Coulomb Phase Research Articles

Abelian Higgs model with charge conjugate boundary conditions

The abelian Higgs model is studied on the lattice with charge conjugate boundary conditions. A locally gauge invariant operator for the charged scalar field is constructed and the charged scalar particle mass is calculated in the Coulomb phase of the lattice model. Agreement is found with the mass calculated in Coulomb gauge. The gauge invariant scalar field operator is used to calculate the Higgs boson mass in the Higgs region and to show that the charged particle disappears from the spectrum in the confined regime.

Scattering of wave packets with phases

A general problem of 2 → Nf scattering is addressed with all the states being wave packets with arbitrary phases. Depending on these phases, one deals with coherent states in (3 + 1) D, vortex particles with orbital angular momentum, the Airy beams, and their generalizations. A method is developed in which a number of events represents a functional of the Wigner functions of such states. Using width of a packet σp/〈p〉 as a small parameter, the Wigner functions, the number of events, and a cross section are represented as power series in this parameter, the first non-vanishing corrections to their plane-wave expressions are derived, and generalizations for beams are made. Although in this regime the Wigner functions turn out to be everywhere positive, the cross section develops new specifically quantum features, inaccessible in the plane-wave approximation. Among them is dependence on an impact parameter between the beams, on phases of the incoming states, and on a phase of the scattering amplitude. A model-independent analysis of these effects is made. Two ways of measuring how a Coulomb phase and a hadronic one change with a transferred momentum t are discussed.

Mean-field theory for confinement transitions and magnetization plateaux in spin ice

We study phase transitions in classical spin ice at nonzero magnetization, by introducing a mean-field theory designed to capture the interplay between confinement and topological constraints. The method is applied to a model of spin ice in an applied magnetic field along the crystallographic direction and yields a phase diagram containing the Coulomb phase as well as a set of magnetization plateaux. We argue that the lobe structure of the phase diagram, strongly reminiscent of the Bose–Hubbard model, is generic to Coulomb spin liquids.

Machine learning phases of matter

Neural networks can be used to identify phases and phase transitions in condensed matter systems via supervised machine learning. Readily programmable through modern software libraries, we show that a standard feed-forward neural network can be trained to detect multiple types of order parameter directly from raw state configurations sampled with Monte Carlo. In addition, they can detect highly non-trivial states such as Coulomb phases, and if modified to a convolutional neural network, topological phases with no conventional order parameter. We show that this classification occurs within the neural network without knowledge of the Hamiltonian or even the general locality of interactions. These results demonstrate the power of machine learning as a basic research tool in the field of condensed matter and statistical physics.

Weak gravity conjecture and effective field theory

The Weak Gravity Conjecture (WGC) is a proposed constraint on theories with gauge fields and gravity, requiring the existence of light charged particles and/or imposing an upper bound on the field theory cutoff $\Lambda$. If taken as a consistency requirement for effective field theories (EFTs), it rules out possibilities for model-building including some models of inflation. I demonstrate simple models which satisfy all forms of the WGC, but which through Higgsing of the original gauge fields produce low-energy EFTs with gauge forces that badly violate the WGC. These models illustrate specific loopholes in arguments that motivate the WGC from a bottom-up perspective; for example the arguments based on magnetic monopoles are evaded when the magnetic confinement that occurs in a Higgs phase is accounted for. This indicates that the WGC should not be taken as a veto on EFTs, even if it turns out to be a robust property of UV quantum gravity theories. However, if the latter is true then parametric violation of the WGC at low energy comes at the cost of non-minimal field content in the UV. I propose that only a very weak constraint is applicable to EFTs, $\Lambda \lesssim \left(-\log g \right)^{-1/2} M_\text{pl}$ where $g$ is the gauge coupling, motivated by entropy bounds. Remarkably, EFTs produced by Higgsing a theory that satisfies the WGC can saturate but not violate this bound.

Non-toric bases for elliptic Calabi–Yau threefolds and 6D F-theory vacua

We develop a combinatorial approach to the construction of gen- eral smooth compact base surfaces that support elliptic Calabi-Yau threefolds. This extends previous analyses that have relied on toric or semi-toric structure. The resulting algorithm is used to construct all classes of such base surfaces S with h 1,1 (S) < 8 and all base sur- faces over which there is an elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau threefold X with Hodge number h 2,1 (X) ≥ 150. These two sets can be used to describe all 6D F-theory models that have fewer than seven ten- sor multiplets or more than 150 neutral scalar fields respectively in their maximally Higgsed phase. Technical challenges to construct- ing the complete list of base surfaces for all Hodge numbers are discussed.

