Apparently non-invariant terms (ANTs) which appear in loop diagrams for nonlinear sigma models (NLSs) are revisited in lattice perturbation theory. The calculations have been done mostly with dimensional regularization so far. In order to establish that the existence of ANTs is independent of the regularization scheme, and of the potential ambiguities in the definition of the Jacobian of the change of integration variables from group elements to "pion" fields, we employ lattice regularization, in which everything (including the Jacobian) is well-defined. We show explicitly that lattice perturbation theory produces ANTs in the four-point functions of the "pion" fields at one-loop and the Jacobian does not play an important role in generating ANTs.
We show how the Apparently Noninvariant Terms (ANTs), which emerge in perturbation theory of nonlinear sigma models, are consistent with the nonlinearly realized symmetry by employing the Ward-Takahashi identity (in the form of an inhomogeneous Zinn-Justin equation). In the literature the discussions on ANTs are confined to the SU(2) case. We generalize them to the U(N) case and demonstrate explicitly at the one-loop level that despite the presence of divergent ANTs in the effective action of the "pions", the symmetry is preserved.
The off-shell dynamics of the O(3) nonlinear sigma-model is probed in terms of spectral densities and two-point functions by means of the form factor approach. The exact form factors of the Spin field, Noether-current, EM-tensor and the topological charge density are computed up to 6-particles. The corresponding $n\leq 6$ particle spectral densities are used to compute the two-point functions, and are argued to deviate at most a few per mille from the exact answer in the entire energy range below 10^3 in units of the mass gap. To cover yet higher energies we propose an extrapolation scheme to …
We introduce and study conformal field theories specified by $W-$algebras commuting with certain set of screening charges. These CFT's possess perturbations which define integrable QFT's. We establish that these QFT's have local and non-local Integrals of Motion and admit the perturbation theory in the weak coupling region. We construct factorized scattering theory which is consistent with non-local Integrals of Motion and perturbation theory. In the strong coupling limit the $S-$matrix of this QFT tends to the scattering matrix of the $O(N)$ sigma model. The perturbation theory, Bethe anzatz …
We construct a perturbation theory for the SU(2) non-linear Sigma-model in 2+1 dimensions using a polynomial, first-order formulation, where the variables are a non-Abelian vector field L_mu (the left SU(2) current), and a non-Abelian pseudovector field $θ_μ$, which imposes the condition F_{mu nu}(L) = 0. The coordinates on the group do not appear in the Feynman rules, but their scattering amplitudes are easily related to those of the currents. We show that all the infinities affecting physical amplitudes at one-loop order can be cured by normal ordering, presenting the calculation of the full…
We explore the O(N)-invariant Non-Linear Sigma Model (NLSM) in a different perturbative regime from the usual relativistic-free-field one, by using non-canonical basic commutation relations adapted to the underlying O(N) symmetry of the system, which also account for the non-trivial (non-flat) geometry and topology of the target manifold.
We compare results from the Polyakov linear-sigma model (PLSM) in optimized perturbation theory (OPT) with the mean-field approximation (MFA). At finite temperatures and chemical potentials, the chiral condensates and the decofinement order parameters, the thermodynamic pressure, the pseudo-critical temperatures, the subtracted condensates, the second- and high-order moments of various conserved charges (cumulants) obtained in MFA are compared with OPT and also confronted to available lattice QCD simulations. We conclude that when moving from lower- to higher-order moments of various quantum c…
We compare Chiral Perturbation Theory (ChPT) and the Linear Sigma Model (LSM) as realizations of low energy QCD for light mesons in a chirally imbalanced medium. The relations between the low-energy constants of the Chiral Lagrangian and the corresponding constants of the Linear Sigma Model are established as well as the expressions for the decay constant of the $π$-meson in the medium and the mass of the $a_0$. In the large $N_c$ count taken from QCD the correspondence of ChPT and LSM is remarkably good and give a solid ground for search of chiral imbalance manifestation in pion physics. A po…
Recently it has been claimed that ordinary perturbation theory (OPT) gives incorrect weak coupling expansions for lattice O(N) non-linear sigma models in the infinite volume limit, and in particular that the two-dimensional non-abelian models are not asymptotically free, contrary to previous findings. Here it is argued that the problem occurs only for one-dimensional infinite lattices, and that in general, OPT gives correct expansions if physical quantities are first computed on a finite lattice, and the infinite volume limit is taken at the end. In one dimension the expansion is sensitive to …
We extend our analysis in [arXiv:0801.4782] and show that the chiral algebras of (0,2) sigma models are totally trivialized by worldsheet instantons for all complete flag manifolds of compact semisimple Lie groups. Consequently, supersymmetry is spontaneously broken. Our results verify Stolz's idea that there are no harmonic spinors on the loop spaces of these flag manifolds. Moreover, they also imply that the kernels of certain twisted Dirac operators on these spaces will be empty under a "quantum" deformation of their geometries.
