Local Composite Operators Research Articles

Dynamically massive linear covariant gauges: Setup and first results

We discuss the possibility to obtain a massive Landau gauge, based on the local composite operator effective action framework combined with the Zimmermann reduction of couplings prescription. As a way to deal with the gauge ambiguity, we check that the ghost propagator remains positive, a necessary condition for gluon field configurations beyond the Gribov region to be negligible. We pay attention to the Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin invariance of the construction, allowing for a future generalization to a class of massive linear covariant gauges. As a litmus test, we compare our predictions to the lattice data for the two-point functions in Landau gauge introducing the “dynamically infrared-safe” renormalization scheme, including the renormalization group optimization of both the gap equation and the two-point functions. We also discuss the relation to and differences with the Curci-Ferrari model, the usefulness of which in providing an effective perturbative description of nonperturbative Yang-Mills theories became clear during recent years. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

The inverse Mellin transform via analytic continuation

We present a method to calculate the x-space expressions of massless or massive operator matrix elements in QCD and QED containing local composite operator insertions, depending on the discrete Mellin index N, directly, without computing the Mellin-space expressions in explicit form analytically. Here N belongs either to the even or odd positive integers. The method is based on the resummation of the operators into effective propagators and relies on an analytic continuation between two continuous variables. We apply it to iterated integrals as well as to the more general case of iterated non-iterative integrals, generalizing the former ones. The x-space expressions are needed to derive the small-x behaviour of the respective quantities, which usually cannot be accessed in N-space. We illustrate the method for different (iterated) alphabets, including non-iterative 2F1 and elliptic structures, as examples. These structures occur in different massless and massive three-loop calculations. Likewise the method applies even to the analytic closed form solutions of more general cases of differential equations which do not factorize into first-order factors.

A pitfall in applying non-anticommuting $γ_5$ in $q\overline{q} \rightarrow ZH$ amplitudes

In computing the two-loop QCD corrections to a class of Feynman diagrams for the process q\overline{q} \rightarrow ZHqq¯→ZH in Higgs effective field theory, we discover a striking phenomenon. We find the need for an additional local composite operator in the renormalised Lagrangian while employing a non-anticommuting \gamma_5γ5 in dimensional regularisation. The computation using anticommuting \gamma_5γ5, however, does not require any such amendment.

Gauge invariant operators in the SU(2) Higgs model: Ward identities and renormalization

The renormalization properties of two local gauge invariant composite operators $(O,{R}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{a})$ corresponding, respectively, to the gauge invariant description of the Higgs particle and of the massive gauge vector boson, are analyzed to all orders in perturbation theory by means of the algebraic renormalization in the $SU(2)$ Higgs model, with a single scalar in the fundamental representation, when quantized in the Landau gauge in Euclidean space-time. The present analysis generalizes earlier results presented in the case of the $U(1)$ Higgs model. A powerful global Ward identity, related to an exact custodial symmetry, is derived for the first time, with deep consequences at the quantum level. In particular, the gauge invariant vector operators ${R}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{a}$ turn out to be the conserved Noether currents of the above-mentioned custodial symmetry. As such, these composite operators do not renormalize, as expressed by the fact that the renormalization $Z$-factors of the corresponding external sources, needed to define the operators ${R}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{a}$ at the quantum level, do not receive any quantum corrections. Using this Ward identity, one can also prove that the longitudinal component of the two-point correlation function $⟨{R}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{a}(p){R}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}^{b}(\ensuremath{-}p)⟩$ exhibits only a tree level nonvanishing contribution which, moreover, is momentum independent, thus it is not associated to any physical propagating mode. Finally, we point out that the renowned nonrenormalization theorem for the ghost-antighost-vector boson vertex in Landau gauge remains true to all orders, also in the presence of the Higgs field.

