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Yigal Shamir

Publications and source records attributed to Yigal Shamir.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
arXiv2011

Flavor symmetry breaking in lattice QCD with a mixed action

We study the phase structure of mixed-action QCD with two Wilson sea quarks and any number of chiral valence quarks (and ghosts), starting from the chiral lagrangian. A priori, the effective theory allows for a rich phase structure, including a phase with a condensate made of sea and valence quarks. In such a phase, mass eigenstates would become admixtures of sea and valence fields, and pure-sea correlation functions would depend on the parameters of the valence sector, in contradiction with the actual setup of mixed-action simulations. Using that the spectrum of the chiral Dirac operator has a gap for nonzero quark mass we prove that spontaneous symmetry breaking of the flavor symmetries can only occur within the sea sector. This rules out a mixed condensate, and implies restrictions on the low-energy constants of the effective theory.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2010

Algebraic renormalization of supersymmetric gauge theories with dimensionful parameters

It is usually believed that there are no perturbative anomalies in supersymmetric gauge theories beyond the well-known chiral anomaly. In this paper we revisit this issue, because previously given arguments are incomplete. Specifically, we rule out the existence of soft anomalies, i.e., quantum violations of supersymmetric Ward identities proportional to a mass parameter in a classically supersymmetric theory. We do this by combining a previously proven theorem on the absence of hard anomalies with a spurion analysis, using the methods of Algebraic Renormalization. We work in the on-shell component formalism throughout. In order to deal with the nonlinearity of on-shell supersymmetry transformations, we take the spurions to be dynamical, and show how they nevertheless can be decoupled.

hep-th↗
arXiv2010

Sextet QCD: slow running and the mass anomalous dimension

I report the results of Schroedinger functional calculations in the SU(3) gauge theory with two flavors of color sextet fermions, defined with the Wilson-clover action using nHYP fat links. While we cannot confirm the infrared fixed point seen with thin links, we find very slow evolution of the coupling constant, so slow that extraction of the mass anomalous dimension is straightforward.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2010

Running coupling and mass anomalous dimension of SU(3) gauge theory with two flavors of symmetric-representation fermions

We have measured the running coupling constant of SU(3) gauge theory coupled to Nf=2 flavors of symmetric representation fermions, using the Schrodinger functional scheme. Our lattice action is defined with hypercubic smeared links which, along with the larger lattice sizes, bring us closer to the continuum limit than in our previous study. We observe that the coupling runs more slowly than predicted by asymptotic freedom, but we are unable to observe fixed point behavior before encountering a first order transition to a strong coupling phase. This indicates that the infrared fixed point found with the thin-link action is a lattice artifact. The slow running of the gauge coupling permits an accurate determination of the mass anomalous dimension for this theory, which we observe to be small, gamma_m < 0.6, over the range of couplings we can reach. We also study the bulk and finite-temperature phase transitions in the strong coupling region.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2008

Phase structure of SU(3) gauge theory with two flavors of symmetric-representation fermions

We have performed numerical simulations of SU(3) gauge theory coupled to Nf=2 flavors of symmetric representation fermions. The fermions are discretized with the tadpole-improved clover action. Our simulations are done on lattices of length L=6, 8, and 12. In all simulation volumes we observe a crossover from a strongly coupled confined phase to a weak coupling deconfined phase. Degeneracies in screening masses, plus the behavior of the pseudoscalar decay constant, indicate that the deconfined phase is also a phase in which chiral symmetry is restored. The movement of the confinement transition as the volume is changed is consistent with avoidance of the basin of attraction of an infrared fixed point of the massless theory.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2008

Nonperturbative infrared fixed point in sextet QCD

The SU(3) gauge theory with fermions in the sextet representation is one of several theories of interest for technicolor models. We have carried out a Schrodinger functional (SF) calculation for the lattice theory with two flavors of Wilson fermions. We find that the discrete beta function changes sign when the SF renormalized coupling is in the neighborhood of g^2 = 2.0, showing a breakdown of the perturbative picture even though the coupling is weak. The most straightforward interpretation is an infrared-stable fixed point.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2008

Exploring the phase diagram of sextet QCD

As a follow up to the previous talk about the beta function of SU(3) gauge theory with Nf=2 symmetric representation (clover) fermions [arXiv:0809.2885 [hep-lat]], we describe our explorations of the beta-kappa plane, away from the massless limit. Our simulations are mostly done on lattices of length L=8 and 12. We observe a phase transition from a strong coupling confined phase to a deconfined, chirally restored phase. The line of transitions avoids (so far) the location of the infrared fixed point discussed in the last talk.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2008

Zero of the discrete beta function in SU(3) lattice gauge theory with color sextet fermions

We have carried out a Schrodinger functional (SF) calculation for the SU(3) lattice gauge theory with two flavors of Wilson fermions in the sextet representation of the gauge group. We find that the discrete beta function, which governs the change in the running coupling under a discrete change of spatial scale, changes sign when the SF renormalized coupling is in the neighborhood of g^2=2.0. The simplest explanation is that the theory has an infrared-attractive fixed point, but more complicated possibilities are allowed by the data. While we compare rescalings by factors of 2 and 4/3, we work at a single lattice spacing.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2008