We establish from first principles a perturbative framework that allows us to compute reaction rates for processes taking place in nonequilibrium $O (N)$ linear-sigma systems in broken phase. The system of our concern is quasiuniform system near equilibrium or nonequilibrium quasistationary system. We employ the closed-time-path formalism and use the so-called gradient approximation. No further approximation is introduced. In the course of construction of the framework, we obtain the gap equation that determines the effective masses of $π$ and of $σ$, and the generalized Boltzmann equation tha…
We discuss a new type of unitary perturbations around conformal theories inspired by the $σ$-model perturbation of the nonunitary WZNW model. We show that the nonunitary level $k$ WZNW model perturbed by its sigma model term goes to the unitary level $-k$ WZNW model. When plugged into the gauged WZNW model the given perturbation results in the perturbed gauged WZNW model which no longer describes a coset construction. We consider the BRST invariant generalization of the sigma model perturbation around the gauged WZNW model. In this way we obtain perturbed coset constructions. In the case of th…
We discuss special perturbations of the gauged level $k$ WZNW model inspired by the $σ$-model perturbation of the nonunitary WZNW model. In the large $k$ limit there is a second conformal point in the vicinity of the ultarviolet fixed point. At the second critical point the conformal model has a rational Virasoro central charge which no longer corresponds to a coset construction. In spite of this fact the perturbative conformal model appears to be a unitary system as long as the underlying coset construction at the ultraviolet critical point is unitary.
It is known that the gauge field and its composite operators evolved by the Yang--Mills gradient flow are ultraviolet (UV) finite without any multiplicative wave function renormalization. In this paper, we prove that the gradient flow in the 2D $O(N)$ non-linear sigma model possesses a similar property: The flowed $N$-vector field and its composite operators are UV finite without multiplicative wave function renormalization. Our proof in all orders of perturbation theory uses a $(2+1)$-dimensional field theoretical representation of the gradient flow, which possesses local gauge invariance wit…
In the context of Stueckelberg's covariant symplectic mechanics, Horwitz and Aharonovich have proposed a simple mechanism by which a particle traveling below light speed almost everywhere may exhibit a transit time that suggests superluminal motion. This mechanism, which requires precise measurement of the particle velocity, involves a subtle perturbation affecting the particle's recorded time coordinate caused by virtual pair processes. The Stueckelberg framework is particularly well suited to such problems, because it permits pair creation/annihilation at the classical level. In this paper, …
Nonlinear integral equations are proposed for the description of the full finite size spectrum of the 2-dimensional O(3) nonlinear sigma-model in a periodic box. Numerical results for the energy eigenvalues are compared to the rotator spectrum and perturbation theory for small volumes and with the recently proposed generalized Luscher formulas at large volumes.
