Coulomb Phase Research Articles

Unusual Coulomb phase physics in the arctic square ice

Unusual Coulomb phase physics in the arctic square ice

Some remarks on Coulombic effects in pp and p¯p scattering and the determination of ρ

We point out a very simple method for calculating the mixed Coulomb-nuclear corrections to the pp and p¯p scattering amplitudes that has been missed in the extensive past work on this problem. The method expresses the correction in terms of a rapidly convergent integral involving the inverse Fourier-Bessel transform of the nuclear amplitude and a known factor containing the Coulomb phase shift with form-factor corrections. The transform can be calculated analytically for the exponential-type model nuclear amplitudes commonly used in fits to the high-energy data at small momentum transfers, and gives very accurate results for the corrections. We examine the possible effects of the Martin zero in the real part of the nuclear amplitude, and the accuracy of the Bethe-West-Yennie phase approximation for the Coulomb-nuclear corrections. We then apply the method to a redetermination of the ratio ρ of the real to the imaginary parts of the forward scattering amplitude in fits to high-energy Intersecting Storage Rings data previously analyzed using the approximate West-Yennie version of the correction. The only significant changes relative the accuracy of those fits are at 52.8 GeV. Our method is applicable more generally, and can be used also at lower energies and for proton-nucleus scattering. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Charged critical behavior and nonperturbative continuum limit of three-dimensional lattice SU(Nc) gauge Higgs models

We consider three-dimensional (3D) lattice SU(Nc) gauge Higgs theories with multicomponent (Nf>1) degenerate scalar fields and U(Nf) global symmetry, focusing on systems with Nc=2, to identify critical behaviors that can be effectively described by the corresponding 3D SU(Nc) gauge Higgs field theory. The field-theoretical analysis of the RG flow allows one to identify a stable charged fixed point for large values of Nf, that would control transitions characterized by the global symmetry-breaking pattern U(Nf)→SU(2)⊗U(Nf−2). Continuous transitions with the same symmetry-breaking pattern are observed in the SU(2) lattice gauge model for Nf≥30. Here we present a detailed finite-size scaling analysis of the Monte Carlo data for several large values of Nf. The results are in substantial agreement with the field-theoretical predictions obtained in the large-Nf limit. This provides evidence that the SU(Nc) gauge Higgs field theories provide the correct effective description of the 3D large-Nf continuous transitions between the disordered and the Higgs phase, where the flavor symmetry breaks to SU(2)⊗U(Nf−2). Therefore, at least for large enough Nf, the 3D SU(Nc) gauge Higgs field theories with multicomponent scalar fields can be nonperturbatively defined by the continuum limit of lattice discretized models with the same local and global symmetries. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Tricriticality in 4D U(1) lattice gauge theory

The 4D compact U(1) gauge theory has a well-established phase transition between a confining and a Coulomb phase. In this paper, we revisit this model using state-of-the-art Monte Carlo simulations on anisotropic lattices. We map out the coupling-temperature phase diagram, and determine the location of the tricritical point, T/K0≃0.19, below which the first-order transition is observed. We find the critical exponents of the high-temperature second-order transition to be compatible with those of the 3-dimensional O(2) model. Our results at higher temperatures can be compared with literature results and are consistent with them. Surprisingly, below T/K0≃0.05 we find strong indications of a second tricritical point where the first-order transition becomes continuous. These results suggest an unexpected second-order phase transition extending down to zero temperature, contrary to the prevailing consensus. If confirmed, these findings reopen the question of the detailed characterization of the transition including a suitable field theory description. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Early universe in quantum gravity

We present a new picture of the early universe in finite nonlocal quantum gravity, which is Weyl invariant at the classical and quantum levels. The high-energy regime of the theory consists of two phases, a Weyl invariant trans-Planckian phase and a post-Planckian or Higgs phase described by an action quadratic in the Ricci tensor and where the cosmos evolves according to the standard radiation-dominated model. In the first phase, all the issues of the hot big bang such as the singularity, flatness, and horizon problems find a universal and simple non-inflationary solution by means of Weyl invariance, regardless of the microscopic details of the theory. In the second phase, once Weyl symmetry is spontaneously broken, primordial perturbations are generated around a background that asymptotically evolves as a radiation-dominated flat Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker universe.