Atomic quantum simulation of a three-dimensional U(1) gauge-Higgs model

In this paper, we study theoretically atomic quantum simulations of a U(1) gauge-Higgs model on a three-dimensional (3D) spatial lattice by using an extended Bose-Hubbard model with intersite repulsions on a 3D optical lattice. Here, the phase and density fluctuations of the boson variable on each site of the optical lattice describe the vector potential and the electric field on each link of the gauge-model lattice, respectively. The target gauge model is different from the standard Wilson-type U(1) gauge-Higgs model because it has plaquette and Higgs interactions with asymmetric couplings in the space-time directions. Nevertheless, the corresponding quantum simulation is still important as it provides us with a platform to study unexplored time-dependent phenomena characteristic of each phase in the general gauge-Higgs models. To determine the phase diagram of the gauge-Higgs model at zero temperature, we perform Monte-Carlo simulations of the corresponding 3+1-dimensional U(1) gauge-Higgs model, and obtain the confinement and Higgs phases. To investigate the dynamical properties of the gauge-Higgs model, we apply the Gross-Pitaevskii equations to the extended Bose-Hubbard model. We simulate the time-evolution of an electric flux that initially is put on a straight line connecting two external point charges. We also calculate the potential energy between this pair of charges and obtain the string tension in the confinement phase. Finally, we propose a feasible experimental setup for the atomic simulations of this quantum gauge-Higgs model on the 3D optical lattice. These results may serve as theoretical guides for future experiments.

Time-dependent photon heat transport through a mesoscopic Josephson device

The time-oscillating photon heat current through a dc voltage biased mesoscopic Josephson Junction (MJJ) has been investigated by employing the nonequilibrium Green’s function approach. The Landauer-like formula of photon heat current has been derived in both of the Fourier space and its time-oscillating versions, where Coulomb interaction, self inductance, and magnetic flux take effective roles. Nonlinear behaviors are exhibited in the photon heat current due to the quantum nature of MJJ and applied external dc voltage. The magnitude of heat current decreases with increasing the external bias voltage, and subtle oscillation structures appear as the superposition of different photon heat branches. The overall period of heat current with respect to time is not affected by Coulomb interaction, however, the magnitude and phase of it vary considerably by changing the Coulomb interaction.

Extensive degeneracy, Coulomb phase and magnetic monopoles in artificial square ice.

Artificial spin-ice systems are lithographically patterned arrangements of interacting magnetic nanostructures that were introduced as way of investigating the effects of geometric frustration in a controlled manner. This approach has enabled unconventional states of matter to be visualized directly in real space, and has triggered research at the frontier between nanomagnetism, statistical thermodynamics and condensed matter physics. Despite efforts to create an artificial realization of the square-ice model-a two-dimensional geometrically frustrated spin-ice system defined on a square lattice-no simple geometry based on arrays of nanomagnets has successfully captured the macroscopically degenerate ground-state manifold of the model. Instead, square lattices of nanomagnets are characterized by a magnetically ordered ground state that consists of local loop configurations with alternating chirality. Here we show that all of the characteristics of the square-ice model are observed in an artificial square-ice system that consists of two sublattices of nanomagnets that are vertically separated by a small distance. The spin configurations we image after demagnetizing our arrays reveal unambiguous signatures of a Coulomb phase and algebraic spin-spin correlations, which are characterized by the presence of 'pinch' points in the associated magnetic structure factor. Local excitations-the classical analogues of magnetic monopoles-are free to evolve in an extensively degenerate, divergence-free vacuum. We thus provide a protocol that could be used to investigate collective magnetic phenomena, including Coulomb phases and the physics of ice-like materials.

The novel metallic states of the cuprates: Topological Fermi liquids and strange metals

This article is based on a talk by S.S. at the Nambu Memorial Symposium at the University of Chicago. We review ideas on the nature of the metallic states of the hole-doped cuprate high temperature superconductors, with an emphasis on the connections between the Luttinger theorem for the size of the Fermi surface, topological quantum field theories (TQFTs), and critical theories involving changes in the size of the Fermi surface. We begin with the derivation of the Luttinger theorem for a Fermi liquid, using momentum balance during a process of flux-insertion in a lattice electronic model with toroidal boundary conditions. We then review the TQFT of the Z2 spin liquid, and demonstrate its compatibility with the toroidal momentum balance argument. This discussion leads naturally to a simple construction of `topological' Fermi liquid states: the fractionalized Fermi liquid (FL*) and the algebraic charge liquid (ACL). We present arguments for a description of the pseudogap metal of the cuprates using Z2-FL* or Z2-ACL states with Ising-nematic order. These pseudogap metal states are also described as Higgs phases of a SU(2) gauge theory. The Higgs field represents local antiferromagnetism, but the Higgs-condensed phase does not have long-range antiferromagnetic order: the magnitude of the Higgs field determines the pseudogap, the reconstruction of the Fermi surface, and the Ising-nematic order. Finally, we discuss the route to the large Fermi surface Fermi liquid via the critical point where the Higgs condensate and Ising nematic order vanish, and the application of Higgs criticality to the strange metal.

