arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Z. Burda.
We review models of random geometries based on the dynamical lattice approach. We discuss one dimensional model of simplicial complexes (branched polymers), two dimensional model of dynamical triangulations and four dimensional model of simplicial gravity.
The effect of coupling non-compact $U(1)$ gauge fields to four dimensional simplicial quantum gravity is studied using strong coupling expansions and Monte Carlo simulations. For one gauge field the back-reaction of the matter on the geometry is weak. This changes, however, as more matter fields are introduced. For more than two gauge fields the degeneracy of random manifolds into branched polymers does not occur, and the branched polymer phase seems to be replaced by a new phase with a negative string susceptibility exponent $γ$ and fractal dimension $d_H \approx 4$.
We study the two-point correlation function in the model of branched polymers and its relation to the critical behaviour of the model. We show that the correlation function has a universal scaling form in the generic phase with the only scale given by the size of the polymer. We show that the origin of the singularity of the free energy at the critical point is different from that in the standard statistical models. The transition is related to the change of the dimensionality of the system.
Four dimensional simplicial gravity has been studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations for some time, the main outcome of the studies being that the model undergoes a discontinuous phase transition between an elongated and a crumpled phase when one changes the curvature (Newton) coupling. In the crumpled phase there are singular vertices growing extensively with the volume of the system whereas the elongated phase resembles a branched-polymer. We have postulated that this behaviour is a manifestation of the constrained-mean-field scenario as realised in the Branched Polymer or Balls-in-Boxes model. These models share all the features of 4D simplicial gravity except that they exhibit a continuous phase transition. We note here that this defect can be remedied by a suitable choice of ensemble.
We extend the analysis of the Backgammon model to an ensemble with a fixed number of balls and a fluctuating number of boxes. In this ensemble the model exhibits a first order phase transition analogous to the one in higher dimensional simplicial gravity. The transition relies on a kinematic condensation and reflects a crisis of the integration measure which is probably a part of the more general problem with the measure for functional integration over higher (d>2) dimensional Riemannian structures.
We study universality properties of the Weingarten hyper-cubic random surfaces. Since a long time ago the model with a local restriction forbidding surface self-bendings has been thought to be in a different universality class from the unrestricted model defined on the full set of surfaces. We show that both models in fact belong to the same universality class with the entropy exponent gamma = 1/2 and differ by finite size effects which are much more pronounced in the restricted model.
Our earlier renormalization group analysis of simplicial gravity is extended. A high statistics study of the volume and coupling constant dependence of the cumulants of the node distribution is carried out. It appears that the phase transition of the theory is of first order, contrary to what is generally believed.
We simulate 4d simplicial gravity for three topologis S4, S3xS1, (S1)^4 and show that the free energy for these three fixed topology ensembles is the same in the thermodynamic limit. We show, that the next-to-leading order corrections, at least away from the critical point, can be described by kinematic sources.
We analyse the properties of a very simple ``balls-in-boxes'' model which can exhibit a phase transition between a fluid and a condensed phase, similar to behaviour encountered in models of random geometries in one, two and four dimensions. This model can be viewed as a generalisation of the backgammon model introduced by Ritort as an example of glassy behaviour without disorder.
We discuss a general mechanism that drives the phase transition in the canonical ensemble in models of random geometries. As an example we consider a solvable model of branched polymers where the transition leading from tree- to bush-like polymers relies on the occurrence of vertices with a large number of branches. The source of this transition is a combination of the constraint on the total number of branches in the canonical ensemble and a nonlinear one-vertex action. We argue that exactly the same mechanism, which we call constrained mean-field, plays the crucial role in the phase transition in 4d simplicial gravity and, when applied to the effective one-vertex action, explains the occurrence of both the mother universe and singular vertices at the transition point when the system enters the crumpled phase.
We present data indicating that the recent evidence for the phase transition being of first order does not result from a breakdown of the ergodicity of the algorithm. We also present data showing that the thermodynamical limit of the model is independent of topology.
We study grand--canonical and canonical properties of the model of branched polymers proposed in \cite{adfo}. We show that the model has a fourth order phase transition and calculate critical exponents. At the transition the exponent $γ$ of the grand-canonical ensemble, analogous to the string susceptibility exponent of surface models, $γ\sim 0.3237525...$ is the first known example of positive $γ$ which is not of the form $1/n,\, n=2,3,\ldots$. We show that a slight modification of the model produces a continuos spectrum of $γ$'s in the range $(0,1/2]$ and changes the order of the transition.
A real space renormalization group technique, based on the hierarchical baby-universe structure of a typical dynamically triangulated manifold, is used to study scaling properties of 2d and 4d lattice quantum gravity. In 4d, the $β$-function is defined and calculated numerically. An evidence for the existence of an ultraviolet stable fixed point of the theory is presented
We study numerically the fractal structure of the intrinsic geometry of random surfaces coupled to matter fields with $c=1$. Using baby universe surgery it was possible to simulate randomly triangulated surfaces made of 260.000 triangles. Our results are consistent with the theoretical prediction $d_H = 2+\sqrt{2}$ for the intrinsic Hausdorff dimension.
We measure by Monte Carlo simulations $\g_{string}$ for a model of random surfaces embedded in three dimensional Euclidean space-time. The action of the string is the usual Polyakov action plus an extrinsic curvature term. The system undergoes a phase transition at a finite value $ł_c$ of the extrinsic curvature coupling and at the transition point the numerically measured value of $\g_{string}(ł_c) \approx 0.27\pm 0.06$. This is consistent with $\g_{string}(ł_c)=1/4$, i.e. equal to the first of the non-trivial values of $\g_{string}$ between 0 and $1/2$.
We describe a method of Monte-Carlo simulations of simplicial quantum gravity coupled to matter fields. We concentrate mainly on the problem of implementing effectively the random, dynamical triangulation and building in a detailed-balance condition into the elementary transformations of the triangulation. We propose a method of auto-tuning the parameters needed to balance simulations of the canonical ensemble. This method allows us to prepare a whole set of jobs and therefore is very useful in systematic determining the phase diagram in two dimensional coupling space. It is of particular importance when the jobs are run on a parallel machine.
We propose a new, very efficient algorithm for sampling of random surfaces in the Monte Carlo simulations, based on so-called baby universe surgery, i.e. cutting and pasting of baby universes. It drastically reduces slowing down as compared to the standard local flip algorithm, thereby allowing simulations of large random surfaces coupled to matter fields. As an example we investigate the efficiency of the algorithm for 2d simplicial gravity interacting with a one-component free scalar field. The radius of gyration is the slowest mode in the standard local flip/shift algorithm. The use of baby universe surgery decreases the autocorrelation time by three order of magnitude for a random surface of $0.5 \cdot 10^5$ triangles, where it is found to be $τ_{int} = 150 \pm 31$ sweeps.
A new method for locating analytically critical temperatures is discussed. It is exact for selfdual systems. When applied the two coupled layers of Ising spins it deviates from our preliminary Monte Carlo estimates by 1.5 standard deviations. It predicts critical temperature of the three dimensional Ising model in terms of the solution of the two layer Ising system.