LATTICE QCD:ACHIEVEMENTS AND
CHALLENGES
Vicente Azcoiti
Universidad de Zaragoza
April 29, 2016
Outline
Historical remarks
Lattice formulation
Some relevant results
Quark confinement
Spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking
Lattice phenomenology
Finite Temperature
Higgs models
Outline
Challenges
Finite density QCD
-vacuum
Conclusions and Outlook
Historical remarks
Standard Model
SU(3) SU(2) U(1)
Electroweak Sector
SU(2) U(1)
Strong Sector
SU(3)
Historical remarks
Standard Model
SU(3) SU(2) U(1)
Electroweak Sector
SU(2) U(1)
Strong Sector
SU(3)
Asymptotic Freedom!
F. Wilczek, D. Gross, D. Politzer 1973 (2004 Nobel Prize)
Historical remarks
F. Wilczek
Quantum chromodynamics is conceptually simple. Its
realization in nature, however, is usually very complex. But
not always.
Historical remarks
F. Wilczek
Quantum chromodynamics is conceptually simple. Its
realization in nature, however, is usually very complex. But
not always.
Oscar Wilde
The truth is rarely pure and never simple.
Historical remarks
F. Wilczek
Quantum chromodynamics is conceptually simple. Its
realization in nature, however, is usually very complex. But
not always.
Oscar Wilde
The truth is rarely pure and never simple.
F. Wilczek
Id like to thank Murray Gell-Mann and Gerard tHooft for not
quite inventing everything, and so leaving us something to do.
And finally Id like to thank Mother Nature for her
extraordinarily good taste, which gave us such a beautiful and
powerful theory to discover.
Historical remarks
Non Perturbative Physics
Hadron spectroscopy
Spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking
Quark confinement
Chiral anomaly and Strong CP Problem
Finite temperature and baryon density
K.G. Wilson Phys. Rev. D10 2445 (1974), Lattice Formulation
M. Creutz Phys. Rev. D21 2308 (1980), Continuum Physics
Hystorical remarks
Historical remarks
M. Creutz Phys. Rev. Lett. 43 553 (1979), Quark Confinement
Historical remarks
M. Creutz Phys. Rev. Lett. 43 553 (1979), Quark Confinement
Lattice Formulation
Feynman Path Integral Quantization (1948)
Wick Rotation to Euclidean Space
Space-time Discretization
Quantum Mechanics: one-dimensional harmonic oscillator
1
2
Lm =
Sm =
(xb , tb ) =
2
dx
dt
Lm (x (t)) dt
1
2 x 2
2
dxa hxb |e ~ H(tb ta ) |xa i (xa , ta )
Lattice Formulation
i
Z = hxb |e ~ H(tb ta ) |xa i =
paths
e ~ Sm
Lattice Formulation
Euclidean time t = -i
1
Z = hxb |e ~ H(b a ) |xa i =
paths
L =
1
2
S =
dx
d
2
1
+ 2x 2
2
L ( ) d
a
e ~ S
Lattice Formulation
Lattice Formulation
Discretization rules
Z
X
i
dx
xi +1 xi
S =
1 X
X 2 2
(xi +1 xi )2 +
xi
2
2
i
Z =
+ Y
dxi e ~ S[x1 ,x2 ,......xN ]
Lattice Formulation
1
Z = hxb |e ~ H(b a ) |xa i
Periodic Boundary Conditions Partition Function
i
h
Z = tr e ~ NH()
H () = H + O () =
Z =
X
j=0
1 2
p + 2 x2 + O ()
2
e ~ NEj = e ~ NE0 1 +
X
j=1
e ~ N (Ej E0 )
Lattice Formulation
hxi xi +r ic
=
h0|x|kihk|x|0ie ~ r (Ek E0 )
k=1
=
Critical Point!
(E1 E0 )
Lattice Formulation
hxi xi +r ic
=
h0|x|kihk|x|0ie ~ r (Ek E0 )
k=1
(E1 E0 )
Critical Point!
