Vacuum Symmetry Research Articles

Chiral symmetry restoration at high matter density observed in pionic atoms

According to quantum chromodynamics, vacuum is not an empty space, because it is filled with quark–antiquark pairs. The pair has the same quantum numbers as the vacuum and forms a condensate because the strong interaction of the quantum chromodynamics is too strong to leave the vacuum empty. This quark–antiquark condensation, the chiral condensate, breaks the chiral symmetry of the vacuum. The expectation value of the chiral condensate is an order parameter of the chiral symmetry, which is expected to decrease at high temperatures or high matter densities where the chiral symmetry is partially restored. Head-on collisions of nuclei at ultra-relativistic energies have explored the high-temperature regime, but experiments at high densities are rare. Here we measure the spectrum of pionic 121Sn atoms and study the interaction between the pion and the nucleus. We find that the expectation value of the chiral condensate is reduced at finite density compared to the value in vacuum. The reduction is linearly extrapolated to the nuclear saturation density and indicates that the chiral symmetry is partially restored due to the extremely high density of the nucleus. In quantum chromodynamics, the condensation of quark–antiquark pairs breaks the chiral symmetry of vacuum. Experiments with pionic tin atoms demonstrate that the symmetry is partially restored at high densities.

A Realistic Interpretation of Quantum Wavefunctions as Temperature Dependent Vacuum Polarization Waves

We discuss in this paper a novel interpretation of Born rule as an approximated thermodynamic law which emerges from the interaction of a quantum system with a non-stationary thermal bath associated to vacuum fluctuations induced by external environment radiation. In particular we assume that vacuum polarization is a real non relativistic phenomena caused by hidden vacuum charge oscillations which diffuses heat energy in a dispersive and dissipative dielectric medium with a temperature dependent speed of propagation. We propose a model which couples vacuum wavefunctions to vacuum charge fluctuations and we deduce a temperature dependent running fine structure constant function proportional, at first approximation, to the squared of the effective electron charge and compatible with known experimental data. We interpret the vacuum symmetry breaking energy fluctuations induced in scattering experiments of particle physics and in laser assisted nuclear reactions as thermal quasi-monochromatic beams produced by the decay of hidden non equilibrium massive photons propagating with a variable light speed. We suggest, exploiting an old analogy between plasmons and pseudo Goldstone bosons, to interpret heat diffusion of this non relativistic polarized vacuum as a real De Broglie electromagnetic scalar wave associated to the radiation emitted by the hidden massive photons with acceleration proportional to vacuum Unruh like temperature. We predict a temperature dependent deviation from Coulomb law and a generalized dispersive law of these hidden unstable photons that could be revealed as not stationary coloured noise in experiments on anomalous heat diffusions associated to the decay of unstable accelerated pairs produced in nuclear physics experiments. We discuss then how our proposal of a temperature dependent non relativistic vacuum polarization might be applied to deduce a dynamic generalization of Born rule based on a realistic interpretation of quantum wavefunctions as averaged electromagnetic waves of hidden massive photons. Finally we suggest to test our time asymmetric model looking for very fast oscillating polarization thermal waves emitted during the not instantaneous wavefunction collapse and revealed as not stationary bulk heating effects in experiments on accelerated conductors and nanoconductors.

Holographic entanglement entropy and modular Hamiltonian in warped CFT in the framework of GMMG model

We study some aspects of a class of non-AdS holography where the 3D bulk gravity is given by generalized minimal massive gravity (GMMG). We consider the spacelike warped AdS_3 (WAdS_3) black hole solution of this model where the 2d dual boundary theory is the warped conformal field theory (WFCT). The charge algebra of the isometries in the bulk and the charge algebra of the vacuum symmetries at the boundary are compatible and this is an evidence for the duality conjecture. Further evidence for this duality is the equality of entanglement entropy and modular Hamiltonian on both sides of the duality. So we consider the modular Hamiltonian for the single interval at the boundary in associated to the modular flow generators of the vacuum. We calculate the gravitational charge in associated to the asymptotic Killing vectors that preserve the metric boundary conditions. Assuming the first law of the entanglement entropy to be true, we introduce the matching conditions between the variables in two side of the duality and we find equality of the modular Hamiltonian variations and the gravitational charge variations in two sides of the duality. According to the results of the present paper we can say with more sure that the dual theory of the warped AdS3 black hole solution of GMMG is a Warped CFT.

Combined Lorentz Symmetry: Lessons from Superfluid ^3He

We consider the possibility of the scenario in which the P, T and Lorentz symmetry of the relativistic quantum vacuum are all the combined symmetries. These symmetries emerge as a result of the symmetry breaking of the more fundamental P, T and Lorentz symmetries of the original vacuum, which is invariant under separate groups of the coordinate transformations and spin rotations. The condensed matter vacua (ground states) suggest two possible scenarios of the origin of the combined Lorentz symmetry, and both are realized in the superfluid phases of liquid ^3He: the ^3He-A scenario and the ^3He-B scenario. In these scenarios, the gravitational tetrads are considered as the order parameter of the symmetry breaking in the quantum vacuum. The ^3He-B scenarios applied to the Minkowski vacuum lead to the continuous degeneracy of the Minkowski vacuum with respect to the O(3, 1) spin rotations. The symmetry breaking leads to the corresponding topological objects, which appear due to the nontrivial topology of the manifold of the degenerate Minkowski vacua, such as torsion strings. The fourfold degeneracy of the Minkowski vacuum with respect to discrete P and T symmetries suggests that the Weyl fermions are described by four different tetrad fields: the tetrad for the left-handed fermions, the tetrad for the right-handed fermions, and the tetrads for their antiparticles. This may lead to the gravity with several metric fields, so that the parity violation may lead to the breaking of equivalence principle. Finally, we considered the application of the gravitational tetrads for the solution of the cosmological constant problem.

Symmetry finder: A method for hunting symmetry in neutrino oscillation

Symmetry in neutrino oscillation serves for a better understanding of the physical properties of the phenomenon. We present a systematic way of finding symmetry in neutrino oscillation, which we call Symmetry Finder (SF). By extending the known framework in vacuum into a matter environment, we derive the SF equation, a powerful machinery for identifying symmetry in the system. After learning lessons on symmetry in the Zaglauer-Schwarzer system with a matter equivalent of the vacuum symmetry, we apply the SF method to the Denton et al. (DMP) perturbation theory to first order. We show that the method is so powerful that we uncover the eight reparametrization symmetries with the $1 \leftrightarrow 2$ state exchange in DMP, denoted as IA, IB, $\cdot \cdot \cdot$, IVB, all new except for IA. The transformations consist of the both fundamental and dynamical variables, indicating their equal importance. It is also shown that all the symmetries discussed in this paper can be understood as the Hamiltonian symmetries, which ensures their all-order validity and applicability to varying density matter.

Improving Center Vortex Detection by Usage of Center Regions as Guidance for the Direct Maximal Center Gauge

The center vortex model of quantum chromodynamic states that vortices, a closed color-magnetic flux, percolate the vacuum. Vortices are seen as the relevant excitations of the vacuum, causing confinement and dynamical chiral symmetry breaking. In an appropriate gauge, as direct maximal center gauge, vortices are detected by projecting onto the center degrees of freedom. Such gauges suffer from Gribov copy problems: different local maxima of the corresponding gauge functional can result in different predictions of the string tension. By using nontrivial center regions—that is, regions whose boundary evaluates to a nontrivial center element—a resolution of this issue seems possible. We use such nontrivial center regions to guide simulated annealing procedures, preventing an underestimation of the string tension in order to resolve the Gribov copy problem.

The Role of Vacuum Fluctuations and Symmetry in the Hydrogen Atom in Quantum Mechanics and Stochastic Electrodynamics

Stochastic Electrodynamics (SED) has had success modeling black body radiation, the harmonic oscillator, the Casimir effect, van der Waals forces, diamagnetism, and uniform acceleration of electrodynamic systems using the stochastic zero-point fluctuations of the electromagnetic field with classical mechanics. However the hydrogen atom, with its 1/r potential remains a critical challenge. Numerical calculations have shown that the SED field prevents the electron orbit from collapsing into the proton, but, eventually the atom becames ionized. We look at the issues of the H atom and SED from the perspective of symmetry of the quantum mechanical Hamiltonian, used to obtain the quantum mechanical results, and the Abraham-Lorentz equation, which is a force equation that includes the effects of radiation reaction, and is used to obtain the SED simulations. We contrast the physical computed effects of the quantized electromagnetic vacuum fluctuations with the role of the real stochastic electromagnetic field.

S-duality, triangle groups and modular anomalies in N = 2 $$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$ SQCD

We study N = 2 superconformal theories with gauge group SU(N) and 2N fundamental flavours in a locus of the Coulomb branch with a Z_N symmetry. In this special vacuum, we calculate the prepotential, the dual periods and the period matrix using equivariant localization. When the flavours are massless, we find that the period matrix is completely specified by [N/2] effective couplings. On each of these, we show that the S-duality group acts as a generalized triangle group and that its hauptmodul can be used to write a non-perturbatively exact relation between each effective coupling and the bare one. For N = 2, 3, 4 and 6, the generalized triangle group is an arithmetic Hecke group which contains a subgroup that is also a congruence subgroup of the modular group PSL(2,Z). For these cases, we introduce mass deformations that respect the symmetries of the special vacuum and show that the constraints arising from S-duality make it possible to resum the instanton contributions to the period matrix in terms of meromorphic modular forms which solve modular anomaly equations.

Symmetry breaking vacua in Lovelock gravity

Higher curvature Lovelock gravity theories can have a number of maximally symmetric vacua with different values of the curvature. Critical surfaces in the space of Lovelock couplings separate regions with different numbers of such vacua, and there exist symmetry breaking regions with no maximally symmetric vacua. Especially in such regimes, it is interesting to ask what reduced symmetry vacua may exist. We study this question, focusing on vacua that are products of maximally symmetric spaces. For low order Lovelock theories, we assemble a map of such vacua over the Lovelock coupling space, displaying different possibilities for vacuum symmetry breaking. We see indications of interesting structure, with e.g. product vacua in Gauss–Bonnet gravity covering the entirety of the symmetry breaking regime in five-dimensions, but only a limited portion of it in six-dimensions.

Field theory on Newton-Cartan backgrounds and symmetries of the Lifshitz vacuum

Holography for Lifshitz space-times corresponds to dual field theories on a fixed torsional Newton-Cartan (TNC) background. We examine the coupling of non-relativistic field theories to TNC backgrounds and uncover a novel mechanism by which a global U(1) can become local. This involves the TNC vector $M_\mu$ which sources a particle number current, and which for flat NC space-time satisfies $M_{\mu}=\partial_{\mu}M$ with a Schroedinger symmetry realized on $M$. We discuss various toy model field theories on flat NC space-time for which the new mechanism leads to extra global space-time symmetries beyond the generic Lifshitz symmetry, allowing for an enhancement to Schroedinger symmetry. On the holographic side, the source $M$ also appears in the Lifshitz vacuum with exactly the same properties as for flat NC space-time. In particular, the bulk diffeomorphisms that preserve the boundary conditions realize a Schroedinger algebra on $M$, allowing for a conserved particle number current. Finally, we present a probe action for a complex scalar field on the Lifshitz vacuum, which exhibits Schroedinger invariance in the same manner as seen in the field theory models.

Theoretical Studies on Hexanuclear Oxometalates [M6L19](q-) (M = Cr, Mo, W, Sg, Nd, U). Electronic Structures, Oxidation States, Aromaticity, and Stability.

