Nonlocal Scalar Quantum Field Theory: Functional Integration, Basis Functions Representation and Strong Coupling Expansion

Nonlocal QFT of one-component scalar field $\varphi$ in $D$-dimensional Euclidean spacetime is considered. The generating functional (GF) of complete Green functions $\mathcal{Z}$ as a functional of external source $j$, coupling constant $g$, and spatial measure $d\mu$ is studied. An expression for GF $\mathcal{Z}$ in terms of the abstract integral over the primary field $\varphi$ is given. An expression for GF $\mathcal{Z}$ in terms of integrals over the primary field and separable Hilbert space (HS) is obtained by means of a separable expansion of the free theory inverse propagator $\hat{L}$ over the separable HS basis. The classification of functional integration measures $\mathcal{D}\left[\varphi\right]$ is formulated, according to which trivial and two nontrivial versions of GF $\mathcal{Z}$ are obtained. Nontrivial versions of GF $\mathcal{Z}$ are expressed in terms of $1$-norm and $0$-norm, respectively. The definition of the $0$-norm generator $\varPsi$ is suggested. Simple cases of sharp and smooth generators are considered. Expressions for GF $\mathcal{Z}$ in terms of integrals over the separable HS with new integrands are obtained. For polynomial theories $\varphi^{2n},\, n=2,3,4,\ldots,$ and for the nonpolynomial theory $\sinh^{4}\varphi$, integrals over the separable HS in terms of a power series over the inverse coupling constant $1/\sqrt{g}$ for both norms ($1$-norm and $0$-norm) are calculated. Critical values of model parameters when a phase transition occurs are found numerically. A generalization of the theory to the case of the uncountable integral over HS is formulated. A comparison of two GFs $\mathcal{Z}$, one in the case of uncountable HS integral and one obtained using the Parseval-Plancherel identity, is given.Comment: 26 pages, 2 figures; v2: significant additions in the text; prepared for the special issue "QCD and Hadron Structure" of the journal Particles; v3: minimal corrections; v4: paragraphs added related to Reviewer comment

Self-Diffusion in Random-Tiling Quasicrystals

The first explicit realization of the conjecture that phason dynamics leads to self-diffusion in quasicrystals is presented for the icosahedral Ammann tilings. On short time scales, the transport is found to be subdiffusive with the exponent $\beta\approx0.57(1)$, while on long time scales it is consistent with normal diffusion that is up to an order of magnitude larger than in the typical room temperature vacancy-assisted self-diffusion. No simple finite-size scaling is found, suggesting anomalous corrections to normal diffusion, or existence of at least two independent length scales.Comment: 11 pages + 2 figures, COMPRESSED postscript figures available by anonymous ftp to black_hole.physics.ubc.ca directory outgoing/diffuse (use bi for binary mode to transfer), REVTeX 3.0, CTP-TAMU 21/9

Generation of coherent terahertz pulses in Ruby at room temperature

We have shown that a coherently driven solid state medium can potentially produce strong controllable short pulses of THz radiation. The high efficiency of the technique is based on excitation of maximal THz coherence by applying resonant optical pulses to the medium. The excited coherence in the medium is connected to macroscopic polarization coupled to THz radiation. We have performed detailed simulations by solving the coupled density matrix and Maxwell equations. By using a simple $V$-type energy scheme for ruby, we have demonstrated that the energy of generated THz pulses ranges from hundreds of pico-Joules to nano-Joules at room temperature and micro-Joules at liquid helium temperature, with pulse durations from picoseconds to tens of nanoseconds. We have also suggested a coherent ruby source that lases on two optical wavelengths and simultaneously generates THz radiation. We discussed also possibilities of extension of the technique to different solid-state materials

Clusters, phason elasticity, and entropic stabilisation: a theory perspective

Personal comments are made about the title subjects, including: the relation of Friedel oscillations to Hume-Rothery stabilisation; how calculations may resolve the random-tiling versus ideal pictures of quasicrystals; and the role of entropies apart from tile-configurational.Comment: IOP macros; 8pp, 1 figure. In press, Phil. Mag. A (Proc. Intl. Conf. on Quasicrystals 9, Ames Iowa, May 2005

