Exact characterization of O(n) tricriticality in two dimensions

We propose exact expressions for the conformal anomaly and for three critical exponents of the tricritical O(n) loop model as a function of n in the range $-2 \leq n \leq 3/2$. These findings are based on an analogy with known relations between Potts and O(n) models, and on an exact solution of a 'tri-tricritical' Potts model described in the literature. We verify the exact expressions for the tricritical O(n) model by means of a finite-size scaling analysis based on numerical transfer-matrix calculations.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Angular spectrum of quantized light beams

We introduce a generalized angular spectrum representation for quantized light beams. By using our formalism, we are able to derive simple expressions for the electromagnetic vector potential operator in the case of: {a)} time-independent paraxial fields, {b)} time-dependent paraxial fields, and {c)} non-paraxial fields. For the first case, the well known paraxial results are fully recovered.Comment: 3 pages, no figure

Geometric phases in astigmatic optical modes of arbitrary order

The transverse spatial structure of a paraxial beam of light is fully characterized by a set of parameters that vary only slowly under free propagation. They specify bosonic ladder operators that connect modes of different order, in analogy to the ladder operators connecting harmonic-oscillator wave functions. The parameter spaces underlying sets of higher-order modes are isomorphic to the parameter space of the ladder operators. We study the geometry of this space and the geometric phase that arises from it. This phase constitutes the ultimate generalization of the Gouy phase in paraxial wave optics. It reduces to the ordinary Gouy phase and the geometric phase of non-astigmatic optical modes with orbital angular momentum states in limiting cases. We briefly discuss the well-known analogy between geometric phases and the Aharonov-Bohm effect, which provides some complementary insights in the geometric nature and origin of the generalized Gouy phase shift. Our method also applies to the quantum-mechanical description of wave packets. It allows for obtaining complete sets of normalized solutions of the Schr\"odinger equation. Cyclic transformations of such wave packets give rise to a phase shift, which has a geometric interpretation in terms of the other degrees of freedom involved.Comment: final versio

A constrained Potts antiferromagnet model with an interface representation

We define a four-state Potts model ensemble on the square lattice, with the constraints that neighboring spins must have different values, and that no plaquette may contain all four states. The spin configurations may be mapped into those of a 2-dimensional interface in a 2+5 dimensional space. If this interface is in a Gaussian rough phase (as is the case for most other models with such a mapping), then the spin correlations are critical and their exponents can be related to the stiffness governing the interface fluctuations. Results of our Monte Carlo simulations show height fluctuations with an anomalous dependence on wavevector, intermediate between the behaviors expected in a rough phase and in a smooth phase; we argue that the smooth phase (which would imply long-range spin order) is the best interpretation.Comment: 61 pages, LaTeX. Submitted to J. Phys.

End to end distance on contour loops of random gaussian surfaces

A self consistent field theory that describes a part of a contour loop of a random Gaussian surface as a trajectory interacting with itself is constructed. The exponent \nu characterizing the end to end distance is obtained by a Flory argument. The result is compared with different previuos derivations and is found to agree with that of Kondev and Henley over most of the range of the roughening exponent of the random surface.Comment: 7 page

Phase dynamics of a multimode Bose condensate controlled by decay

The relative phase between two uncoupled BE condensates tends to attain a specific value when the phase is measured. This can be done by observing their decay products in interference. We discuss exactly solvable models for this process in cases where competing observation channels drive the phases to different sets of values. We treat the case of two modes which both emit into the input ports of two beam splitters, and of a linear or circular chain of modes. In these latter cases, the transitivity of relative phase becomes an issue

Critical interfaces and duality in the Ashkin Teller model

We report on the numerical measures on different spin interfaces and FK cluster boundaries in the Askhin-Teller (AT) model. For a general point on the AT critical line, we find that the fractal dimension of a generic spin cluster interface can take one of four different possible values. In particular we found spin interfaces whose fractal dimension is d_f=3/2 all along the critical line. Further, the fractal dimension of the boundaries of FK clusters were found to satisfy all along the AT critical line a duality relation with the fractal dimension of their outer boundaries. This result provides a clear numerical evidence that such duality, which is well known in the case of the O(n) model, exists in a extended CFT.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Hermite Coherent States for Quadratic Refractive Index Optical Media

Producción CientíficaLadder and shift operators are determined for the set of Hermite–Gaussian modes associated with an optical medium with quadratic refractive index profile. These operators allow to establish irreducible representations of the su(1, 1) and su(2) algebras. Glauber coherent states, as well as su(1, 1) and su(2) generalized coherent states, were constructed as solutions of differential equations admitting separation of variables. The dynamics of these coherent states along the optical axis is also evaluated.MINECO grant MTM2014-57129-C2-1-P and Junta de Castilla y Leon grant VA057U16

Geometric criticality between plaquette phases in integer-spin kagome XXZ antiferromagnets

The phase diagram of the uniaxially anisotropic $s=1$ antiferromagnet on the kagom\'e lattice includes a critical line exactly described by the classical three-color model. This line is distinct from the standard geometric classical criticality that appears in the classical limit ($s \to \infty$) of the 2D XY model; the $s=1$ geometric T=0 critical line separates two unconventional plaquette-ordered phases that survive to nonzero temperature. The experimentally important correlations at finite temperature and the nature of the transitions into these ordered phases are obtained using the mapping to the three-color model and a combination of perturbation theory and a variational ansatz for the ordered phases. The ordered phases show sixfold symmetry breaking and are similar to phases proposed for the honeycomb lattice dimer model and $s=1/2$ $XXZ$ model. The same mapping and phase transition can be realized also for integer spins $s \geq 2$ but then require strong on-site anisotropy in the Hamiltonian.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure