O(1/N_f) Corrections to the Thirring Model in 2<d<4

The Thirring model, that is, a relativistic field theory of fermions with a contact interaction between vector currents, is studied for dimensionalities 2<d<4 using the 1/N_f expansion, where N_f is the number of fermion species. The model is found to have no ultraviolet divergences at leading order provided a regularization respecting current conservation is used. Explicit O(1/N_f) corrections are computed, and the model shown to be renormalizable at this order in the massless limit; renormalizability appears to hold to all orders due to a special case of Weinberg's theorem. This implies there is a universal amplitude for four particle scattering in the asymptotic regime. Comparisons are made with both the Gross-Neveu model and QED.Comment: 22 pages in plain TeX, with 7 figs included using psfig.tex (Minor conceptual changes - algebra unaffected

The Landau gauge gluon and ghost propagator in the refined Gribov-Zwanziger framework in 3 dimensions

In previous works, we have constructed a refined version of the Gribov-Zwanziger action in 4 dimensions, by taking into account a novel dynamical effect. In this paper, we explore the 3-dimensional case. Analogously as in 4 dimensions, we obtain a ghost propagator behaving like $1/p^2$ in the infrared, while the gluon propagator reaches a finite nonvanishing value at zero momentum. Simultaneously, a clear violation of positivity by the gluon propagator is also found. This behaviour of the propagators turns out be in agreement with the recent numerical simulations.Comment: 26 pages, 16 .eps figures. v3: version accepted for publication in Phys Rev

Dynamical mass generation in quantum field theory : some methods with application to the Gross-Neveu model and Yang-Mills theory

We introduce some techniques to investigate dynamical mass generation. The Gross-Neveu model (GN) is used as a toy model, because the GN mass gap is exactly known, making it possible to check reliability of the various methods. Very accurate results are obtained. Also application to SU(N) Yang-Mills (YM) is discussed.Comment: 8 LaTeX2e pages, uses Kluwer class file crckbked.cls. Kluwer package included. To appear in: Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "Confinement, Topology, and other Non-Perturbative Aspects of QCD", Stara Lesna, Slovakia, 21-27 jan 200

A refinement of the Gribov-Zwanziger approach in the Landau gauge: infrared propagators in harmony with the lattice results

Recent lattice data have reported an infrared suppressed, positivity violating gluon propagator which is nonvanishing at zero momentum and a ghost propagator which is no longer enhanced. This paper discusses how to obtain analytical results which are in qualitative agreement with these lattice data within the Gribov-Zwanziger framework. This framework allows one to take into account effects related to the existence of gauge copies, by restricting the domain of integration in the path integral to the Gribov region. We elaborate to great extent on a previous short paper by presenting additional results, also confirmed by the numerical simulations. A detailed discussion on the soft breaking of the BRST symmetry arising in the Gribov-Zwanziger approach is provided.Comment: 38 pages, 9 figures, the content of section V has been extended and adapte

A renormalization group invariant scalar glueball operator in the (Refined) Gribov-Zwanziger framework

This paper presents a complete algebraic analysis of the renormalizability of the $d=4$ operator $F^2_{\mu\nu}$ in the Gribov-Zwanziger (GZ) formalism as well as in the Refined Gribov-Zwanziger (RGZ) version. The GZ formalism offers a way to deal with gauge copies in the Landau gauge. We explicitly show that $F^2_{\mu\nu}$ mixes with other $d=4$ gauge variant operators, and we determine the mixing matrix $Z$ to all orders, thereby only using algebraic arguments. The mixing matrix allows us to uncover a renormalization group invariant including the operator $F^2_{\mu\nu}$. With this renormalization group invariant, we have paved the way for the study of the lightest scalar glueball in the GZ formalism. We discuss how the soft breaking of the BRST symmetry of the GZ action can influence the glueball correlation function. We expect non-trivial mass scales, inherent to the GZ approach, to enter the pole structure of this correlation function.Comment: 27 page

