The full replica symmetry breaking in the Ising spin glass on random regular graph

In this paper, we extend the full replica symmetry breaking scheme to the Ising spin glass on a random regular graph. We propose a new martingale approach, that overcomes the limits of the Parisi-M\'ezard cavity method, providing a well-defined formulation of the full replica symmetry breaking problem in random regular graphs. Finally, we define the order parameters of the system and get a set of self-consistency equations for the order parameters and the free energy. We face up the problem only from a technical point of view: the physical meaning of this approach and the quantitative evaluation of the solution of the self-consistency equations will be discussed in next works.Comment: 23 page

Michel theory of symmetry breaking and gauge theories

We extend Michel's theorem on the geometry of symmetry breaking [L. Michel, {\it Comptes Rendus Acad. Sci. Paris} {\bf 272-A} (1971), 433-436] to the case of pure gauge theories, i.e. of gauge-invariant functionals defined on the space ${\cal C}$ of connections of a principal fiber bundle. Our proof follows closely the original one by Michel, using several known results on the geometry of ${\cal C}$. The result (and proof) is also extended to the case of gauge theories with matter fields.Comment: 24 pages. An old paper posted for archival purpose

Two optimization problems in thermal insulation

We consider two optimization problems in thermal insulation: in both cases the goal is to find a thin layer around the boundary of the thermal body which gives the best insulation. The total mass of the insulating material is prescribed.. The first problem deals with the case in which a given heat source is present, while in the second one there are no heat sources and the goal is to have the slowest decay of the temperature. In both cases an optimal distribution of the insulator around the thermal body exists; when the body has a circular symmetry, in the first case a constant heat source gives a constant thickness as the optimal solution, while surprisingly this is not the case in the second problem, where the circular symmetry of the optimal insulating layer depends on the total quantity of insulator at our disposal. A symmetry breaking occurs when this total quantity is below a certain threshold. Some numerical computations are also provided, together with a list of open questions.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, published article on Notices Amer. Math. Soc. is available at http://www.ams.org/publications/journals/notices/201708/rnoti-p830.pd

Path integrals and symmetry breaking for optimal control theory

This paper considers linear-quadratic control of a non-linear dynamical system subject to arbitrary cost. I show that for this class of stochastic control problems the non-linear Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation can be transformed into a linear equation. The transformation is similar to the transformation used to relate the classical Hamilton-Jacobi equation to the Schr\"odinger equation. As a result of the linearity, the usual backward computation can be replaced by a forward diffusion process, that can be computed by stochastic integration or by the evaluation of a path integral. It is shown, how in the deterministic limit the PMP formalism is recovered. The significance of the path integral approach is that it forms the basis for a number of efficient computational methods, such as MC sampling, the Laplace approximation and the variational approximation. We show the effectiveness of the first two methods in number of examples. Examples are given that show the qualitative difference between stochastic and deterministic control and the occurrence of symmetry breaking as a function of the noise.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures, submitted to JSTA

Variational Principle of Bogoliubov and Generalized Mean Fields in Many-Particle Interacting Systems

The approach to the theory of many-particle interacting systems from a unified standpoint, based on the variational principle for free energy is reviewed. A systematic discussion is given of the approximate free energies of complex statistical systems. The analysis is centered around the variational principle of N. N. Bogoliubov for free energy in the context of its applications to various problems of statistical mechanics and condensed matter physics. The review presents a terse discussion of selected works carried out over the past few decades on the theory of many-particle interacting systems in terms of the variational inequalities. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss some of the general principles which form the mathematical background to this approach, and to establish a connection of the variational technique with other methods, such as the method of the mean (or self-consistent) field in the many-body problem, in which the effect of all the other particles on any given particle is approximated by a single averaged effect, thus reducing a many-body problem to a single-body problem. The method is illustrated by applying it to various systems of many-particle interacting systems, such as Ising and Heisenberg models, superconducting and superfluid systems, strongly correlated systems, etc. It seems likely that these technical advances in the many-body problem will be useful in suggesting new methods for treating and understanding many-particle interacting systems. This work proposes a new, general and pedagogical presentation, intended both for those who are interested in basic aspects, and for those who are interested in concrete applications.Comment: 60 pages, Refs.25

Finite Correlation Length Scaling in Lorentz-Invariant Gapless iPEPS Wave Functions

It is an open question how well tensor network states in the form of an infinite projected entangled pair states (iPEPS) tensor network can approximate gapless quantum states of matter. Here we address this issue for two different physical scenarios: i) a conformally invariant $(2+1)d$ quantum critical point in the incarnation of the transverse field Ising model on the square lattice and ii) spontaneously broken continuous symmetries with gapless Goldstone modes exemplified by the $S=1/2$ antiferromagnetic Heisenberg and XY models on the square lattice. We find that the energetically best wave functions display {\em finite} correlation lengths and we introduce a powerful finite correlation length scaling framework for the analysis of such finite-$D$ iPEPS states. The framework is important i) to understand the mild limitations of the finite-$D$ iPEPS manifold in representing Lorentz-invariant, gapless many body quantum states and ii) to put forward a practical scheme in which the finite correlation length $\xi(D)$ combined with field theory inspired formulae can be used to extrapolate the data to infinite correlation length, i.e. to the thermodynamic limit. The finite correlation length scaling framework opens the way for further exploration of quantum matter with an (expected) Lorentz-invariant, massless low-energy description, with many applications ranging from condensed matter to high-energy physics.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figure