In general, perturbative expansions of observables in powers of the coupling constant in quantum field theories are asymptotic series. In many cases it is possible to apply resummation techniques to assign a unique finite value to an asymptotic series, but a particular pattern of divergence, the so-called renormalon, gives rise to non-perturbative ambiguities. The framework of Numerical Stochastic Perturbation Theory (NSPT), based on stochastic quantisation and the perturbative expansion of lattice fields, makes it possible to compute coefficients of perturbative series on the lattice. In this…
The O(3) sigma model in two spatial dimensions admits topological (Bogomol'nyi) lower bound on its energy. This paper proposes a lattice version of this system which maintains the Bogomol'nyi bound and allows the explicit construction of static solitons on the lattice. Numerical simulations show that these lattice solitons are unstable undersmall perturbations; in fact, their size changes linearly with time.
We explore the nonperturbative aspects of the chiral algebras of N = (0,2) sigma models, which perturbatively are intimately related to the theory of chiral differential operators (CDOs). The grading by charge and scaling dimension is anomalous if the first Chern class of the target space is nonzero. This has some nontrivial consequences for the chiral algebra. As an example, we study the case where the target space is CP^1, and show that worldsheet instantons trivialize the chiral algebra entirely. Consequently, supersymmetry is spontaneously broken in this model. We then turn to a closer loo…
We study Yang Mills theory in 2+1 dimensions, as an array of coupled (1+1)-dimensional principal chiral sigma models. This can be understood as an anisotropic limit where one of the space-time dimensions is discrete and the others are continuous. The $SU(N)\times SU(N)$ principal chiral sigma model in 1+1 dimensions is integrable, asymptotically free and has massive excitations. New exact form factors and correlation functions of the sigma model have recently been found by the author and P. Orland. In this paper, we use these new results to calculate physical quantities in (2+1)-dimensional Ya…
By using the results of a high-statistics (O(10^7) measurements) Monte Carlo simulation we test several predictions of perturbation theory on the O(n) non-linear sigma-model in 2 dimensions. We study the O(3) and O(8) models on large enough lattices to have a good control on finite-size effects. The magnetic susceptibility and three different definitions of the correlation length are measured. We check our results with large-n expansions as well as with standard formulae for asymptotic freedom up to 4 loops in the standard and effective schemes. For this purpose the weak coupling expansions of…
We propose TBA integral equations for 1-particle states in the O(n) non-linear sigma-model for even n. The equations are conjectured on the basis of the analytic properties of the large volume asymptotics of the problem, which is explicitly constructed starting from Luscher's asymptotic formula. For small volumes the mass gap values computed numerically from the TBA equations agree very well with results of three-loop perturbation theory calculations, providing support for the validity of the proposed TBA system.
Tseytlin has recently proposed that an action functional exists whose gradient generates to all orders in perturbation theory the Renormalization Group (RG) flow of the target space metric in the worldsheet sigma model. The gradient is defined with respect to a metric on the space of coupling constants which is explicitly known only to leading order in perturbation theory, but at that order is positive semi-definite, as follows from Perelman's work on the Ricci flow. This gives rise to a monotonicity formula for the flow which is expected to fail only if the beta function perturbation series f…
We calculate the beta-functions of the general massive (p,q) supersymmetric sigma model to two loop order using (1,0) superfields. The conditions for finiteness are discussed in relation to (p,q) supersymmetry. We also calculate the effective potential using component fields to one loop order and consider the possibility of perturbative breaking of supersymmetry. The effect of one loop finite local counter terms and the ultra-violet behaviour of the off-shell (p,q) models to all orders in perturbation theory are also addressed.
We investigate structure functions in the 2-dimensional (asymptotically free) non-linear O(n) sigma-models using the non-perturbative S-matrix bootstrap program. In particular the exact small (Bjorken) x behavior is derived. Structure functions in the special case of the n=3 model are accurately computed over the whole x range for $-q^2/M^2<10^5$, and some moments are compared with results from renormalized perturbation theory. Some results concerning the structure functions in the 1/n approximation are also presented.
In this note we explore the possible marginal deformations of general (0,2) non-linear sigma-models, which arise as descriptions of the weakly-coupled (large radius) limits of four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}= 1$ compactifications of the heterotic string, to lowest order in $α'$ and first order in conformal perturbation theory. The results shed light from the world-sheet perspective on the classical moduli space of such compactifications. This is a contribution to the proceedings of String-Math 2012.