The Abelian Higgs model under a gauge invariant looking glass: exploiting new Ward identities for gauge invariant operators and the Equivalence Theorem

The content of two additional Ward identities exhibited by the U(1) Higgs model is exploited. These novel Ward identities can be derived only when a pair of local composite operators providing a gauge invariant setup for the Higgs particle and the massive vector boson is introduced in the theory from the beginning. Among the results obtained from the above mentioned Ward identities, we underline a new exact relationship between the stationary condition for the vacuum energy, the vanishing of the tadpoles and the vacuum expectation value of the gauge invariant scalar operator. We also present a characterization of the two-point correlation function of the composite operator corresponding to the vector boson in terms of the two-point function of the elementary gauge fields. Finally, a discussion on the connection between the cartesian and the polar parametrization of the complex scalar field is presented in the light of the Equivalence Theorem. The latter can in the current case be understood in the language of a constrained cohomology, which also allows to rewrite the action in terms of the aforementioned gauge invariant operators. We also comment on the diminished role of the global U(1) symmetry and its breaking.

Spectral properties of local gauge invariant composite operators in the SU(2) Yang\u2013Mills\u2013Higgs model

The spectral properties of a set of local gauge (BRST) invariant composite operators are investigated in the SU(2) Yang–Mills–Higgs model with a single Higgs field in the fundamental representation, quantized in the ’t Hooft R_{xi }-gauge. These operators can be thought of as a BRST invariant version of the elementary fields of the theory, the Higgs and gauge fields, with which they share a gauge independent pole mass. The two-point correlation functions of both BRST invariant composite operators and elementary fields, as well as their spectral functions, are investigated at one-loop order. It is shown that the spectral functions of the elementary fields suffer from a strong unphysical dependence from the gauge parameter xi , and can even exhibit positivity violating behaviour. In contrast, the BRST invariant local operators exhibit a well defined positive spectral density.

Study of the renormalization of BRST invariant local composite operators in the U(1) Higgs model

The renormalization properties of two local BRST invariant composite operators, $(O,V_\mu)$, corresponding respectively to the gauge invariant description of the Higgs particle and of the massive gauge vector boson, are scrutinized in the $U(1)$ Higgs model by means of the algebraic renormalization setup. Their renormalization $Z$'s factors are explicitly evaluated at one-loop order in the $\overline{\text{MS}}$ scheme by taking into due account the mixing with other gauge invariant operators. In particular, it turns out that the operator $V_\mu$ mixes with the gauge invariant quantity $\partial_\nu F_{\mu\nu}$, which has the same quantum numbers, giving rise to a $2 \times 2$ mixing matrix. Moreover, two additional powerful Ward identities exist which enable us to determine the whole set of $Z$'s factors entering the $2 \times 2$ mixing matrix as well as the $Z$ factor of the operator $O$ in a purely algebraic way. An explicit check of these Ward identities is provided. The final setup obtained allows for computing perturbatively the full renormalized result for any $n$-point correlation function of the scalar and vector composite operators.

Gauge-invariant spectral description of the U (1) Higgs model from local composite operators

The spectral properties of a set of local gauge-invariant composite operators are investigated in the U(1) Higgs model quantized in the ’t Hooft Rξ gauge. These operators enable us to give a gauge-invariant description of the spectrum of the theory, thereby surpassing certain incommodities when using the standard elementary fields. The corresponding two-point correlation functions are evaluated at one-loop order and their spectral functions are obtained explicitly. As expected, the above mentioned correlation functions are independent from the gauge parameter ξ, while exhibiting positive spectral densities as well as gauge-invariant pole masses corresponding to the massive photon and Higgs physical excitations.

Multicomponent compact Abelian-Higgs lattice models.

