Detecting phase transitions in lattice gauge theories: Production and dissolution of topological defects in 4D compact electrodynamics
Abstract
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
Read the paper
Related studies
- Chaos and quantum thermalization
- The Dalton quantum chemistry program system
- Cord Blood Leptin and Adiponectin as Predictors of Adiposity in Children at 3 Years of Age: A Prospective Cohort Study
- Quantitative metabolomics by H-NMR and LC-MS/MS confirms altered metabolic pathways in diabetes
- Stable adiabatic quantum batteries
- A novel self-lipid antigen targets human T cells against CD1c(+) leukemias
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.