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X. N. Maintas

Publications and source records attributed to X. N. Maintas.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Locating the QCD critical endpoint through finite-size scaling

Considering the 3d Ising universality class of the QCD critical endpoint we use a universal effective action for the description of the baryon-number density fluctuations around the critical region. Calculating the baryon-number multiplicity moments and determining their scaling with system's size we show that the critical region is very narrow in the direction of the baryon chemical potential $μ$ and wide in the temperature direction $T$ for $T > T_c$. In this context, published experimental results on local proton density-fluctuation measurements obtained by intermittency analysis in transverse momentum space in NA49 central A+A collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=17.2$ GeV (A=C,Si,Pb), restrict significantly the location $(μ_c,T_c)$ of the QCD critical endpoint. The main constraint is provided by the freeze-out chemical potential of the Si+Si system, which shows non-conventional baryon density fluctuations, restricting $(μ_c,T_c)$ within a narrow domain, $119~\textrm{MeV} \leq T_c \leq 162~\textrm{MeV}$, $252~\textrm{MeV} \leq μ_c \leq 258~\textrm{MeV}$, of the phase diagram.

hep-ph

Condensation of Lee-Yang zeros in scalar field theory

We show that, at the critical temperature, there is a class of Lee-Yang zeros of the partition function in a general scalar field theory, which location scales with the size of the system with a characteristic exponent expressed in terms of the isothermal critical exponent $δ$. In the thermodynamic limit the zeros belonging to this class condense to the critical point ζ=1 on the real axis in the complex fugacity plane while the complementary set of zeros (with Re ζ < 1) covers uniformly the unit circle. Although the aforementioned class degenerates to a single point for an infinite system, when the size is finite it dominates in the partition function and determines the self-similar structure (fractal geometry, scaling laws) of the critical system. This property opens up the perspective to formulate finite-size scaling theory in effective QCD, near the chiral critical point, in terms of the location of Lee-Yang zeros.

hep-th

A non-abelian quasi-particle model for gluon plasma

We propose a quasi-particle model for the thermodynamic description of the gluon plasma which takes into account non-abelian characteristics of the gluonic field. This is accomplished utilizing massive non-linear plane wave solutions of the classical equations of motion with a variable mass parameter, reflecting the scale invariance of the Yang-Mills Lagrangian. For the statistical description of the gluon plasma we interpret these non-linear waves as quasi-particles with a temperature dependent mass distribution. Quasi-Gaussian distributions with a common variance but different temperature dependent mean masses for the longitudinal and transverse modes are employed. We use recent Lattice results to fix the mean transverse and longitudinal masses while the variance is fitted to the equation of state of pure $SU(3)$ on the Lattice. Thus, our model succeeds to obtain both a consistent description of the gluon plasma energy density as well as a correct behaviour of the mass parameters near the critical point.

hep-ph

Gauss' Law and Non-Linear Plane Waves for Yang-Mills Theory

We investigate Non-Linear Plane-Wave solutions of the classical Minkowskian Yang-Mills (YM) equations of motion. By imposing a suitable ansatz which solves Gauss' law for the $SU(3)$ theory, we derive solutions which consist of Jacobi elliptic functions depending on an enumerable set of elliptic modulus values. The solutions represent periodic anharmonic plane waves which possess arbitrary non-zero mass and are exact extrema of the non-linear YM action. Among them, a unique harmonic plane wave with a non-trivial pattern in phase, spin and color is identified. Similar solutions are present in the $SU(4)$ case while are absent from the $SU(2)$ theory.

hep-th

Oscillons and oscillating kinks in the Abelian-Higgs model

We study the classical dynamics of the Abelian Higgs model employing an asymptotic multiscale expansion method, which uses the ratio of the Higgs to the gauge field amplitudes as a small parameter. We derive an effective nonlinear Schrödinger equation for the gauge field, and a linear equation for the scalar field containing the gauge field as a nonlinear source. This equation is used to predict the existence of oscillons and oscillating kinks for certain regimes of the ratio of the Higgs to the gauge field masses. Results of numerical simulations are found to be in very good agreement with the analytical findings, and show that the oscillons are robust, while kinks are unstable. It is also demonstrated that oscillons emerge spontaneously as a result of the onset of the modulational instability of plane wave solutions of the model. Connections of the obtained solutions with the phenomenology of superconductors is discussed.