We investigate the phase diagram and critical behavior of three-dimensional multicomponent Abelian-Higgs models, in which an N-component complex field z_{x}^{a} of unit length and charge is coupled to compact quantum electrodynamics in the usual Wilson lattice formulation. We determine the phase diagram and study the nature of the transition line for N=2 and N=4. Two phases are identified, specified by the behavior of the gauge-invariant local composite operator Q_{x}^{ab}=z[over ¯]_{x}^{a}z_{x}^{b}-δ^{ab}/N, which plays the role of order parameter. In one phase, we have 〈Q_{x}^{ab}〉=0, while in the other Q_{x}^{ab} condenses. Gauge correlations are never critical: gauge excitations are massive for any finite coupling. The two phases are separated by a transition line. Our numerical data are consistent with the simple scenario in which the nature of the transition is independent of the gauge coupling. Therefore, for any finite positive value of the gauge coupling, we predict a continuous transition in the Heisenberg universality class for N=2 and a first-order transition for N=4. However, notable crossover phenomena emerge for large gauge couplings, when gauge fluctuations are suppressed. Such crossover phenomena are related to the unstable O(2N) fixed point, describing the behavior of the model in the infinite gauge-coupling limit.

Renormalizability of pure 𝒩 = 1 super-Yang–Mills in the Wess–Zumino gauge in the presence of the local composite operators A2 and λ̄λ

The [Formula: see text] super-Yang–Mills theory in the presence of the local composite operator [Formula: see text] is analyzed in the Wess–Zumino gauge by employing the Landau gauge fixing condition. Due to the supersymmetric structure of the theory, two more composite operators, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], related to the SUSY variations of [Formula: see text] are also introduced. A BRST invariant action containing all these operators is obtained. An all-order proof of the multiplicative renormalizability of the resulting theory is then provided by means of the algebraic renormalization setup. Though, due to the nonlinear realization of the supersymmetry in the Wess–Zumino gauge, the renormalization factor of the gauge field turns out to be different from that of the gluino.

Composite operator and condensate in the SU(N) Yang-Mills theory with U(N−1) stability group

Recently, some reformulations of the Yang-Mills theory inspired by the Cho-Faddeev-Niemi decomposition have been developed in order to understand confinement from the viewpoint of the dual superconductivity. In this paper we focus on the reformulated $SU(N)$ Yang-Mills theory in the minimal option with $U(N-1)$ stability group. Despite existing numerical simulations on the lattice we perform the perturbative analysis to one-loop level as a first step towards the non-perturbative analytical treatment. First, we give the Feynman rules and calculate all renormalization factors to obtain the standard renormalization group functions to one-loop level in light of the renormalizability of this theory. Then we introduce a mixed gluon ghost composite operator of mass dimension two and show the BRST invariance and the multiplicative renormalizability. Armed with these results, we argue the existence of the mixed gluon-ghost condensate by means of the so-called local composite operator formalism, which leads to various interesting implications for confinement as shown in preceding works.

Form factors and correlation functions in N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory from twistor space

In this PhD thesis we extend the twistor formalism to encompass (partially) off-shell quantities. We describe all gauge-invariant local composite operators in twistor space and show that they immediately generate all tree-level form factors of the MHV type. We use the formalism to compute form factors at NMHV and higher NkMHV level in parallel to how this had been done for amplitudes previously. Finally, we move on to integrability by computing the one-loop dilatation operator in the scalar sector of the theory in twistor space.

On form factors and correlation functions in twistor space

In this paper, we continue our study of form factors and correlation functions of gauge-invariant local composite operators in the twistor-space formulation of mathcal{N}=4 super Yang-Mills theory. Using the vertices for these operators obtained in our recent papers [1, 2], we show how to calculate the twistor-space diagrams for general NkMHV form factors via the inverse soft limit, in analogy to the amplitude case. For general operators without α indices, we then reexpress the NMHV form factors from the position-twistor calculation in terms of momentum twistors, deriving and expanding on a relation between the two twistor formalisms previously observed in the case of amplitudes. Furthermore, we discuss the calculation of generalized form factors and correlation functions as well as the extension to loop level, in particular providing an argument promised in [3].