Gauge-independent transition dividing the confinement phase in the lattice SU(2) gauge-adjoint scalar model

The lattice SU(2) gauge-scalar model with the scalar field in the adjoint representation of the gauge group has two completely separated confinement and Higgs phases according to the preceding studies based on numerical simulations that have been performed in the specific gauge fixing based on the conventional understanding of the Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism. In this paper, we reexamine this phase structure in a gauge-independent way based on the numerical simulations performed without any gauge fixing. This is motivated to confirm the recently proposed gauge-independent Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism for generating the mass of the gauge field without relying on any spontaneous symmetry breaking. For this purpose, we investigate correlations between gauge-invariant operators obtained by combining the original adjoint scalar field and the new field called the color-direction field which is constructed from the gauge field based on the gauge-covariant decomposition of the gauge field due to Cho-Duan-Ge-Shabanov and Faddeev-Niemi. Consequently, we reproduce gauge independently the transition line separating the confinement phase and the Higgs phase, and show surprisingly the existence of a new transition line that completely divides the confinement phase into two parts. Finally, we discuss the physical meaning of the new transition and the implications of the confinement mechanism. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Detecting phase transitions in lattice gauge theories: Production and dissolution of topological defects in 4D compact electrodynamics

We present the application of microcanonical inflection point analysis (MIPA)—a novel and powerful method for the systematic identification and classification of phase transitions (PTs)—to the microcanonical formulation of lattice gauge theories. Specifically, we explore how this approach sheds light on collective phenomena such as the emergence of topological order in quantum field theories. As a case study, we show how to systematically characterize PTs in 4D U(1) lattice electrodynamics. Beyond identifying the well-established deconfinement PT (DPT) associated with pair dissolution, classified as a first-order PT, we uncover two higher-order PTs not observed before. Thanks to the application of the MIPA, we identify an independent third-order PT in the confined phase and indications of a dependent third-order PT in the deconfined (Coulomb) phase. To gain physical insights into these PTs, we numerically compute the average number density of monopolar and pair defects as a function of energy. Notably, our findings reveal that the pair dissolution mechanism extends beyond a singular transitional phenomenon coinciding with the DPT. Instead, it encompasses a spectrum of transitional phenomena, as indicated by the rates of acceleration and deceleration in the dissolution of pairs as a function of energy. Finally, we briefly discuss how such a method can be extended to more complex quantum field theories on a lattice. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Ising fracton spin liquid on the honeycomb lattice

We study a classical Ising model on the honeycomb lattice with local two-body interactions and present strong evidence that at low temperature it realizes a higher-rank Coulomb liquid with fracton excitations. We show that the excitations are (type-I) fractons, appearing at the corners of membranes of spin flips. Because of the threefold rotational symmetry of the honeycomb lattice, these membranes can be locally combined such that no excitations are created, giving rise to a set of ground states described as a liquid of membranes. We devise a cluster Monte Carlo algorithm purposefully designed for this problem that moves pairs of defects, and use it to study the finite-temperature behavior of the model. We show evidence for a first order transition from a high-temperature paramagnet to a low-temperature phase whose correlations precisely match those predicted for a higher-rank Coulomb phase. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Square ice Coulomb phase as a percolated vertex lattice

Square ice Coulomb phase as a percolated vertex lattice

Candidate phases for SU(2) adjoint QCD$_4$ with two flavors from $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory

We study four-dimensional adjoint QCD with gauge group SU(2)SU(2) and two Weyl fermion flavors, which has an SU(2)_RSU(2)R chiral symmetry. The infrared behavior of this theory is not firmly established. We explore candidate infrared phases by embedding adjoint QCD into {\mathcal N}=2𝒩=2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory deformed by a supersymmetry-breaking scalar mass MM that preserves all global symmetries and ’t Hooft anomalies. This includes ’t Hooft anomalies that are only visible when the theory is placed on manifolds that do not admit a spin structure. The consistency of this procedure is guaranteed by a nonabelian spin-charge relation involving the SU(2)_RSU(2)R symmetry that is familiar from topologically twisted {\mathcal N}=2𝒩=2 theories. Since every vacuum on the Coulomb branch of the {\mathcal N}=2𝒩=2 theory necessarily matches all ’t Hooft anomalies, we can generate candidate phases for adjoint QCD by deforming the theories in these vacua while preserving all symmetries and ’t Hooft anomalies. One such deformation is the supersymmetry-breaking scalar mass MM itself, which can be reliably analyzed when MM is small. In this regime it gives rise to an exotic Coulomb phase without chiral symmetry breaking. By contrast, the theory near the monopole and dyon points can be deformed to realize a candidate phase with monopole-induced confinement and chiral symmetry breaking. The low-energy theory consists of two copies of a \mathbb{CP}^1ℂℙ1 sigma model, which we analyze in detail. Certain topological couplings that are likely to be present in this \mathbb{CP}^1ℂℙ1 model turn the confining solitonic string of the model into a topological insulator. We also examine the behavior of various candidate phases under fermion mass deformations. We speculate on the possible large-MM behavior of the deformed {\mathcal N}=2𝒩=2 theory and conjecture that the \mathbb{CP}^1ℂℙ1 phase eventually becomes dominant.

