Leading Quenching Effects in the Proton Magnetic Moment

We present the first investigation of the extrapolation of quenched nucleon magnetic moments in quenched chiral effective field theory. We utilize established techniques in finite-range regularisation and compare with standard dimensional regularisation methods. Finite-volume corrections to the relevant loop integrals are also addressed. Finally, the contributions of dynamical sea quarks to the proton moment are estimated using a recently discovered phenomenological link between quenched and physical QCD.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figs; v2: revised finite volume discussio

Scaling of FLIC Fermions

Hadron masses are calculated in quenched lattice QCD on a variety of lattices in order to probe the scaling behavior of the Fat-Link Irrelevant Clover (FLIC) fermion action, a fat-link clover fermion action in which the purely irrelevant operators of the fermion action are constructed using APE-smeared links. The scaling analysis indicates FLIC fermions provide a new form of nonperturbative O(a) improvement where near-continuum results are obtained at finite lattice spacing.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, 2 tables. Figure updated and references added. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Non-perturbative renormalization of lattice operators in coordinate space

We present the first numerical implementation of a non-perturbative renormalization method for lattice operators, based on the study of correlation functions in coordinate space at short Euclidean distance. The method is applied to compute the renormalization constants of bilinear quark operators for the non-perturbative O(a)-improved Wilson action in the quenched approximation. The matching with perturbative schemes, such as MS-bar, is computed at the next-to-leading order in continuum perturbation theory. A feasibility study of this technique with Neuberger fermions is also presented.Comment: 11 pages and 9 figures, LaTeX2

Four-loop contributions to long-distance quantities in the two-dimensional nonlinear sigma-model on a square lattice: revised numerical estimates

We give the correct analytic expression of a finite integral appearing in the four-loop computation of the renormalization-group functions for the two-dimensional nonlinear sigma-model on the square lattice with standard action, explaining the origin of a numerical discrepancy. We revise the numerical expressions of Caracciolo and Pelissetto for the perturbative corrections of the susceptibility and of the correlation length. For the values used in Monte Carlo simulations, N=3, 4, 8, the second perturbative correction coefficient of the correlation length varies by 3%, 4%, 3% respectively. Other quantities vary similarly.Comment: 2 pages, Revtex, no figure

Hadron Masses From Novel Fat-Link Fermion Actions

The hadron mass spectrum is calculated in lattice QCD using a novel fat-link clover fermion action in which only the irrelevant operators in the fermion action are constructed using smeared links. The simulations are performed on a 16^3 x 32 lattice with a lattice spacing of a=0.125 fm. We compare actions with n=4 and 12 smearing sweeps with a smearing fraction of 0.7. The n=4 Fat-Link Irrelevant Clover (FLIC) action provides scaling which is superior to mean-field improvement, and offers advantages over nonperturbative 0(a) improvement, including a reduced exceptional configuration problem.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, new simulation with mean-field improved clover, further discussion of actio

Topological Charge Evolution in the Markov-Chain of QCD

The topological charge is studied on lattices of large physical volume and fine lattice spacing. We illustrate how a parity transformation on the SU(3) link-variables of lattice gauge configurations reverses the sign of the topological charge and leaves the action invariant. Random applications of the parity transformation are proposed to traverse from one topological charge sign to the other. The transformation provides an improved unbiased estimator of the ensemble average and is essential in improving the ergodicity of the Markov chain process.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

1−+1^{-+} exotic meson at light quark masses

The mass of the $1^{-+}$ exotic meson, created with hybrid interpolating fields, is explored at light quark masses approaching 25 MeV ($m_\pi / m_\rho \simeq 1/3$). Access to such light quark masses is facilitated by the use of the Fat-Link Irrelevant Clover (FLIC) fermion action. Additionally, we make use of large ($20^3 \times 40$) lattices to obtain good control of statistical and finite volume errors. Our results indicate that the $1^{-+}$ exotic exhibits significant curvature close the chiral limit, indicating previous linear extrapolations, far from the chiral regime, have overestimated the mass of the $1^{-+}$. We find for the first time in lattice studies a $1^{-+}$ mass in agreement with the $\pi_1 (1600)$ candidate. We also find a strangeness $\pm$1 $J^P = 1^-$ state with a mass close to 2 GeV.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figures, 3 tables, published versio

Quenching Effects in the Hadron Spectrum

Lattice QCD has generated a wealth of data in hadronic physics over the last two decades. Until relatively recently, most of this information has been within the "quenched approximation" where virtual quark--anti-quark pairs are neglected. This review presents a descriptive discussion of the effects of removing this approximation in the calculation of hadronic masses.Comment: To appear in "Lattice Hadron Physics", ed. A.C. Kalloniatis, D.B. Leinweber and A.G. William

A First Principles Estimate of Finite Size Effects in Quark-Gluon Plasma Formation

Using lattice simulations of quenched QCD we estimate the finite size effects present when a gluon plasma equilibrates in a slab geometry, i.e., finite width but large transverse dimensions. Significant differences are observed in the free energy density for the slab when compared with bulk behavior. A small shift in the critical temperature is also seen. The free energy required to liberate heavy quarks relative to bulk is measured using Polyakov loops; the additional free energy required is on the order of 30-40 MeV at 2-3 T_c.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, RevTeX; revised version includes comparison with the Bjorken model and various small improvement

Topological susceptibility in the SU(3) gauge theory

We compute the topological susceptibility for the SU(3) Yang--Mills theory by employing the expression of the topological charge density operator suggested by Neuberger's fermions. In the continuum limit we find r_0^4 chi = 0.059(3), which corresponds to chi=(191 +/- 5 MeV)^4 if F_K is used to set the scale. Our result supports the Witten--Veneziano explanation for the large mass of the eta'.Comment: Final version to appear on Phys. Rev. Let