Composite Operators in the Twistor Formulation of N=4 Supersymmetric Yang-Mills Theory.

We incorporate gauge-invariant local composite operators into the twistor-space formulation of N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. In this formulation, the interactions of the elementary fields are reorganized into infinitely many interaction vertices and we argue that the same applies to composite operators. To test our definition of the local composite operators in twistor space, we compute several corresponding form factors, thereby also initiating the study of form factors using the position twistor-space framework. Throughout this Letter, we use the composite operator built from two identical complex scalars as a pedagogical example; we treat the general case in a follow-up paper.

All tree-level MHV form factors in N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 SYM from twistor space

We incorporate all gauge-invariant local composite operators into the twistor-space formulation of N=4 SYM theory, detailing and expanding on ideas we presented recently in arXiv:1603.04471. The vertices for these operators contain infinitely many terms and we show how they can be constructed by taking suitable derivatives of a light-like Wilson loop in twistor space and shrinking it down to a point. In particular, these vertices directly yield the tree-level MHV super form factors of all composite operators in N=4 SYM theory.

Amplitudes, form factors and the dilatation operator in N = 4 $$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$ SYM theory

We study the form factor of a generic gauge-invariant local composite operator in $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM theory. At tree level and for a minimal number of external on-shell super fields, we find that the form factor precisely yields the spin-chain picture of integrability in the language of scattering amplitudes. Moreover, we compute the cut-constructible part of the one-loop correction to this minimal form factor via generalised unitarity. From its UV divergence, we obtain the complete one-loop dilatation operator of $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM theory. Thus, we provide a field-theoretic derivation of a relation between the one-loop dilatation operator and the four-point tree-level amplitude which was observed earlier. We also comment on the implications of our findings in the context of integrability.

Natural solution in the refined Gribov-Zwanziger theory

We analyse the one loop effective action of the Gribov-Zwanziger Lagrangian and use the local composite operator formalism to include the most general Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) dimension two mass operator for the localizing ghost fields. We show that the energetically favourable colour channel corresponds to what is known as the R direction.

Correlation functions of local composite operators from generalized unitarity

We describe the use of generalized unitarity for the construction of correlation functions of local gauge-invariant operators in general quantum field theories and illustrate this method with several calculations in N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory involving BPS and non-BPS operators. Form factors of gauge-invariant operators and their multi-operator generalization play an important role in our construction. We discuss various symmetries of the momentum space presentation of correlation functions, which is natural in this framework and give examples involving non-BPS and any number of BPS operators. We also discuss the calculation of correlators describing the energy flow in scattering processes as well as the construction of the effective action of a background gravitational field.

Matrix at slow roll: nonrelativistic and perturbative

We analyze the slow roll dynamics of the massive version of Yang–Mills-type matrix mechanics. We find that one can reproduce in this limit the one-loop non-Hermitian matrix model, describing the dilatations of the local gauge invariant composite operators in the scalar sector of super Yang–Mills theory. This possibility is explained through the fact that the dilatation operator of the last can be identified with the radial-time Hamiltonian. We also explore the finite mass corrections to the slow roll action.

Gluon confinement, i-particles and BRST soft breaking

A few issues on gluon confinement are addressed with the help of a renormalizable gauge model obtained by introducing a replica of the Faddeev–Popov action and a soft breaking of the BRST symmetry. Confinement turns out to be encoded in the spectral properties of the corresponding correlation functions. While the propagators of the elementary fields have no interpretation in terms of physical excitations, examples of local composite operators whose two-point correlation functions possess a spectral representation with positive spectral density can be introduced. These composite operators turn out to be left invariant by the BRST transformations, a feature which has strong consequences on their renormalizability properties. Moreover, they display a direct interpretation in terms of i-particles (Baulieu et al 2010 Phys. Rev. D 82 025021), which are the unphysical modes corresponding to a confining propagator of the Gribov type. A possible way to take into account the effects of the Gribov copies is also outlined.