Real-time effective-action approach to the Anderson quantum dot

The non-equilibrium time evolution of an Anderson quantum dot is investigated. The quantum dot is coupled between two leads forming a chemical-potential gradient. We use Kadanoff-Baym dynamic equations within a non-perturbative resummation of the s-channel bubble chains. The effect of the resummation leads to the introduction of a frequency-dependent 4-point vertex. The tunneling to the leads is taken into account exactly. The method allows the determination of the transient as well as stationary transport through the quantum dot, and results are compared with different schemes discussed in the literature (fRG, ISPI, tDMRG and QMC).Comment: 12 pages, 13 figure

Cosmological Symmetry Breaking, Pseudo-scale invariance, Dark Energy and the Standard Model

The energy density of the universe today may be dominated by the vacuum energy of a slowly rolling scalar field. Making a quantum expansion around such a time dependent solution is found to break fundamental symmetries of quantum field theory. We call this mechanism cosmological symmetry breaking and argue that it is different from the standard phenomenon of spontaneous symmetry breaking. We illustrate this with a toy scalar field theory, whose action displays a U(1) symmetry. We identify a symmetry, called pseudo-scale invariance, which sets the cosmological constant exactly equal to zero, both in classical and quantum theory. This symmetry is also broken cosmologically and leads to a nonzero vacuum or dark energy. The slow roll condition along with the observed value of dark energy leads to a value of the background scalar field of the order of Planck mass. We also consider a U(1) gauge symmetry model. Cosmological symmetry breaking, in this case, leads to a non zero mass for the vector field. We also show that a cosmologically broken pseudo-scale invariance can generate a wide range of masses.Comment: 18 pages, no figure

Reparametrization-Invariant Path Integral in GR and "Big Bang" of Quantum Universe

The reparametrization-invariant generating functional for the unitary and causal perturbation theory in general relativity in a finite space-time is obtained. The region of validity of the Faddeev-Popov-DeWitt functional is studied. It is shown that the invariant content of general relativity as a constrained system can be covered by two "equivalent" unconstrained systems: the "dynamic" (with "dynamic" evolution parameter as the metric scale factor) and "geometric" (given by the Levi-Civita type canonical transformation to the action-angle variables where the energy constraint converts into a new momentum). "Big Bang", the Hubble evolution, and creation of matter fields by the "geometric" vacuum are described by the inverted Levi-Civita (LC) transformation of the geomeric system into the dynamic one. The particular case of the LC transformations are the Bogoliubov ones of the particle variables (diagonalizing the dynamic Hamiltonian) to the quasiparticles (diagonalizing the equations of motion). The choice of initial conditions for the "Big Bang" in the form of the Bogoliubov (squeezed) vacuum reproduces all stages of the evolution of the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker Universe in their conformal (Hoyle-Narlikar) versions.Comment: 21 pages, latex, 4 figures in postscrip

Renormalisation Flow and Universality for Ultracold Fermionic Atoms

A functional renormalisation group study for the BEC-BCS crossover for ultracold gases of fermionic atoms is presented. We discuss the fixed point which is at the origin of universality for broad Feshbach resonances. All macroscopic quantities depend only on one relevant parameter, the concentration a k_F, besides their dependence on the temperature in units of the Fermi energy. In particular, we compute the universal ratio between molecular and atomic scattering length in vacuum. We also present an estimate to which level of accuracy universality holds for gases of Li and K atoms.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures, to be published in PR

Flow Equations for the BCS-BEC Crossover

The functional renormalisation group is used for the BCS-BEC crossover in gases of ultracold fermionic atoms. In a simple truncation, we see how universality and an effective theory with composite bosonic di-atom states emerge. We obtain a unified picture of the whole phase diagram. The flow reflects different effective physics at different scales. In the BEC limit as well as near the critical temperature, it describes an interacting bosonic theory.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Hydrogen transport in superionic system Rb3H(SeO4)2: a revised cooperative migration mechanism

We performed density functional studies of electronic properties and mechanisms of hydrogen transport in Rb3H(SeO4)2 crystal which represents technologically promising class M3H(XO4)2 of proton conductors (M=Rb,Cs, NH4; X=S,Se). The electronic structure calculations show a decisive role of lattice dynamics in the process of proton migration. In the obtained revised mechanism of proton transport, the strong displacements of the vertex oxygens play a key role in the establishing the continuous hydrogen transport and in the achieving low activation energies of proton conduction which is in contrast to the standard two-stage Grotthuss mechanism of proton transport. Consequently, any realistic model description of proton transport should inevitably involve the interactions with the sublattice of the XO4 groups.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures, to appear in Physical Review

Standard Model with Cosmologically Broken Quantum Scale Invariance

We argue that scale invariance is not anomalous in quantum field theory, provided it is broken cosmologically. We consider a locally scale invariant extension of the Standard Model of particle physics and argue that it fits both the particle and cosmological observations. The model is scale invariant both classically and quantum mechanically. The scale invariance is broken cosmologically producing all the dimensionful parameters. The cosmological constant or dark energy is a prediction of the theory and can be calculated systematically order by order in perturbation theory. It is expected to be finite at all orders. The model does not suffer from the hierarchy problem due to absence of scalar particles, including the Higgs, from the physical spectrum.Comment: 13 pages, no figures significant revisions, no change in results or conclusion