We here report a systematic theoretical study on geometries, electronic structures, and energetic stabilities of six hexanuclear polyoxometalates [M6O19](2-) of the six-valence-electron metals including the d-elements M = Cr, Mo, W, Sg from group 6 and the f-elements M = Nd, U. Scalar relativistic density functional theory was applied to these clusters in vacuum and in solution. It is shown that the Oh Lindqvist structure of the isolated [M6O19](2-) units with hexavalent M elements (M(+6)) is only stable for the three heavy transition metals M = Mo, W, and Sg. The rare Th symmetry is predicted for M = U both in vacuum and in solution, owing to pseudo-Jahn-Teller distortion of these closed-shell systems. The Oh and Th structures correspond to cyclic "aromatic" U-̇O-̇U and alternating U=O-U bonding of cross-linked U4O4 rings, respectively. The reduced [U6O19](8-) cluster with pentavalent U(+5) also shows Th symmetry in vacuum, but Oh symmetry in a dielectric environment. The occurrence of different structures for varying fractional oxidation states in different environments is rationalized. Theoretical investigation of the recently synthesized U(+5) complex [U6O13L6](0) (L6 = tetracyclopentadienyl dibipyridine) shows a distorted Th-type symmetry, too. The stabilities of these complexes of different metal oxidation states are consistent with the general periodic trends of oxidation states.

Thermodynamics of the BMN matrix model at strong coupling

We construct the black hole geometry dual to the deconfined phase of the BMN matrix model at strong 't Hooft coupling. We approach this solution from the limit of large temperature where it is approximately that of the non-extremal D0-brane geometry with a spherical $S^8$ horizon. This geometry preserves the $SO(9)$ symmetry of the matrix model trivial vacuum. As the temperature decreases the horizon becomes deformed and breaks the $SO(9)$ to the $SO(6)\times SO(3)$ symmetry of the matrix model. When the black hole free energy crosses zero the system undergoes a phase transition to the confined phase described by a Lin-Maldacena geometry. We determine this critical temperature, whose computation is also within reach of Monte Carlo simulations of the matrix model.

Axial Anomaly and the Triality Symmetry of Octonion

With an assumption that in the Yang-Mills Lagrangian, a left-handed fermion and a right-handed fermion both expressed as the quaternion makes an octonion, and the gauge field can be treated as self-dual, we calculate the axial current and two vector currents triangle diagram of Bardeen, which yields the contribution of the axial anomaly. The octonion possesses the triality symmetry, and there are 5 symmetry operations G ij and G ijk (ijk = 123), in which mixing of spinors and vectors occur. G 23 does not mix vectors and spinors, but mismatch of the spinor and vector fields occurs. Hence, electro magnetic (EM) wave emitted from galaxies transformed by the five transformations would not be detected by EM detectors in our galaxy, and the source would be regarded as dark matter. The axial anomaly appears as a reflection of the symmetry of the matter field and not as a reflection of the symmetry of the pure vacuum, which is consistent with recent arguments on condensates and confinement.

Multiparticle extension of the higher spin algebra

Multiparticle extension of a higher spin algebra l is introduced as the Lie superalgebra associated with the universal enveloping algebra U(l). While conventional higher spin symmetry does not mix n-particle states with different n, multiparticle symmetries do so. Quotients of multiparticle algebras are considered, that act on the space of n-particle states with 0 ⩽ n ⩽ k analogous to the space of first k Regge trajectories of string theory. Original higher spin algebra is reproduced at k = 1. Full multiparticle algebras are conjectured to describe vacuum symmetries of string-like extensions of higher spin gauge theories. The relation of the multiparticle algebras with 3D current operator algebras is described. The central charge parameter, to be related to the parameter in AdS/CFT correspondence, enters via the definition of supertrace. Extension to higher p-brane-like symmetries is introduced inductively.

Planck-scale physics of vacuum in a strong magnetic field

It is widely believed that Lorentz symmetry of physical vacuum is broken near the Planck scale. Here we show that recently demonstrated "hyperbolic metamaterial" behaviour of vacuum in a strong magnetic field provides us with an interesting analogy of the Planck-scale physics. As demonstrated by Chernodub, strong magnetic field forces vacuum to develop real condensates of electrically charged \rho mesons, which form an anisotropic inhomogeneous superconducting state similar to Abrikosov vortex lattice. As far as electromagnetic field behaviour is concerned, this hyperbolic metamaterial state of vacuum exhibits effective 3D Lorentz symmetry, which is broken at small scale (large momenta) due to spatial dispersion. Thus, an effective Lorentz symmetry-violating "Planck scale" may be introduced. Near the critical magnetic field this effective "Planck scale" is much larger than the metamaterial periodicity defined by the \rho meson lattice. Similar to regular hyperbolic metamaterials, spatial dispersion of vacuum in a strong magnetic field leads to appearance of the "additional wave", which manifests itself as a "heavy" extraordinary photon with an effective mass ~2GeV.