We study the effect of primordial isocurvature perturbations on non-Gaussian properties of CMB temperature anisotropies. We consider generic forms of the non-linearity of isocurvature perturbations which can be applied to a wide range of theoretical models. We derive analytical expressions for the bispectrum and the Minkowski Functionals for CMB temperature fluctuations to describe the non-Gaussianity from isocurvature perturbations. We find that the isocurvature non-Gaussianity in the quadratic isocurvature model, where the isocurvature perturbation S is written as a quadratic function of the…
Based on the strong coupling expansion, we reinvestigate two dimensional O(N) sigma model by the use of Pade-Borel approximants. The conventional strong coupling expansion of the mass square M in momentum space in beta=1/g^2 is inverted to give beta expanded in 1/M. Borel transform of beta with respect to M is carried out and the result is improved as the rational function by Pade method. We find the behavior of Pade-Borel transformed bare coupling at 18th order is consistent for N>=3 with that of continuum scaling to the four-loop perturbation theory. We estimate non-perturbative mass gap at …
Form Factor Perturbation Theory is applied to study the spectrum of the O(3) non--linear sigma model with the topological term in the vicinity of $θ= π$. Its effective action near this value is given by the non--integrable double Sine--Gordon model. Using previous results by Affleck and the explicit expressions of the Form Factors of the exponential operators $e^{\pm i\sqrt{8π} ϕ(x)}$, we show that the spectrum consists of a stable triplet of massive particles for all values of $θ$ and a singlet state of higher mass. The singlet is a stable particle only in an interval of values of $θ$ close t…
In this thesis we investigate quantum aspects of the Green-Schwarz superstring in various AdS backgrounds relevant for the AdS/CFT correspondence, providing several examples of perturbative computations in the corresponding integrable sigma-models. We start by reviewing in details the supercoset construction of the superstring action in $AdS_5 \times S^5$, pointing out the limits of this procedure for $AdS_4$ and $AdS_3$ backgrounds. For the $AdS_4 \times CP^3$ case we give a thorough derivation of an alternative action, based on the double-dimensional reduction of eleven-dimensional super-mem…
We study duality transformations for two-dimensional sigma models with abelian chiral isometries and prove that generic such transformations are equivalent to integrated marginal perturbations by bilinears in the chiral currents, thus confirming a recent conjecture by Hassan and Sen formulated in the context of Wess-Zumino-Witten models. Specific duality transformations instead give rise to coset models plus free bosons.
The most general four-dimensional non-linear sigma-model, having the second-order derivatives only and interacting with a background metric and an antisymmetric tensor field, is constructed. Despite its apparent non-renormalizability, just imposing the one-loop UV-finiteness conditions determines the unique model, which may be finite to all orders of the quantum perturbation theory. This model is known as the four-dimensional Donaldson-Nair-Schiff theory, which is a four-dimensional analogue of the standard two-dimensional Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten model, and whose unique finiteness propertie…
The problem of quantum equivalence between non-linear sigma models related by Abelian or non-Abelian T-duality is studied in perturbation theory. Using the anomalous Ward identity for Weyl symmetry we derive a relation between the Weyl anomaly coefficients of the original and dual theories. The analysis is not restricted to conformally invariant backgrounds. The formalism is applied to the study of two examples. The first is a model based on SU(2) non-Abelian T duality. The second represents a simple realization of Poisson-Lie T duality involving the Drinfeld double based on SU(2). In both cas…
We study the two loop quantum equivalence of sigma models related by Buscher's T-duality transformation. The computation of the two loop perturbative free energy density is performed in the case of a certain deformation of the SU(2) principal sigma model, and its T-dual, using dimensional regularization and the geometric sigma model perturbation theory. We obtain agreement between the free energy density expressions of the two models.
The WZNW model at the Witten conformal point is perturbed by the sigma model term. It is shown that in the large level k limit the perturbed WZNW system with negative k arrives at the WZNW model with positive k.
