probably only of a massive Dirac fermion which has charge zero with respect to the $U(1)_L$ group. We give evidence that the fermion which is charged with respect to that subgroup is absent in the VXS phase. When the $U(1)_L$ gauge fields are turned on, the neutral fermion may couple chirally to the massive vector boson state in the confinement phase. The outcome is very similar to our findings in the strong coupling symmetric phase (PMS) of fermion-Higgs models with Wilson-Yukawa coupling in four dimensions, with the exception that in four dimensions the neutral fermion does most probably decouple from the bosonic bound states.

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