Statistical Mechanics Quantum Theory
Hamiltonian Euclidean Action
T ~
Free Energy Density Vacuum Energy density
Correlation Length Inverse Mass Gap
Critical point ( ) Quantum Continuum Limit 0
Lattice Formulation
Quantum Field Theory: space-time lattice
Scalar Field
Gauge Field
Fermion Field
Scalar Field
Lm =
L =
m2 2
1
4
2
2
m2 2
1
+
+ 4
2
2
Derivatives Finite differences
Integral Sum
Lattice Formulation
S =
S =
Ld 4 x
X
m 2 a4 X
a2 X
( (n + ) (n))2 +
(n)2 + a4
(n)4
2 n,
2
n
n
Lattice Formulation
S =
S =
Ld 4 x
X
m 2 a4 X
a2 X
( (n + ) (n))2 +
(n)2 + a4
(n)4
2 n,
2
n
n
Lattice Formulation
Z =
Z Y
n
d(n)e
~1
a2
2
n, ((n+)(n))
2 4
+ m 2a
(n)2 +a4
(n)4
Lattice Formulation
Gauge Field
Formulation based on the use of the gauge group variables
Upath (A, B) = e i g
path
b Ab dx
Lattice Formulation
Gauge Field
Formulation based on the use of the gauge group variables
Upath (A, B) = e i g
path
b Ab dx
Elementary string
1
U (n) = e i 2 g ab A (n)
Lattice Formulation
Lattice pure gauge action
SG (U) =
n,,
tr U (n) U (n + ) U+ (n + ) U+ (n) + c.c.
1
g2
Fermion Field
A
SF , ,
Nf Z
X
f =1
dx 4 f (x) ( + iA (x)) + mf f (x)
8
A (x) =
1X b
A (x) b
2
b=1
Lattice Formulation
SF
U
, ,
Nf
X
a4
f (n) nm f (m)
n,m
f =1
4
m+
a
X
(n) (n)
X
4
m+
(n) (1 ) U (n) (n + )
a
n,
X
4
(n + ) (1 + ) U+ (n) (n)
m+
a
n,
=
1
8 + 2ma
Lattice Formulation
Z =
Z Y
d (n) d (n) dU (n)e SF (,,U )SG (U)
n,
Z =
Z Y
dU (n) det (U) e SG (U)
n,
Quark propagators in a background gauge field
h (m) (n)iU
= 1
nm
Lattice Formulation
Partition Function Path Integral
Mean Value Vacuum Expectation Value
Low Temperature Expansion Weak Coupling Expansion
High Temperature Expansion Strong Coupling
Expansion
Lattice Formulation
Partition Function Path Integral
Mean Value Vacuum Expectation Value
Low Temperature Expansion Weak Coupling Expansion
High Temperature Expansion Strong Coupling
Expansion
Numerical Monte Carlo Simulations!
Lattice Formulation
Partition Function Path Integral
Mean Value Vacuum Expectation Value
Low Temperature Expansion Weak Coupling Expansion
High Temperature Expansion Strong Coupling
Expansion
Numerical Monte Carlo Simulations!
Quantum Continuum Limit Renormalization
Some relevant results
Quark confinement
K.G. Wilson Phys. Rev. D10 2445 (1974)
Wilson loop (Wilson-Wegner loop)
W C (U) = tr
(n,)C
U (n)
Some relevant results
Quark confinement
Static quarks
hW C i =
RQ
dU (m)W C (U) e SG (U)
RQ
SG (U)
m, dU (m)e
m,
Fixing the temporal gauge and T
hW R,T i e V (R)T
V (R) Energy of a quark-antiquark pair at distance R
Area low! for large Wilson loops V (R) = cR
M. Creutz Phys. Rev. Lett. 43 553 (1979)
Some relevant results
Spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking
SCSB plays a fundamental role in QCD:
Pions have unexpectedly small masses
We do not see degenerate masses for parity partners in the
baryon sector
One flavor case U(1)A
= e i 5
= e i 5
= e i 25
Several flavors SU(N)A U(1)A
5T
= e i
= e i 5
5T
= e i
= e i 5
Some relevant results
Spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking
Order Parameter hi
STRONG analytical (strong coupling and 1/d expansions) and
numerical evidence for SCSB
Difficulties:
Wilson Fermions break explicitely CS
Staggered Kogut-Susskind fermions, Ginsparg-Wilson fermions
Grassmann variables can not be simulated in a computer
V. Azcoiti, A. Cruz, E. Dagotto, A. Moreo, A. Lugo Phys.
Lett. B175 202 (1986)
SCSB in strongly coupled compact QED
T. Banks, A. Casher Nucl. Phys. B169 103 (1980)
= (0)
hi
V. Azcoiti, V. Laliena, X.Q. Luo Phys. Lett. B354 111
(1995)
Computation of the p.d.f . of hi
Some relevant results
Lattice phenomenology
Quenched approximation neglects the contribution of internal
quark loops
Some relevant results
Lattice phenomenology
Quenched approximation neglects the contribution of internal
quark loops
Full two-color QCD with dynamical fermions, mass
splitting
V. Azcoiti, A. Nakamura Phys. Rev. D27 (RC) 2559 (1983)
Full three-color QCD with dynamical fermions
H.W. Hamber Nucl. Phys. B251 [FS13] 182 (1985)
Some relevant results
Lattice phenomenology
Quenched approximation neglects the contribution of internal
quark loops
Full two-color QCD with dynamical fermions, mass
splitting
V. Azcoiti, A. Nakamura Phys. Rev. D27 (RC) 2559 (1983)
Full three-color QCD with dynamical fermions
H.W. Hamber Nucl. Phys. B251 [FS13] 182 (1985)
Some relevant results
Lattice phenomenology
S. Durr et al., Science 322 1224 (2008)
Some relevant results
Finite Temperature
Partition function of a quantum system in a heat bath with
temperature T
h 1 i
Z (T ) = tr e T H
Transfer Matrix at Euclidean time = N
h
i
Z ( ) = tr e aNH
Z (T ) = Z ( ) = 1
Some relevant results
Finite Temperature
Full QCD with dynamical fermions Polyakov loop is not an order
parameter for the deconfining phase transition
Some relevant results
Finite Temperature
Full QCD with dynamical fermions Polyakov loop is not an order
parameter for the deconfining phase transition
Some relevant results
Higgs models
One more field were the non-perturbative approach of lattice field
theory has been successfully applied is the study of gauge-Higgs
models. The analysis of the phase diagram, critical points and of
the stability of classical topologically non trivial configurations
under quantum fluctuations are some examples
Some relevant results
Higgs models
One more field were the non-perturbative approach of lattice field
theory has been successfully applied is the study of gauge-Higgs
models. The analysis of the phase diagram, critical points and of
the stability of classical topologically non trivial configurations
under quantum fluctuations are some examples
Magnetic Monopole Excitations in the Georgi-Glashow Model
V. Azcoiti, A. Cruz, G. Di Carlo, A.F. Grillo, A. Tarancon
Europhys. Lett. 9 (1) 23 (1989)
Some relevant results
Higgs models
One more field were the non-perturbative approach of lattice field
theory has been successfully applied is the study of gauge-Higgs
models. The analysis of the phase diagram, critical points and of
the stability of classical topologically non trivial configurations
under quantum fluctuations are some examples
Magnetic Monopole Excitations in the Georgi-Glashow Model
V. Azcoiti, A. Cruz, G. Di Carlo, A.F. Grillo, A. Tarancon
Europhys. Lett. 9 (1) 23 (1989)
Stability of the Nielsen-Olesen vortices in the U(1)-Higgs
model under quantum fluctuations
V. Azcoiti, J.L. Cort
es, G. Di Carlo, A.F. Grillo, A.
Tarancon Z. Phys. C 47 247 (1990)
Some relevant results
Higgs models
One more field were the non-perturbative approach of lattice field
theory has been successfully applied is the study of gauge-Higgs
models. The analysis of the phase diagram, critical points and of
the stability of classical topologically non trivial configurations
under quantum fluctuations are some examples
Magnetic Monopole Excitations in the Georgi-Glashow Model
V. Azcoiti, A. Cruz, G. Di Carlo, A.F. Grillo, A. Tarancon
Europhys. Lett. 9 (1) 23 (1989)
Stability of the Nielsen-Olesen vortices in the U(1)-Higgs
model under quantum fluctuations
V. Azcoiti, J.L. Cort
es, G. Di Carlo, A.F. Grillo, A.
Tarancon Z. Phys. C 47 247 (1990)
Some relevant results
Higgs models
Critical behavior of the U(1)-Higgs model in the
confining-Higgs region
J.L. Alonso, V. Azcoiti, I. Campos, J.C. Ciria, A. Cruz,
D. I
niguez, F. Lesmes, C. Piedrafita, A. Rivero, A.
Tarancon, D. Badoni, L.A. Fernandez, A. Mu
noz-Sudupe,
J.J. Ruiz-Lorenzo, A. Gonzalez-Arroyo, P. Martinez, J.
Pech, P. Tellez Nucl. Phys. B405 574 (1993)
Some relevant results
Higgs models
Critical behavior of the U(1)-Higgs model in the
confining-Higgs region
J.L. Alonso, V. Azcoiti, I. Campos, J.C. Ciria, A. Cruz,
D. I
niguez, F. Lesmes, C. Piedrafita, A. Rivero, A.
Tarancon, D. Badoni, L.A. Fernandez, A. Mu
noz-Sudupe,
J.J. Ruiz-Lorenzo, A. Gonzalez-Arroyo, P. Martinez, J.
Pech, P. Tellez Nucl. Phys. B405 574 (1993)
BSM physics: composite Higgs as an alternate explanation to
the elementary scalar Higgs in the SM description. Strongly
coupled gauge theories
A. Kocic, J.B. Kogut, K.C. Wang Nucl. Phys. B398 405
(1993)
V. Azcoiti, G. Di Carlo, A. Galante, A.F. Grillo, V.
Laliena, C.E. Piedrafita Phys. Lett. B379 179 (1996).
T. Appelquist, G.T. Fleming, E.T. Neil Phys. Rev. Lett.
100 171607 (2008).
Challenges
Feynman path integral quantization + Euclidean formulation
Z =
S (, m, g , a) Real number!
[d] e S(,m,g ,a)
Challenges
Feynman path integral quantization + Euclidean formulation
Z =
[d] e S(,m,g ,a)
S (, m, g , a) Real number!
QCD
Z =
d [d] [dU] e (U)SPG (U)
Challenges
Feynman path integral quantization + Euclidean formulation
Z
Z =
[d] e S(,m,g ,a)
S (, m, g , a) Real number!
QCD
Z =
Z =
d [d] [dU] e (U)SPG (U)
Z
[d U] e log det (U)SPG (U)
Challenges
The Boltzmann factor S (, m, g , a) defines a good Probability
Distribution Function in field configuration space
Challenges
The Boltzmann factor S (, m, g , a) defines a good Probability
Distribution Function in field configuration space
Numerical simulations based in importance sampling work very well
Challenges
The Boltzmann factor S (, m, g , a) defines a good Probability
Distribution Function in field configuration space
Numerical simulations based in importance sampling work very well
Is S (, m, g , a) always a real number?
Challenges
The Boltzmann factor S (, m, g , a) defines a good Probability
Distribution Function in field configuration space
Numerical simulations based in importance sampling work very well
Is S (, m, g , a) always a real number?
UNFORTUNATELY NO
Finite Density QCD
Topological Actions: -Vacuum, the Strong CP Problem and
axion physics
Challenges
Finite Density QCD
LHC (CERN) and RHIC (BNL) Heavy Ion Collision Experiments:
test for new matter phases
Challenges
Finite Density QCD
LHC (CERN) and RHIC (BNL) Heavy Ion Collision Experiments:
test for new matter phases
Challenges
Finite Density QCD
Standard way of introducing a chemical potential coupled to the
baryon number operator:
U4 (n)
e U4 (n)
U4+ (n)
e U4+ (n)
Challenges
Finite Density QCD
Standard way of introducing a chemical potential coupled to the
baryon number operator:
U4 (n)
e U4 (n)
U4+ (n)
e U4+ (n)
The fermion determinant det (m, a, , U) which appears in the
path integral integration measure becomes complex!
Severe Sign Problem: standard numerical simulation methods
based on the importance sampling do not work
Challenges
Finite Density QCD
Two color QCD (SU(2)) gauge group: NO SIGN PROBLEM
Challenges
Finite Density QCD
Two color QCD (SU(2)) gauge group: NO SIGN PROBLEM
R. Aloisio, V. Azcoiti, G. Di Carlo, A. Galante, A.F. Grillo
Nucl. Phys. B606 322 (2001)
Challenges
Finite Density QCD
Three color QCD:
Reweighting (restricted to small values of the chemical
potential )
Taylor series expansion (restricted to small values of the
chemical potential )
Analytical extensions
Challenges
Finite Density QCD
V. Azcoiti, G. Di Carlo, A. Galante, V. Laliena Nucl. Phys.
B723 77 (2005)
Challenges
-vacuum
Since mu and md are much smaller than the dynamical QCD
scale QCD , the QCD Lagrangian has an approximate U(2)A
symmetry. SCSB implies 4 near Nambu-Goldstone bosons.