Coupling constant renormalization is investigated in 2 dimensional sigma models related by non Abelian duality transformations. In this respect it is shown that in the one loop order of perturbation theory the duals of a one parameter family of models, interpolating between the SU(2) principal model and the O(3) sigma model, exhibit the same behaviour as the original models. For the O(3) model also the two loop equivalence is investigated, and is found to be broken just like in the already known example of the principal model.
We show that the massive Yang--Mills action having as a mass term the non-local operator introduced by Gubarov, Stodolsky, and Zakharov is classically equivalent to a principal gauged sigma model. The non-local mass corresponds to the topological term of the sigma model. The latter is obtained once the degrees of freedom implicitly generated in the non-local action are explicitly implemented as group elements. The non-local action is recovered by integrating out these group elements. In contrast to the usual gauge-fixed treatment, the sigma model point of view provides a safe framework in whic…
I investigate the Poisson-sigma model on the classical and quantum level. First I show how the interaction can be obtained by a deformation of the classical master equation of an Abelian BF theory in two dimensions. On the classical level this model includes various known two-dimensional field theories, in particular the Yang-Mills theory. On the quantum level the perturbation expansion of the path integral in the covariant gauge yields the Kontsevich deformation formula. Finally I perform the calculation of the path integral in a general gauge, and demonstrate how the derived partition functi…
We investigate some properties of the standard rotator approximation of the SU$(N)\times\,$SU$(N)$ sigma-model in the delta-regime. In particular we show that the isospin susceptibility calculated in this framework agrees with that computed by chiral perturbation theory up to next-to-next to leading order in the limit $\ell=L_t/L\to\infty\,.$ The difference between the results involves terms vanishing like $1/\ell\,,$ plus terms vanishing exponentially with $\ell\,$. As we have previously shown for the O($n$) model, this deviation can be described by a correction to the rotator spectrum propor…
Coupling of `t Hooft's determinant term is investigated in the framework of the three flavor linear sigma model as a function of the chiral condensate. Using perturbation theory around the minimum point of the effective action, we calculate the renormalization group flow of the first field dependent correction to the coupling of the conventional U_A(1) breaking determinant term. It is found that at low temperatures mesonic fluctuations make the anomaly increase when the chiral condensate decreases. As an application, we analyze the effect at the zero temperature nuclear liquid-gas transition.
We consider two dimensional non linear sigma models on few symmetric superspaces, which are supergroup manifolds of coset type. For those spaces where one loop beta function vanishes, two loop beta function is calculated and is shown to be zero. Vanishing of beta function in all orders of perturbation theory is shown for the principal chiral models on group supermanifolds with zero Killing form. Sigma models on symmetric (super) spaces on supergroup manifold $G/H$ are known to be classically integrable. We investigate a possibility to extend an argument of absence of quantum anomalies in non l…
We study the integer quantum Hall plateau transition using composite fermion mean-field theory. We show that the topological $θ= π$ term in the associated nonlinear sigma model [P. Kumar et al., Phys. Rev. B 100, 235124 (2019)] is stable against a certain particle-hole symmetry violating perturbation, parameterized by the composite fermion effective mass. This result, which applies to both the Halperin, Lee, and Read and Dirac composite fermion theories, represents an emergent particle-hole symmetry. For a disorder ensemble without particle-hole symmetry, we find that $θ$ can vary continuously…
We adress ourselves the question of the quantum equivalence of non abelian dualised $\si$-models on the simple example of the T-dualised $SU(2) \si$-model. This theory is classically canonically equivalent to the standard chiral $SU(2) \si$-model. It is known that the equivalence also holds at the first order in perturbations with the same $\be$ functions. However, this model has been claimed to be non-renormalisable at the two-loop order. The aim of the present work is the proof that it is - at least up to this order - still possible to define a correct quantum theory. Its target space metric…
Quantum Yangian symmetry in several sigma models with supergroup or supercoset as target is established. Starting with a two-dimensional conformal field theory that has current symmetry of a Lie superalgebra with vanishing Killing form we construct non-local charges and compute their properties. Yangian axioms are satisfied, except that the Serre relations only hold for a subsector of the space of fields. Yangian symmetry implies that correlation functions of fields in this sector satisfy Ward identities. We then show that this symmetry is preserved by certain perturbations of the conformal fi…
The perturbative approach to nonlinear Sigma models and the associated renormalization group flow are discussed within the framework of Euclidean algebraic quantum field theory and of the principle of general local covariance. In particular we show in an Euclidean setting how to define Wick ordered powers of the underlying quantum fields and we classify the freedom in such procedure by extending to this setting a recent construction of Khavkine, Melati and Moretti for vector valued free fields. As a by-product of such classification, we prove that, at first order in perturbation theory, the re…
We present a new formulation of the theory of an arbitrary quantum impurity in an antiferromagnet, using the O(3) non-linear sigma model. We obtain the low temperature expansion for the impurity spin susceptibilities of antiferromagnets with magnetic long-range order in the ground state. We also consider the bulk quantum phase transition in d=2 to the gapped paramagnet (d is the spatial dimension): the impurity is described solely by a topological Berry phase term which is an exactly marginal perturbation to the critical theory. The physical properties of the quantum impurity near criticality …
Double Field Theory provides a geometric framework capable of describing string theory backgrounds that cannot be understood purely in terms of Riemannian geometry -- not only globally (`non-geometry'), but even locally (`non-Riemannian'). In this work, we show that the non-relativistic closed string theory of Gomis and Ooguri [1] arises precisely as such a non-Riemannian string background, and that the Gomis-Ooguri sigma model is equivalent to the Double Field Theory sigma model of [2] on this background. We further show that the target-space formulation of Double Field Theory on this non-Rie…
Fateev's sausage sigma models in two and three dimensions are known to be integrable. We study their stability under RG flow in the target space by using results from the mathematics of Ricci flow. We show that the three dimensional sausage is unstable, whereas the two dimensional sausage appears to be stable at least at leading order as it approaches the sphere. We speculate that the stability results obtained are linked to the classification of ancient solutions to Ricci flow (i.e., sigma models which are nonperturbative in the IR) in two and three dimensions. We also describe a class of per…
We extend our investigation on a possible de Sitter symmetry breaking mechanism in non-linear sigma models. The scale invariance of the quantum fluctuations could make the cosmological constant time dependent signaling the de Sitter symmetry breaking. To understand such a symmetry breaking mechanism, we investigate the energy-momentum tensor. We show that the leading infra-red logarithms cancel to all orders in perturbation theory in a generic non-linear sigma model. When the target space is an N sphere, the de Sitter symmetry is preserved in the large N limit. For a less symmetric target spac…
It was previously established that the critical staggered XXZ spin chain provides a lattice regularization of the black hole CFT. We reconsider the continuum limit of this spin chain with the exact method of non-linear integral equations (NLIEs), paying particular attention to the effects of a singular integration kernel. With the help of the NLIEs, we rederive the continuous black hole spectrum, but also numerically match the density of states of the spin chain with that of the CFT, which is a new result. Finally, we briefly discuss the integrable structure of the black hole CFT and the ident…
A lagrangian which describes interactions between a soliton and a background field is derived for sigma models whose target is a symmetric space. The background field modifies the usual moduli space approximation to soliton dynamics in two ways: by introducing a potential energy, and by inducing a Kaluza-Klein metric on the moduli space. In the particular case of the Skyrme model, this lagrangian is quantised and shown to agree with the leading pion-nucleon term in the chiral effective lagrangian, which is widely used in theoretical nuclear physics. Thus chiral perturbation theory could be con…
We consider two nonlinear sigma models on de Sitter background which involve the same derivative interactions as quantum gravity but without the gauge issue. The first model contains only a single field, which can be reduced to a free theory by a local field redefinition; the second contains two fields and cannot be so reduced. Loop corrections in both models produce large temporal and spatial logarithms which cause perturbation theory to break down at late times and large distances. Many of these logarithms derive from the "tail" part of the propagator and can be summed using a variant of Sta…