Large- N solution and effective action of a twisted-mass deformed CP(N−1) model

We study effective dynamics of the nonsupersymmetric two-dimensional CP(N−1) model in the large N limit. This model is deformed by a mass term m preserving ZN symmetry of the Lagrangian. At small m the theory is strongly coupled and resembles the undeformed CP(N−1) model, while at large m it is in a weakly coupled Higgs phase with spontaneously broken ZN. We find the phase transition point and discuss the fate of the kink-antikink “mesons” at strong coupling. We also resolve an issue of instability that arose in previous studies of this model. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Gauge-independent transition separating confinement and Higgs phases in lattice SU(2) gauge theory with a scalar field in the fundamental representation

According to the preceding studies, the lattice SU(2) gauge-scalar model with a single scalar field in the fundamental representation of the gauge group has a single confinement-Higgs phase where confinement and Higgs regions are subregions of an analytically continued single phase and there are no thermodynamic phase transitions, which is a well-known consequence of the Osterwalder-Seiler-Fradkin-Shenker theorem. In this paper, we show that we can define new types of gauge-invariant operators by combining the original fundamental scalar field and the so-called color-direction field which is obtained by change of field variables based on the gauge-covariant decomposition of the gauge field due to Cho-Duan-Ge-Shabanov and Faddeev-Niemi. By performing the numerical simulations on the lattice without any gauge fixing, we reproduce the conventional thermodynamic transition line in the weak gauge coupling, and moreover we find a new transition line detected by the new gauge-invariant operators which separates the confinement-Higgs phase into two parts, confinement phase and the Higgs phase, in the strong gauge coupling. All results are obtained in the gauge-independent way, since no gauge fixing has been imposed in the numerical simulations. Moreover, we discuss a physical interpretation for the new transition from the viewpoint of the realization of a global symmetry. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Coulomb and Higgs phases of G2-manifolds

Ricci flat manifolds of special holonomy are a rich framework as models of the extra dimensions in string/M-theory. At special points in vacuum moduli space, special kinds of singularities occur and demand a physical interpretation. In this paper we show that the topologically distinct G2-holonomy manifolds arising from desingularisations of codimension four orbifold singularities due to Joyce and Karigiannis correspond physically to Coulomb and Higgs phases of four dimensional gauge theories. The results suggest generalisations of the Joyce-Karigiannis construction to arbitrary ADE-singularities and higher order twists which we explore in detail in explicitly solvable local models. These models allow us to derive an isomorphism between moduli spaces of Ricci flat metrics on these non-compact G2-manifolds and flat ADE-connections on compact flat 3-manifolds which we establish explicitly for SU(n).

Scalar QED in AdS

We consider scalar QED with Nf flavors in AdSD. For D < 4 the theory is strongly-coupled in the IR. We use the spin 1 spectral representation to compute and efficiently resum the bubble diagram in AdS, in order to obtain the exact propagator of the photon at large Nf. We then apply this result to compute the boundary four-point function of the charged operators at leading order in 1/Nf and exactly in the coupling, both in the Coulomb and in the Higgs phase. In the first case a conserved current is exchanged in the four-point function, while in the second case the current is absent and there is a pattern of double-trace scaling dimension analogous to a resonance in flat space. We also consider the BCFT data associated to the critical point with bulk conformal symmetry separating the two phases. Both in ordinary perturbation theory and at large Nf, in integer dimension D = 3 an IR divergence breaks the conformal symmetry on the boundary by inducing a boundary RG flow in a current-current operator.

Higgs phases at non-zero density from holography

We show how Higgs phases at non-zero density can be described using a simple analytic method for gauge theories possessing a holographic dual. We introduce co-dimension one branes in a bottom-up gravity dual that are sources of form flux, such that the effective curvature radius is changed when the brane is crossed. This mimics the expected flow produced by color branes nucleating in a top-down model.

Exploring the phase diagram of 3D artificial spin-ice

Artificial spin-ices consist of lithographic arrays of single-domain magnetic nanowires organised into frustrated lattices. These geometries are usually two-dimensional, allowing a direct exploration of physics associated with frustration, topology and emergence. Recently, three-dimensional geometries have been realised, in which transport of emergent monopoles can be directly visualised upon the surface. Here we carry out an exploration of the three-dimensional artificial spin-ice phase diagram, whereby dipoles are placed within a diamond-bond lattice geometry. We find a rich phase diagram, consisting of a double-charged monopole crystal, a single-charged monopole crystal and conventional spin-ice with pinch points associated with a Coulomb phase. In experimental demagnetised systems, broken symmetry forces formation of ferromagnetic stripes upon the surface, forbidding the lower energy double-charged monopole crystal. Instead, we observe crystallites of single magnetic charge, superimposed upon an ice background. The crystallites are found to form due to the distribution of magnetic charge around the 3D vertex, which locally favours monopole formation.