But m m !
The U(1)A anomaly solves the problem but generates the
Strong CP problem: extra-term in the QCD Lagrangian
L =
trF F
16 2
Challenges
-vacuum
Since mu and md are much smaller than the dynamical QCD
scale QCD , the QCD Lagrangian has an approximate U(2)A
symmetry. SCSB implies 4 near Nambu-Goldstone bosons.
But m m !
The U(1)A anomaly solves the problem but generates the
Strong CP problem: extra-term in the QCD Lagrangian
L =
trF F
16 2
In Condensed Mater Physics chains of half-integer quantum
spins with antiferromagnetic interactions are related to the
O(3) non-linear sigma model with topological term at =:
Haldane conjecture
Challenges
-vacuum
First attempts to simulate Quantum Sytems with a Topological
-term: flattening behavior in the vacuum energy density as an
artifact of the simulation method.
G. Schierholz Nucl. Phys. B (Proc. Suppl.) 42 270 (1995)
J.C. Plefka, S. Samuel Phys. Rev. D56 44 (1997)
M. Imachi, S. Kanou, H. Yoneyama Prog. Theor. Phys.
102 653 (1999)
Challenges
-vacuum
First attempts to simulate Quantum Sytems with a Topological
-term: flattening behavior in the vacuum energy density as an
artifact of the simulation method.
G. Schierholz Nucl. Phys. B (Proc. Suppl.) 42 270 (1995)
J.C. Plefka, S. Samuel Phys. Rev. D56 44 (1997)
M. Imachi, S. Kanou, H. Yoneyama Prog. Theor. Phys.
102 653 (1999)
Challenges
-vacuum
V. Azcoiti, G. Di Carlo, A. Galante, V. Laliena Phys. Rev.
Lett. 89 141601 (2002)
V. Azcoiti, G. Di Carlo, A. Galante, V. Laliena Phys.
Lett. B563 117 (2003)
Challenges
-vacuum
V. Azcoiti, G. Di Carlo, A. Galante, V. Laliena Phys. Rev.
Lett. 89 141601 (2002)
V. Azcoiti, G. Di Carlo, A. Galante, V. Laliena Phys.
Lett. B563 117 (2003)
Challenges
-vacuum
V. Azcoiti, G. Di Carlo, A. Galante, V. Laliena Phys. Rev.
D69 056006 (2004)
V. Azcoiti, G. Di Carlo, A. Galante Phys. Rev. Lett. 98
257203 (2007)
V. Azcoiti, G. Di Carlo, E. Follana, M. Giordano Phys.
Rev. D86 096009 (2012)
Challenges
-vacuum
V. Azcoiti, G. Di Carlo, A. Galante, V. Laliena Phys. Rev.
D69 056006 (2004)
V. Azcoiti, G. Di Carlo, A. Galante Phys. Rev. Lett. 98
257203 (2007)
V. Azcoiti, G. Di Carlo, E. Follana, M. Giordano Phys.
Rev. D86 096009 (2012)
Conclusions and Outlook
Lattice Field Theory is the most powerful non perturbative
approach to Quantum Field Theory
It is free from mathematical ambiguities: the path integral is
well defined and the Theory is regularized to all orders in
perturbation theory
It has become a fundamental field in the High Energy Physics
world
Much progress has been reached during the 40 years of life of
the field
But still much to do
Solve the two big challenges:
Finite density QCD
QCD with a -vacuum term
Conclusions and Outlook
Lattice Field Theory is the most powerful non perturbative
approach to Quantum Field Theory
It is free from mathematical ambiguities: the path integral is
well defined and the Theory is regularized to all orders in
perturbation theory
It has become a fundamental field in the High Energy Physics
world
Much progress has been reached during the 40 years of life of
the field
But still much to do
Solve the two big challenges:
Finite density QCD
QCD with a -vacuum term
Thank you for your attention