Instabilities of Coulomb phases and the Gribov picture of confinement

A new picture of quark confinement based on the instability of Coulomb phase at low energy was introduced by Volodya Gribov in the early nineties. In QCD the effective [Formula: see text] coupling constant can reach very large values in the infrared regime what generates Coulomb phase instabilities. In the Gribov picture the instability leads to a vacuum decay into light quarks for coupling constants [Formula: see text] larger than a critical value [Formula: see text], for SU(N) gauge theories. The instability of Coulomb phase can be derived from first principles in any non-Abelian gauge theory for [Formula: see text], a value which is larger than the Gribov critical value. In this paper we review the analytic derivation of the Gribov mechanism from first principles and analyze the effects of dynamical quarks in the instability of the Coulomb phase. The instabilities associated to light quarks turn out to appear at larger values of [Formula: see text] than the ones induced from pure gluon dynamics, unlike it is expected in the standard Gribov scenario. The analytic results confirm the consistency of the picture where quark confinement is mainly driven by gluonic fluctuations.

Elastic scattering of vortex electrons provides direct access to the Coulomb phase

Vortex electron beams are freely propagating electron waves carrying adjustable orbital angular momentum with respect to the propagation direction. Such beams were experimentally realized just a few years ago and are now used to probe various electromagnetic processes. So far, these experiments used the single vortex electron beams, either propagating in external fields or impacting a target. Here, we investigate the elastic scattering of two such aligned vortex electron beams and demonstrate that this process allows one to experimentally measure features which are impossible to detect in the usual plane-wave scattering. The scattering amplitude of this process is well approximated by two plane-wave scattering amplitudes with different momentum transfers, which interfere and give direct experimental access to the Coulomb phase. This phase (shift) affects the scattering of all charged particles and has thus received significant theoretical attention but was never probed experimentally. We show that a properly defined azimuthal asymmetry, which has no counterpart in plane-wave scattering, allows one to directly measure the Coulomb phase as function of the scattering angle.

SU(N) Transitions in M-Theory on Calabi–Yau Fourfolds and Background Fluxes

We study M-theory on a Calabi-Yau fourfold with a smooth surface $S$ of $A_{N-1}$ singularities. The resulting three-dimensional theory has a $\mathcal{N}=2$ $SU(N)$ gauge theory sector, which we obtain from a twisted dimensional reduction of a seven-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ $SU(N)$ gauge theory on the surface $S$. A variant of the Vafa-Witten equations governs the moduli space of the gauge theory, which, for a trivial $SU(N)$ principal bundle over $S$, admits a Coulomb and a Higgs branch. In M-theory these two gauge theory branches arise from a resolution and a deformation to smooth Calabi-Yau fourfolds, respectively. We find that the deformed Calabi-Yau fourfold associated to the Higgs branch requires for consistency a non-trivial four-form background flux in M-theory. The flat directions of the flux-induced superpotential are in agreement with the gauge theory prediction for the moduli space of the Higgs branch. We illustrate our findings with explicit examples that realize the Coulomb and Higgs phase transition in Calabi-Yau fourfolds embedded in weighted projective spaces. We generalize and enlarge this class of examples to Calabi-Yau fourfolds embedded in toric varieties with an $A_{N-1}$ singularity in codimension two.

Higgs Phase in a Gauge U(1) Non-Linear CP1-Model. Two Species of BPS Vortices and Their Zero Modes

In this paper, zero modes of fluctuation are dissected around the two species of BPS vortices existing in the critical Higgs phase, where the scalar and vector meson masses are equal, of a gauged U ( 1 ) nonlinear CP 1 -model. If 2 π n , n ∈ Z , is the quantized magnetic flux of the two species of BPS vortex solutions, 2 n linearly-independent vortex zero modes for each species are found and described. The existence of two species of moduli spaces of dimension 2 n of these stringy topological defects is thus locally shown.

Double-slit experiment in momentum space

Young's classic double-slit experiment demonstrates the reality of interference when waves and particles travel simultaneously along two different spatial paths. Here, we propose a double-slit experiment in momentum space, realized in the free-space elastic scattering of vortex electrons. We show that this process proceeds along two paths in momentum space, which are well localized and well separated from each other. For such vortex beams, the (plane-wave) amplitudes along the two paths acquire adjustable phase shifts and produce interference fringes in the final angular distribution. We argue that this experiment can be realized with the present-day technology. We show that it gives experimental access to the Coulomb phase, a quantity which plays an important role in all charged particle scattering but which usual scattering experiments are insensitive to.