hep-th

Symmetric solitonic excitations of the (1+1)-dimensional Abelian-Higgs "classical vacuum"

We study the classical dynamics of the Abelian-Higgs model in (1+1) space-time dimensions bf for the case of strongly broken gauge symmetry. In this limit the wells of the potential are almost harmonic and sufficiently deep, presenting a scenario far from the associated critical point. Using a multiscale perturbation expansion, the equations of motion for the fields are reduced to a system of coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equations (CNLS). Exact solutions of the latter are used to obtain approximate analytical solutions for the full dynamics of both the gauge and Higgs field in the form of oscillons and oscillating kinks. Numerical simulations of the exact dynamics verify the validity of these solutions. We explore their persistence for a wide range of the model's single parameter which is the ratio of the Higgs mass to the gauge field mass . We show that only oscillons oscillating symmetrically with respect to the "classical vacuum", for both the gauge and the Higgs field, are long lived. Furthermore plane waves and oscillating kinks are shown to decay into oscillon- like patterns, due to the modulation instability mechanism.

hep-th

Oscillons and oscillating kinks in the Abelian-Higgs model

We study the classical dynamics of the Abelian Higgs model employing an asymptotic multiscale expansion method, which uses the ratio of the Higgs to the gauge field amplitudes as a small parameter. We derive an effective nonlinear Schrodinger equation for the gauge field, and a linear equation for the scalar field containing the gauge field as a nonlinear source. This equation is used to predict the existence of oscillons and oscillating kinks for certain regimes of the ratio of the Higgs to the gauge field masses. Results of direct numerical simulations are found to be in very good agreement with the analytical findings, and show that the oscillons are robust, while kinks are unstable. It is also demonstrated that oscillons emerge spontaneously as a result of the onset of the modulational instability of plane wave solutions of the model. Connections of the results with the phenomenology of superconductors is discussed.

hep-th

Nonlinear Schrodinger solitons in massive Yang-Mills theory and partial localization of Dirac matter

We investigate the classical dynamics of the massive SU(2) Yang-Mills field in the framework of multiple scale perturbation theory. We show analytically that there exists a subset of solutions having the form of a kink soliton, modulated by a plane wave, in a linear subspace transverse to the direction of free propagation. Subsequently, we explore how these solutions affect the dynamics of a Dirac field possessing an SU(2) charge. We find that this class of Yang-Mills configurations, when regarded as an external field, leads to the localization of the fermion along a line in the transverse space. Our analysis reveals a mechanism for trapping SU(2) charged fermions in the presence of an external Yang-Mills field indicating the non-abelian analogue of Landau localization in electrodynamics.

hep-th

A multi-scale perturbative approach to SU(2)-Higgs classical dynamics: stability of nonlinear plane waves and bounds of the Higgs field mass

We study the classical dynamics of SU(2)-Higgs field theory using multiple scale perturbation theory. In the spontaneously broken phase, assuming small perturbations of the Higgs field around its vacuum expectation value, we derive a nonlinear Schroedinger equation and study the stability of its nonlinear plane wave solutions. The latter, turn out to be stable only if the Higgs amplitude is an order of magnitude smaller than that of the gauge field. In this case, the Higgs field mass possesses some bounds which may be relevant to the search for the Higgs particle at ongoing experiments.

hep-ph

MIT bag model inspired partonic transverse momentum distribution for prompt photon production in pp collisions

We consider the prompt photon production in pp collisions using, within the framework of perturbative QCD, a non-Gaussian distribution for the transverse momentum distribution of the partons inside the proton. Our description adopts the widely used in the literature factorization of the partonic momentum distribution into longitudinal and transverse components. It is argued that the non-Gaussian distribution of the intrinsic transverse momenta of the partons is dictated by the asymptotic freedom as well as the 3D confinement of the partons in the proton. To make this association more transparent we use the MIT bag model, which plainly incorporates both properties (asymptotic freedom, confinement), in order to determine in a simplified way the partonic transverse momentum distribution. A large set of data from six different experiments have been fitted with this simple description using as a single free parameter the mean partonic transverse momentum . Surprisingly enough, a perfect fit of the experimental data turns out to require values which are compatible with Heisenberg's uncertainty relation for the proton and decrease almost smoothly as a function of the scaled variable z=pT/\sqrt{s}, where pT is the transverse momentum of the final photon and \sqrt{s} is the beam energy in the center of mass frame. Our analysis indicates that asymptotic freedom and 3D confinement may influence significantly the form of the partonic transverse momentum distribution leaving an imprint on the pp\toγ+X cross section.