Holography from lattice mathcal{N} = 4 super Yang-Mills

In this paper we use lattice simulation to study four dimensional mathcal{N} = 4 super Yang-Mills (SYM) theory. We have focused on the three color theory on lattices of size 124 and for ’t Hooft couplings up to λ = 40.0. Our lattice action is based on a discretization of the Marcus or GL twist of mathcal{N} = 4 SYM and retains one exact supersymmetry for non-zero lattice spacing. We show that lattice theory exists in a single non-Abelian Coulomb phase for all ’t Hooft couplings. Furthermore the static potential we obtain from correlators of Polyakov lines is in good agreement with that obtained from holography — specifically the potential has a Coulombic form with a coefficent that varies as the square root of the ’t Hooft coupling.

The classical Heisenberg model on the centred pyrochlore lattice

The centred pyrochlore lattice is a novel geometrically frustrated lattice, realized in the metal-organic framework Mn(ta)_22 [Phys. Rev. Research 5, L022018 (2023)] where the basic unit of spins is a five site centred tetrahedron. Here, we present an in-depth theoretical study of the J_1-J_2J1−J2 classical Heisenberg model on this lattice, using a combination of mean-field analytical methods and Monte Carlo simulations. We find a rich phase diagram with low temperature states exhibiting ferrimagnetic order, partial ordering, and a highly degenerate spin liquid with distinct regimes of low temperature correlations. We discuss in detail how the regime displaying broadened pinch points in its spin structure factor is consistent with an effective description in terms of a fluid of interacting charges. We also show how this picture holds in two dimensions on the analogous centred kagome lattice and elucidate the connection to the physics of thin films in (d+1d+1) dimensions. Furthermore, we show that a Coulomb phase can be stabilized on the centred pyrochlore lattice by the addition of further neighbour couplings. This demonstrates the centred pyrochlore lattice is an experimentally relevant geometry which naturally hosts emergent gauge fields in the presence of charges at low energies.

Dynamics of strongly-coupled chiral gauge theories

We study the dynamics of SU(N) chiral gauge theories with massless fermions belonging to various combinations of the symmetric, antisymmetric or fundamental representations. We limit ourselves to the gauge-anomaly-free and asymptotically free systems. These theories have a global symmetry group with the associated ’t Hooft anomaly-matching conditions severely limiting the possible RG flows. Recent developments on the applications of the generalized symmetries and the stronger requirement of the matching of the mixed anomalies also give further indications on the possible IR dynamics. In vectorlike theories such as the quantum chromodynamics (QCD), gauge-invariant “quark-antiquark” condensates form and characterize the IR dynamics, and the anomaly matching involves the Nambu-Goldstone (NG) bosons. In some other special cases, such as the Bars-Yankielowicz (BY) or Georgi-Glashow (GG) models, a hypothetical solution was proposed in the literature, with no global symmetry breaking and with some simple set of composite massless fermions saturating all the anomalies. For the BY and GG systems, actually, a more plausible candidate for their IR physics is the dynamical Higgs phase, with a few simple bi-fermion color-flavor locked condensates, breaking the color and flavor symmetries, partially or totally. Remarkably, the ’t Hooft anomaly-matching (and generalized anomaly-matching) conditions are automatically satisfied in this phase. Another interesting possibility, occurring in some chiral gauge theories, is dynamical Abelianization, familiar from N = 2 supersymmetric gauge theories. We explore here even more general types of possible IR phases than the ones mentioned above, for wider classes of models. With the help of large-N arguments we look for IR free theories, whereas the MAC (maximal attractive channel) criterion might suggest some simple bi-fermion condensates characterizing the IR dynamics of the systems. In many cases the low-energy effective theories are found to be described by quiver-like gauge theories, some of the (nonAbelian) gauge groups are infrared-free while some others might be asymptotically free.

Towards classification of 5d SCFTs: Single gauge node

We propose a number of apparently equivalent criteria necessary for the consistency of a 5d SCFT in its Coulomb phase and use these criteria to classify 5d SCFTs arising from a gauge theory with simple gauge group. These criteria include the convergence of the 5-sphere partition function; the positivity of particle masses and monopole string tensions; and the positive definiteness of the metric in some region in the Coulomb branch. We find that for large rank classical groups simple classes of SCFTs emerge where the bounds on the matter content and the Chern-Simons level grow linearly with rank. For classical groups of rank less than or equal to 8, our classification leads to additional cases which do not fit in the large rank analysis. We also classify the allowed matter content for all exceptional groups.