Universality and the magnetic catalysis of chiral symmetry breaking

The hypothesis that the magnetic catalysis of chiral symmetry breaking is due to interactions of massless fermions in their lowest Landau level is examined in the context of chirally symmetric models with short ranged interactions. It is argued that, when the magnetic field is sufficiently large, even an infinitesimal attractive interaction in the appropriate channel will break chiral symmetry.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figures, REVTeX. The final version with minor corrections. To appear in Phys Rev D60 (1999

Critical thermodynamics of three-dimensional chiral model for N > 3

The critical behavior of the three-dimensional $N$-vector chiral model is studied for arbitrary $N$. The known six-loop renormalization-group (RG) expansions are resummed using the Borel transformation combined with the conformal mapping and Pad\'e approximant techniques. Analyzing the fixed point location and the structure of RG flows, it is found that two marginal values of $N$ exist which separate domains of continuous chiral phase transitions $N > N_{c1}$ and $N N > N_{c2}$ where such transitions are first-order. Our calculations yield $N_{c1} = 6.4(4)$ and $N_{c2} = 5.7(3)$. For $N > N_{c1}$ the structure of RG flows is identical to that given by the $\epsilon$ and 1/N expansions with the chiral fixed point being a stable node. For $N < N_{c2}$ the chiral fixed point turns out to be a focus having no generic relation to the stable fixed point seen at small $\epsilon$ and large $N$. In this domain, containing the physical values $N = 2$ and $N = 3$, phase trajectories approach the fixed point in a spiral-like manner giving rise to unusual crossover regimes which may imitate varying (scattered) critical exponents seen in numerous physical and computer experiments.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

(Borel) convergence of the variationally improved mass expansion and the O(N) Gross-Neveu model mass gap

We reconsider in some detail a construction allowing (Borel) convergence of an alternative perturbative expansion, for specific physical quantities of asymptotically free models. The usual perturbative expansions (with an explicit mass dependence) are transmuted into expansions in 1/F, where $F \sim 1/g(m)$ for $m \gg \Lambda$ while $F \sim (m/\Lambda)^\alpha$ for m \lsim \Lambda, $\Lambda$ being the basic scale and $\alpha$ given by renormalization group coefficients. (Borel) convergence holds in a range of $F$ which corresponds to reach unambiguously the strong coupling infrared regime near $m\to 0$, which can define certain "non-perturbative" quantities, such as the mass gap, from a resummation of this alternative expansion. Convergence properties can be further improved, when combined with $\delta$ expansion (variationally improved perturbation) methods. We illustrate these results by re-evaluating, from purely perturbative informations, the O(N) Gross-Neveu model mass gap, known for arbitrary $N$ from exact S matrix results. Comparing different levels of approximations that can be defined within our framework, we find reasonable agreement with the exact result.Comment: 33 pp., RevTeX4, 6 eps figures. Minor typos, notation and wording corrections, 2 references added. To appear in Phys. Rev.

On ghost condensation, mass generation and Abelian dominance in the Maximal Abelian Gauge

Recent work claimed that the off-diagonal gluons (and ghosts) in pure Yang-Mills theories, with Maximal Abelian gauge fixing (MAG), attain a dynamical mass through an off-diagonal ghost condensate. This condensation takes place due to a quartic ghost interaction, unavoidably present in MAG for renormalizability purposes. The off-diagonal mass can be seen as evidence for Abelian dominance. We discuss why ghost condensation of the type discussed in those works cannot be the reason for the off-diagonal mass and Abelian dominance, since it results in a tachyonic mass. We also point out what the full mechanism behind the generation of a real mass might look like.Comment: 7 pages; uses revtex

Two loop effective potential for < A^2_\mu > in the Landau gauge in quantum chromodynamics

We construct the effective potential for the dimension two composite operator 1/2 A^{a 2}_\mu in QCD with massless quarks in the Landau gauge for an arbitrary colour group at two loops. For SU(3) we show that an estimate for the effective gluon mass decreases as N_f increases.Comment: 17 latex page