hep-ph

Partonic transverse momenta in non-relativistic hyper-central quark potential models

We investigate the impact of three-body forces on the transverse-momentum distribution of partons inside the proton. This is achieved by considering the three-body problem in a class of hyper-central quark potential models. Solving the corresponding Schrödinger equation, we determine the quark wave function in the proton and with appropriate transformations and projections we find the transverse-momentum distribution of a single quark. In each case the parameters of the quark potentials are adjusted in order to sufficiently describe observable properties of the proton. Using a factorization ansatz, we incorporate the obtained transverse-momentum distribution in a perturbative QCD scheme for the calculation of the cross-section for prompt photon production in pp collisions. A large set of experimental data is fitted using as a single free parameter the mean partonic transverse momentum. The dependence of on the collision characteristics (initial energy and transverse momentum of the final photon) is much smoother when compared with similar results found in the literature using a Gaussian distribution for the partonic transverse momenta. Within the considered class of hyper-central quark potentials the one with the weaker dependence on the hyper-radius is preferred for the description of the data since it leads to the smoothest mean partonic transverse-momentum profile. We have repeated all the calculations using a two-body potential of the same form as the optimal (within the considered class) hyper-central potential in order to check if the presence of three-body forces is supported by the experimental data. Our analysis indicates that three-body forces influence significantly the form of the parton transverse-momentum distribution and consequently lead to an improved description of the considered data.

hep-ph

Transverse momentum parton distributions inspired by a quark potential model

We derive a nonperturbative transverse momentum distribution for partons using a potential model to describe the quark-quark interaction inside the proton. We use this distribution to calculate the diferential cross-section of $π^0$-production for intermediate values of transverse momentum in $p-p$ collisions at high energies. Assuming a variable string tension constant for the quark-quark potential we obtain a very good description of the experimental data at different energies. The corresponding values of the mean transverse momentum of the partons are essentially lower than those obtained using a Gaussian transverse momentum parton distribution.

hep-ph

Static and non-static quantum effects in two-dimensional dilaton gravity

We study backreaction effects in two-dimensional dilaton gravity. The backreaction comes from an $R^2$ term which is a part of the one-loop effective action arising from massive scalar field quantization in a certain approximation. The peculiarity of this term is that it does not contribute to the Hawking radiation of the classical black hole solution of the field equations. In the static case we examine the horizon and the physical singularity of the new black hole solutions. Studying the possibility of time dependence we see the generation of a new singularity. The particular solution found still has the structure of a black hole, indicating that non-thermal effects cannot lead, at least in this approximation, to black hole evaporation.

hep-th

Backreaction Effects in the Two-Dimensional Dilaton Gravity

In this work we find static black hole solutions in the context of the two-dimensional dilaton gravity, which is modified by the addition of an $R^2$ term. This term arises from the one-loop effective action of a massive scalar field in its large mass expansion. The basic feature of this term is that it does not contribute to the Hawking radiation of the classical black hole backgrounds of the model. From this point of view a class of the solutions derived are interpreted as describing backreaction effects. In particular it is argued that evolution of a black hole via non-thermal signals is possible. Nevertheless this evolution seems to be 'soft', in the sense that it does not lead to the evaporation of a black hole, leaving the Hawking radiation as the dominant mechanism for this process.

hep-th

Tachyon Field Quantization and Hawking Radiation

We quantize the tachyon field in a static two dimensional dilaton gravity black hole background,and we calculate the Hawking radiation rate. We find that the thermal radiation flux, due to the tachyon field, is larger than the conformal matter one. We also find that massive scalar fields which do not couple to the dilaton, do not give any contribution to the thermal radiation, up to terms quadratic in the scalar curvature.

hep-th