Finite-Size Effects in Lattice QCD with Dynamical Wilson Fermions

As computing resources are limited, choosing the parameters for a full Lattice QCD simulation always amounts to a compromise between the competing objectives of a lattice spacing as small, quarks as light, and a volume as large as possible. Aiming to push unquenched simulations with the Wilson action towards the computationally expensive regime of small quark masses we address the question whether one can possibly save computing time by extrapolating results from small lattices to the infinite volume, prior to the usual chiral and continuum extrapolations. In the present work the systematic volume dependence of simulated pion and nucleon masses is investigated and compared with a long-standing analytic formula by Luescher and with results from Chiral Perturbation Theory. We analyze data from Hybrid Monte Carlo simulations with the standard (unimproved) two-flavor Wilson action at two different lattice spacings of a=0.08fm and 0.13fm. The quark masses considered correspond to approximately 85 and 50% (at the smaller a) and 36% (at the larger a) of the strange quark mass. At each quark mass we study at least three different lattices with L/a=10 to 24 sites in the spatial directions (L=0.85-2.08fm).Comment: 21 pages, 20 figures, REVTeX 4; v2: caption of Fig.7 corrected, one reference adde

Volume dependence of light hadron masses in full lattice QCD

The aim of the GRAL project is to simulate full QCD with standard Wilson fermions at light quark masses on small to medium-sized lattices and to obtain infinite-volume results by extrapolation. In order to establish the functional form of the volume dependence we study systematically the finite-size effects in the light hadron spectrum. We give an update on the status of the GRAL project and show that our simulation data for the light hadron masses depend exponentially on the lattice size.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure, Lattice2003(spectrum

Light Quark Masses with Nf=2N_f=2 Wilson Fermions

We present new data on the mass of the light and strange quarks from SESAM/T$\chi$L. The results were obtained on lattice-volumes of $16^3\times 32$ and $24^3\times 40$ points, with the possibility to investigate finite-size effects. Since the SESAM/T$\chi$L ensembles at $\beta=5.6$ have been complemented by configurations with $\beta=5.5$, moreover, we are now able to attempt the continuum extrapolation (CE) of the quark masses with standard Wilson fermions.Comment: Lattice2001(spectrum), minor correction

A High Precision Study of the QQ(bar) Potential from Wilson Loops in the Regime of String Breaking

For lattice QCD with two sea quark flavours we compute the static quark antiquark potential V(R) in the regime where string breaking is expected. In order to increase statistics, we make full use of the lattice information by including all lattice vectors R to any possible lattice separation in the infrared regime. The corresponding paths between the lattice points are constructed by means of a generalized Bresenham algorithm as known from computer graphics. As a results we achieve a determination of the unquenched potential in the range .8 to 1.5 fm with hitherto unknown precision. Furthermore, we demonstrate some error reducing methods for the evaluation of the transition matrix element between two- and four-quark states.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Who’s in Charge? The Role of Power in Collaborative Governance and Forest Management.

Collaborative processes for working toward common management goals between individuals and organizations, despite their differences, emerged as one enduring legacy resulting from the Timber Wars in the American West during the late-1980s and the early 1990s. Power imbalances are often cited as a common problem in collaborative processes and can have a lasting, deleterious impact on the collaborative process and its outcomes. For all its importance, however, there is a yet unfulfilled need to understand the extent to which power and power imbalances affect collaborative relationships. Our research uses a case study approach to qualitatively analyze power dynamics within three collaborative efforts comprised of the United States Forest Service and community stakeholders. We identified four sources of power in play within the three case studies examined to include authority, resources, discursive legitimacy, and trust. We also discuss the application of these power sources and the ensuing outcomes. These powers, and the imbalance that sometimes result from their application, are representative of some of the underlying tensions that can be present in collaborative processes

"What does the university have to do with it?”: Perceptions of rape culture on campus and the role of university authorities

In April 2016, the #Endrapeculture protests spread across South African university campuses. These protests raised awareness of university policies regarding rape and sexual assault cases on campus. The protesters accused the university management of perpetuating a rape culture through policies which reinforced victim-blaming and protected perpetrators of sexual assault. Through the use of hashtag campaigns and public demonstrations, the movement quickly gained momentum across social and mainstream media. This momentum served to put pressure on university administrations to be accountable for cases of sexual assault on campuses. Movements calling out universities for perpetuating a rape culture are not unique to South Africa; as similar movements have been initiated at other university campuses across the globe. This article examines the rape culture discourse that emerged on Facebook following the #Endrapeculture protests. Specifically, we look at how people perceived rape culture and the role of university management in handling sexual assault. Naturalistic observation was used on comments from public posts and articles from Facebook relating to the 2016 #Endrapeculture protest. These comments were subjected to qualitative content analysis. Two main themes are discussed in this article: Rape/Rape Culture and The Role of Universities and Law Enforcement. Many commenters indicated that cases of rape and sexual assault should be addressed by law enforcement and should not be handled by university management. We argue that rape culture education should be formalised in South Africa

Flavour singlet pseudoscalar masses in N_f = 2 QCD

We perform a lattice mass analysis in the flavour singlet pseudoscalar channel on the SESAM and TXL full QCD vacuum configurations, with 2 active flavours of dynamical Wilson fermions at beta = 5.6. At our inverse lattice spacing, a^-1 = 2.3 GeV, we retrieve by a chiral extrapolation to the physical light quark masses the value m_eta' = 3.7(+8)(-4) m_pi. A crude extrapolation from (N_f = 3) phenomenology would suggest m_eta' \approx 5.1 m_pi for N_f = 2 QCD. we verify that the mass gap between the singlet state eta' and the pi flavour triplt state is due to gauge configurations with non-trivial topology.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figure

Linking water quality to living resources in a mid-Atlantic lagoon system, USA

The mid-Atlantic coastal bays are shallow coastal lagoons, separated from the Atlantic Ocean by barrier sand islands with oceanic exchanges restricted to narrow inlets. The relatively poor flushing of these lagoon systems makes them susceptible to eutrophication resulting from anthropogenic nutrient loadings. An intensive water quality and seagrass monitoring program was initiated to track ecological changes in the Maryland and Virginia coastal bays. The purpose of this study was to analyze existing monitoring data to determine status and trends in eutrophication and to determine any associations between water quality and living resources. Analysis of monitoring program data revealed several trends: (1) decadal decreases in nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations, followed by recently increasing trends; (2) decadal increases in seagrass coverage, followed by a recent period of no change; (3) blooms of macroalgae and brown tide microalgae; and (4) exceedance of water quality thresholds: chlorophyll a (15 mu g/L), total nitrogen (0.65 mg/L or 46 mu mol/L), total phosphorus (0.037 mg/L or 1.2 mu mol/L), and dissolved oxygen (5 mg/L) in many areas within the Maryland coastal bays. The water quality thresholds were based on habitat requirements for living resources (seagrass and fish) and used to calculate a water quality index, which was used to compare the bay segments. Strong gradients in water quality were correlated to changes in seagrass coverage between segments. These factors indicate that these coastal bays are in a state of transition, with a suite of metrics indicating degrading conditions. Continued monitoring and intensified management will be required to avert exacerbation of the observed eutrophication trends. Coastal lagoons worldwide are experiencing similar degrading trends due to increasing human pressures, and assessing status and trends relative to biologically relevant thresholds can assist in determining monitoring and management priorities and goals