Absolute Motion Determined from Michelson-Type Experiments in Optical Media

The symmetry of vacuum is characterized by the Lorentz group with the parameter c. Physical space inside the homogeneous optical medium should be described by the Lorentz group with the parameter c/n, where n is the refractive index of the medium. Violation of a one-parameter phenomenological symmetry in the discrete medium, such as gas, creates the opportunity for the experimental detecting of the motion of the optical medium relative to luminiferous aether.

Vacuum symmetries in brane-world models

We discuss the symmetries of vacuum configurations in stabilized five-dimensional brane-world models and their relation to the properties of solutions of the corresponding equations of motion. With the example of a model admitting the four-dimensional de Sitter metric on the branes, we show that the existence of such symmetries in some cases leads to a decrease in the number of fundamental parameters to be fine tuned.

Spontaneous violation of chiral symmetry in QCD vacuum is the origin of baryon masses and determines baryon magnetic moments and their other static properties

A short review is presented of the spontaneous violation of chiral symmetry in QCD vacuum. It is demonstrated, that this phenomenon is the origin of baryon masses in QCD. The value of nucleon mass is calculated as well as the masses of hyperons and some baryonic resonances and expressed mainly through the values of quark condensates -- $<0\mid \bar{q} q \mid 0>, ~q=u,d,s$ -- the vacuum expectation values (v.e.v.) of quark field. The concept of vacuum expectation values induced by external fields is introduced. It is demonstrated that such v.e.v. induced by static electromagnetic field results in quark condensate magnetic susceptibility, which plays the main role in determination of baryon magnetic moments. The magnetic moments of proton, neutron and hyperons are calculated. The results of calculation of baryon octet $\beta$-decay constants are also presented.

Effects of Nanoparticle Clustering on the Heat Transport in Nanofluids Through Fractal Theories

Considering that the motion of microphysical object takes place on continuous but non-differentiable curves, i.e. on fractals, effects of nanoparticle clustering on the heat transfer in nanofluids using the scale relativity theory in the topological dimension are analyzed. In the one-dimensional differentiable case, the clustering morphogenesis process is achieved by cnoidal oscillation modes of the speed field and a relation between the radius and growth speed of the cluster is obtained. In the non-differentiable case, the fractal kink spontaneously breaks the vacuum symmetry by tunneling and generates coherent structures. Since all the properties of the speed field are transferred to the thermal one and the fractal potential (fractal soliton) acts as an energy accumulator, for a certain condition of an external load (e.g. for a certain value of thermal gradient) the fractal soliton breaks down (blows up) and releases energy. As result, the thermal conductibility in nanofluids unexpectedly increases.

El Naschie’s ε(∞) theory and effects of nanoparticle clustering on the heat transport in nanofluids

Effects of nanoparticle clustering on the heat transfer in nanofluids using the scale relativity theory in the topological dimension D T = 3 are analyzed. In the one-dimensional differentiable case, the clustering morphogenesis process is achieved by cnoidal oscillation modes of the speed field. In such conjecture, a non-autonomous regime implies a relation between the radius and growth speed of the cluster while, a quasi-autonomous regime requires El Naschie’s ε (∞) theory through the cluster–cluster coherence ( El Naschie global coherence). Moreover, these two regimes are separated by the golden mean. In the one-dimensional non-differentiable case, the fractal kink spontaneously breaks the ‘vacuum symmetry’ of the fluid by tunneling and generates coherent structures. This mechanism is similar to the one of superconductivity. Thus, the fractal potential acts as an energy accumulator while, the fractal soliton, implies El Naschie’s ε (∞) theory ( El Naschie local coherence). Since all the properties of the speed field are transferred to the thermal one, for a certain conditions of an external load (e.g. for a certain value of thermal gradient) the soliton and fractal one breaks down (blows up) and release energy. As result, the thermal conductibility in nanofluids unexpectedly increases. Here, El Naschie’s ε (∞) theory interferes through El Naschie global and local coherences.