Comments on the Electroweak Phase Transition

We report on an investigation of various problems related to the theory of the electroweak phase transition. This includes a determination of the nature of the phase transition, a discussion of the possible role of higher order radiative corrections and the theory of the formation and evolution of the bubbles of the new phase. We find in particular that no dangerous linear terms appear in the effective potential. However, the strength of the first order phase transition is 2/3 times less than what follows from the one-loop approximation. This rules out baryogenesis in the minimal version of the electroweak theory.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures (not included

Libya's conflicts enter a dangerous new phase

Recent advances by Khalifa Haftar's "Libyan Arab Armed Forces" in southern Libya are changing power relations in Libya in ways that undermine the UN’s ongoing attempts at brokering a political solution. Haftar's increasing influence implies he will be less open to concessions, while key forces in western Libya now perceive him as an existential threat. The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), which has, to date, remained ambivalent towards Haftar despite his open opposition towards it, will come under increasing pressure from both adversaries and allies of Haftar to clarify its stance. The new configuration raises the risk of escalation on multiple fronts. Only the emergence of a stable balance of power can create the con­ditions for a political settlement. (Autorenreferat

Interplay of quantum and classical fluctuations near quantum critical points

For a system near a quantum critical point (QCP), above its lower critical dimension $d_L$, there is in general a critical line of second order phase transitions that separates the broken symmetry phase at finite temperatures from the disordered phase. The phase transitions along this line are governed by thermal critical exponents that are different from those associated with the quantum critical point. We point out that, if the effective dimension of the QCP, $d_{eff}=d+z$ ($d$ is the Euclidean dimension of the system and $z$ the dynamic quantum critical exponent) is above its upper critical dimension $d_C$, there is an intermingle of classical (thermal) and quantum critical fluctuations near the QCP. This is due to the breakdown of the generalized scaling relation $\psi=\nu z$ between the shift exponent $\psi$ of the critical line and the crossover exponent $\nu z$, for $d+z>d_C$ by a \textit{dangerous irrelevant interaction}. This phenomenon has clear experimental consequences, like the suppression of the amplitude of classical critical fluctuations near the line of finite temperature phase transitions as the critical temperature is reduced approaching the QCP.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, to be published in Brazilian Journal of Physic

Efficient Quantum Computing of Complex Dynamics

We propose a quantum algorithm which uses the number of qubits in an optimal way and efficiently simulates a physical model with rich and complex dynamics described by the quantum sawtooth map. The numerical study of the effect of static imperfections in the quantum computer hardware shows that the main elements of the phase space structures are accurately reproduced up to a time scale which is polynomial in the number of qubits. The errors generated by these imperfections are more dangerous than the errors of random noise in gate operations.Comment: revtex, 4 pages, 3 figure

Diquark condensation in two colour QCD

Unquenched lattice SU(2) is studied at nonzero chemical potential in the strong coupling limit. The topic of diquark condensation is addressed analyzing the probability distribution function of the diquark condensate. We present results at zero external source without using any potentially dangerous extrapolation procedure. We find strong evidences for a (high density) second order phase transition where a diquark condensate appears, and show quantitative agreement of lattice calculations with low-energy effective Lagrangian calculations.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, to be published in the proceedings of the ``International Workshop on Non-Perturbative Methods and Lattice QCD'', Guangzhou, China, 15-21 May 200