Dynamical restoration of ZN symmetry in SU(N) + Higgs theories

We study the ZN symmetry in SU(N) + Higgs theories with the Higgs field in the fundamental representation. The distributions of the Polyakov loop show that the ZN symmetry is explicitly broken in the Higgs phase. On the other hand inside the Higgs symmetric phase the Polyakov loop distributions and other physical observables exhibit the ZN symmetry. This effective realization of the ZN symmetry in the theory changes the nature of the confinement–deconfinement transition. We argue that the ZN symmetry will lead to time independent topological defect solutions in the Higgs symmetric deconfined phase which will play important role at high temperatures.

Magnetic diffuse scattering in artificial kagome spin ice

The study of magnetic correlations in dipolar-coupled nanomagnet systems with synchrotron x-ray scattering provides a means to uncover emergent phenomena and exotic phases, in particular in systems with thermally active magnetic moments. From the diffuse signal of soft x-ray resonant magnetic scattering, we have measured magnetic correlations in a highly dynamic artificial kagome spin ice with sub-70-nm Permalloy nanomagnets. On comparing experimental scattering patterns with Monte Carlo simulations based on a needle-dipole model, we conclude that kagome ice I phase correlations exist in our experimental system even in the presence of moment fluctuations, which is analogous to bulk spin ice and spin liquid behavior. In addition, we describe the emergence of quasi-pinch-points in the magnetic diffuse scattering in the kagome ice I phase. These quasi-pinch-points bear similarities to the fully developed pinch points with singularities of a magnetic Coulomb phase, and continually evolve into the latter on lowering the temperature. The possibility to measure magnetic diffuse scattering with soft x rays opens the way to study magnetic correlations in a variety of nanomagnetic systems.

Tricritical points in a compactU(1)lattice gauge theory at strong coupling

Pure {\it compact} $U(1)$ lattice gauge theory exhibits a phase transition at gauge coupling $g \sim {\cal{O}}(1)$ separating a familiar weak coupling Coulomb phase, having free massless photons, from a strong coupling phase. However, the phase transition was found to be of first order, ruling out any nontrivial theory resulting from a continuum limit from the strong coupling side. In this work, a compact $U(1)$ lattice gauge theory is studied with addition of a dimension-two mass counterterm and a higher derivative (HD) term that ensures a unique vacuum and produces a covariant gauge-fixing term in the naive continuum limit. For a reasonably large coefficient of the HD term, now there exists a continuous transition from a regular ordered phase to a spatially modulated ordered phase. For weak gauge couplings, a continuum limit from the regular ordered phase results in a familiar theory consisting of free massless photons. For strong gauge couplings with $g\ge {\cal{O}}(1)$, this transition changes from first order to continuous as the coefficient of the HD term is increased, resulting in tricritical points which appear to be a candidate in this theory for a possible nontrivial continuum limit.

Structure of Kähler potential for D-term inflationary attractor models

Minimal chaotic models of D-term inflation predicts too large primordial tensor perturbations. Although it can be made consistent with observations utilizing higher order terms in the K\"ahler potential, expansion is not controlled in the absence of symmetries. We comprehensively study the conditions of K\"ahler potential for D-term plateau-type potentials and discuss its symmetry. They include the alpha-attractor model with a massive vector supermultiplet and its generalization leading to pole inflation of arbitrary order. We extend the models so that it can describe Coulomb phase, gauge anomaly is cancelled, and fields other than inflaton are stabilized during inflation. We also point out a generic issue for large-field D-term inflation that the masses of the non-inflaton fields tend to exceed the Planck scale.

Observation of magnetic fragmentation in spin ice

Fractionalised excitations that emerge from a many body system have revealed rich physics and concepts, from composite fermions in two-dimensional electron systems, revealed through the fractional quantum Hall effect, to spinons in antiferromagnetic chains and, more recently, fractionalisation of Dirac electrons in graphene and magnetic monopoles in spin ice. Even more surprising is the fragmentation of the degrees of freedom themselves, leading to coexisting and a priori independent ground states. This puzzling phenomenon was recently put forward in the context of spin ice, in which the magnetic moment field can fragment, resulting in a dual ground state consisting of a fluctuating spin liquid, a so-called Coulomb phase, on top of a magnetic monopole crystal. Here we show, by means of neutron scattering measurements, that such fragmentation occurs in the spin ice candidate Nd$_2$Zr$_2$O$_7$. We observe the spectacular coexistence of an antiferromagnetic order induced by the monopole crystallisation and a fluctuating state with ferromagnetic correlations. Experimentally, this fragmentation manifests itself via the superposition of magnetic Bragg peaks, characteristic of the ordered phase, and a pinch point pattern, characteristic of the Coulomb phase. These results highlight the relevance of the fragmentation concept to describe the physics of systems that are simultaneously ordered and fluctuating.