't Hooft vertices, partial quenching, and rooted staggered QCD

We discuss the properties of 't Hooft vertices in partially quenched and rooted versions of QCD in the continuum. These theories have a physical subspace, equivalent to ordinary QCD, that is contained within a larger space that includes many unphysical correlation functions. We find that the 't Hooft vertices in the physical subspace have the expected form, despite the presence of unphysical 't Hooft vertices appearing in correlation functions that have an excess of valence quarks (or ghost quarks). We resolve an apparent paradox that arises when one uses rooted staggered fermions to study one-flavor QCD, by showing how, in partially quenched theories, it is possible to have spontaneous symmetry breaking of a non-anomalous symmetry in finite volume. Using these results, we demonstrate that arguments recently given by Creutz--claiming to disprove the validity of rooted staggered QCD--are incorrect. In particular, the unphysical 't Hooft vertices do not present an obstacle to the recovery of taste symmetry in the continuum limit.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2008

Effective field theories for QCD with rooted staggered fermions

Even highly improved variants of lattice QCD with staggered fermions show significant violations of taste symmetry at currently accessible lattice spacings. In addition, the "rooting trick" is used in order to simulate with the correct number of light sea quarks, and this makes the lattice theory nonlocal, even though there is good reason to believe that the continuum limit is in the correct universality class. In order to understand scaling violations, it is thus necessary to extend the construction of the Symanzik effective theory to include rooted staggered fermions. We show how this can be done, starting from a generalization of the renormalization-group approach to rooted staggered fermions recently developed by one of us. We then explain how the chiral effective theory follows from the Symanzik action, and show that it leads to "rooted" staggered chiral perturbation theory as the correct chiral theory for QCD with rooted staggered fermions. We thus establish a direct link between the renormalization-group based arguments for the correctness of the continuum limit and the success of rooted staggered chiral perturbation theory in fitting numerical results obtained with the rooting trick. In order to develop our argument, we need to assume the existence of a standard partially-quenched chiral effective theory for any local partially-quenched theory. Other technical, but standard, assumptions are also required.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2007

The Tunneling Hybrid Monte-Carlo algorithm

The hermitian Wilson kernel used in the construction of the domain-wall and overlap Dirac operators has exceptionally small eigenvalues that make it expensive to reach high-quality chiral symmetry for domain-wall fermions, or high precision in the case of the overlap operator. An efficient way of suppressing such eigenmodes consists of including a positive power of the determinant of the Wilson kernel in the Boltzmann weight, but doing this also suppresses tunneling between topological sectors. Here we propose a modification of the Hybrid Monte-Carlo algorithm which aims to restore tunneling between topological sectors by excluding the lowest eigenmodes of the Wilson kernel from the molecular-dynamics evolution, and correcting for this at the accept/reject step. We discuss the implications of this modification for the acceptance rate.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2007

Effective field theories for rooted staggered fermions

We extend the construction of the Symanzik effective action to include rooted staggered fermions, starting from a generalization of the renormalization-group approach to rooted staggered fermions. The Symanzik action, together with the usual construction of a partially quenched chiral effective theory from a local, partially quenched, fundamental theory, can then be used to derive the chiral effective theory. The latter reproduces rooted staggered chiral perturbation theory.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2007

Comment on "Chiral anomalies and rooted staggered fermions"

In hep-lat/0701018, Creutz claims that the rooting trick used in simulations of staggered fermions to reduce the number of tastes misses key physics whenever the desired theory has an odd number of continuum flavors, and uses this argument to call into question the rooting trick in general. Here we show that his argument fails as the continuum limit is approached, and therefore does not imply any problem for staggered simulations. We also show that the cancellations necessary to restore unitarity in physical correlators in the continuum limit are a straightforward consequence of the restoration of taste symmetry.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2007

Renormalization-group analysis of the validity of staggered-fermion QCD with the fourth-root recipe

I develop a renormalization-group blocking framework for lattice QCD with staggered fermions. Under plausible, and testable, assumptions, I then argue that the fourth-root recipe used in numerical simulations is valid in the continuum limit. The taste-symmetry violating terms, which give rise to non-local effects in the fourth-root theory when the lattice spacing is non-zero, vanish in the continuum limit. A key role is played by reweighted theories that are local and renormalizable on the one hand, and that approximate the fourth-root theory better and better as the continuum limit is approached on the other hand.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2006

Breakdown of staggered fermions at nonzero chemical potential

The staggered fermion determinant is complex when the quark chemical potential mu is nonzero. Its fourth root, used in simulations with dynamical fermions, will have phase ambiguities that become acute when Re mu is sufficiently large. We show how to resolve these ambiguities, but our prescription only works very close to the continuum limit. We argue that this regime is far from current capabilities. Other procedures require being even closer to the continuum limit, or fail altogether, because of unphysical discontinuities in the measure. At zero temperature the breakdown is expected when Re mu is greater than approximately half the pion mass. Estimates of the location of the breakdown at nonzero temperature are less certain.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2006

Regularizing QCD with staggered fermions and the fourth root trick

We investigate the properties of staggered-fermion lattice QCD in which the fourth root of the fermion determinant is taken. We show that this theory is non-local at non-zero lattice spacing $a$, and that the non-locality is caused by the breaking of taste symmetry at $a\ne 0$. We then present a renormalization-group based argument that the theory restores taste symmetry in the continuum limit. As a consequence the theory is local in that limit, and falls into the correct universality class. Finally, we argue that the correct effective theory for the physics of Goldstone bosons at $a\ne 0$ is given by staggered chiral perturbation theory with the replica trick.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2006

Why (staggered fermions)^{1/4} fail at finite density

Because the staggered fermion determinant is complex at nonzero mu, taking its fourth root leads to phase ambiguities. These unphysical effects cause the measure to become discontinuous; the problem becomes acute when Re mu exceeds approximately half the pion mass (when T>0 this rough bound probably moves towards larger mu). We show how to overcome the problem, but only very close to the continuum limit. This regime may be beyond reach with current resources.

hep-lat↗