Phonon Localization in One-Dimensional Quasiperiodic Chains

Quasiperiodic long range order is intermediate between spatial periodicity and disorder, and the excitations in 1D quasiperiodic systems are believed to be transitional between extended and localized. These ideas are tested with a numerical analysis of two incommensurate 1D elastic chains: Frenkel-Kontorova (FK) and Lennard-Jones (LJ). The ground state configurations and the eigenfrequencies and eigenfunctions for harmonic excitations are determined. Aubry's "transition by breaking the analyticity" is observed in the ground state of each model, but the behavior of the excitations is qualitatively different. Phonon localization is observed for some modes in the LJ chain on both sides of the transition. The localization phenomenon apparently is decoupled from the distribution of eigenfrequencies since the spectrum changes from continuous to Cantor-set-like when the interaction parameters are varied to cross the analyticity--breaking transition. The eigenfunctions of the FK chain satisfy the "quasi-Bloch" theorem below the transition, but not above it, while only a subset of the eigenfunctions of the LJ chain satisfy the theorem.Comment: This is a revised version to appear in Physical Review B; includes additional and necessary clarifications and comments. 7 pages; requires revtex.sty v3.0, epsf.sty; includes 6 EPS figures. Postscript version also available at http://lifshitz.physics.wisc.edu/www/koltenbah/koltenbah_homepage.htm

Stability of the hard-sphere icosahedral quasilattice

The stability of the hard-sphere icosahedral quasilattice is analyzed using the differential formulation of the generalized effective liquid approximation. We find that the icosahedral quasilattice is metastable with respect to the hard-sphere crystal structures. Our results agree with recent findings by McCarley and Ashcroft [Phys. Rev. B {\bf 49}, 15600 (1994)] carried out using the modified weighted density approximation.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures available from authors upon request, (revtex), submitted to Phys. Rev.

Classification of one-dimensional quasilattices into mutual local-derivability classes

One-dimensional quasilattices are classified into mutual local-derivability (MLD) classes on the basis of geometrical and number-theoretical considerations. Most quasilattices are ternary, and there exist an infinite number of MLD classes. Every MLD class has a finite number of quasilattices with inflation symmetries. We can choose one of them as the representative of the MLD class, and other members are given as decorations of the representative. Several MLD classes of particular importance are listed. The symmetry-preserving decorations rules are investigated extensively.Comment: 42 pages, latex, 5 eps figures, Published in JPS

Quantum dynamics in high codimension tilings: from quasiperiodicity to disorder

We analyze the spreading of wavepackets in two-dimensional quasiperiodic and random tilings as a function of their codimension, i.e. of their topological complexity. In the quasiperiodic case, we show that the diffusion exponent that characterizes the propagation decreases when the codimension increases and goes to 1/2 in the high codimension limit. By constrast, the exponent for the random tilings is independent of their codimension and also equals 1/2. This shows that, in high codimension, the quasiperiodicity is irrelevant and that the topological disorder leads in every case, to a diffusive regime, at least in the time scale investigated here.Comment: 4 pages, 5 EPS figure

Generalized quasiperiodic Rauzy tilings

We present a geometrical description of new canonical $d$-dimensional codimension one quasiperiodic tilings based on generalized Fibonacci sequences. These tilings are made up of rhombi in 2d and rhombohedra in 3d as the usual Penrose and icosahedral tilings. Thanks to a natural indexing of the sites according to their local environment, we easily write down, for any approximant, the sites coordinates, the connectivity matrix and we compute the structure factor.Comment: 11 pages, 3 EPS figures, final version with minor change

Random Tilings: Concepts and Examples

We introduce a concept for random tilings which, comprising the conventional one, is also applicable to tiling ensembles without height representation. In particular, we focus on the random tiling entropy as a function of the tile densities. In this context, and under rather mild assumptions, we prove a generalization of the first random tiling hypothesis which connects the maximum of the entropy with the symmetry of the ensemble. Explicit examples are obtained through the re-interpretation of several exactly solvable models. This also leads to a counterexample to the analogue of the second random tiling hypothesis about the form of the entropy function near its maximum.Comment: 32 pages, 42 eps-figures, Latex2e updated version, minor grammatical change