Elliptic flow of the dilute Fermi gas: From kinetics to hydrodynamics

We use the Boltzmann equation in the relaxation time approximation to study the expansion of a dilute Fermi gas at unitarity. We focus, in particular, on the approach to the hydrodynamic limit. Our main finding are: i) In the regime that has been studied experimentally hydrodynamic effects beyond the Navier-Stokes approximation are small, ii) mean field corrections to the Boltzmann equation are not important, iii) experimental data imply that freezeout occurs very late, that means that the relaxation time remains smaller than the expansion time during the entire evolution of the system, iv) the experimental results also imply that the bulk viscosity is significantly smaller than the shear viscosity of the system.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figure

Intrinsic quark transverse momentum in the nucleon from lattice QCD

A better understanding of transverse momentum (k_T-) dependent quark distributions in a hadron is needed to interpret several experimentally observed large angular asymmetries and to clarify the fundamental role of gauge links in non-abelian gauge theories. Based on manifestly non-local gauge invariant quark operators we introduce process-independent k_T-distributions and study their properties in lattice QCD. We find that the longitudinal and transverse momentum dependence approximately factorizes, in contrast to the behavior of generalized parton distributions. The resulting quark k_T-probability densities for the nucleon show characteristic dipole deformations due to correlations between intrinsic k_T and the quark or nucleon spin. Our lattice calculations are based on N_f=2+1 mixed action propagators of the LHP collaboration.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Lattice QCD study of the Boer-Mulders effect in a pion

The three-dimensional momenta of quarks inside a hadron are encoded in transverse momentum-dependent parton distribution functions (TMDs). This work presents an exploratory lattice QCD study of a TMD observable in the pion describing the Boer-Mulders effect, which is related to polarized quark transverse momentum in an unpolarized hadron. Particular emphasis is placed on the behavior as a function of a Collins-Soper evolution parameter quantifying the relative rapidity of the struck quark and the initial hadron, e.g., in a semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS) process. The lattice calculation, performed at the pion mass m_pi = 518 MeV, utilizes a definition of TMDs via hadronic matrix elements of a quark bilocal operator with a staple-shaped gauge connection; in this context, the evolution parameter is related to the staple direction. By parametrizing the aforementioned matrix elements in terms of invariant amplitudes, the problem can be cast in a Lorentz frame suited for the lattice calculation. In contrast to an earlier nucleon study, due to the lower mass of the pion, the calculated data enable quantitative statements about the physically interesting limit of large relative rapidity. In passing, the similarity between the Boer-Mulders effects extracted in the pion and the nucleon is noted.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures, 3 table

Sivers and Boer-Mulders observables from lattice QCD

We present a first calculation of transverse momentum dependent nucleon observables in dynamical lattice QCD employing non-local operators with staple-shaped, "process-dependent" Wilson lines. The use of staple-shaped Wilson lines allows us to link lattice simulations to TMD effects determined from experiment, and in particular to access non-universal, naively time-reversal odd TMD observables. We present and discuss results for the generalized Sivers and Boer-Mulders transverse momentum shifts for the SIDIS and DY cases. The effect of staple-shaped Wilson lines on T-even observables is studied for the generalized tensor charge and a generalized transverse shift related to the worm gear function g_1T. We emphasize the dependence of these observables on the staple extent and the Collins-Soper evolution parameter. Our numerical calculations use an n_f = 2+1 mixed action scheme with domain wall valence fermions on an Asqtad sea and pion masses 369 MeV as well as 518 MeV.Comment: 25 pages, 13 figures; version accepted by journal. Contains additional section explaining and summarizing the methodolog

QCD and the eta prime Mass: Instantons or Confinement?

We argue that lattice calculations of the $\eta'$ mass in QCD with $N_c=2$ colors performed at non-zero baryon chemical potential can be used to study the mechanism responsible for the mass of the $\eta'$. QCD with two colors is an ideal laboratory because it exhibits confinement, chiral symmetry breaking and a would-be $U(1)_A$ Goldstone boson at all densities. Since the instanton density and the confinement scale vary with density in a very different way, instantons are clearly distinguishable from other possible mechanisms. There is an instanton prediction for the $\eta'$ mass at large density that can be compared to lattice results. The density dependence of the instanton contribution is a simple consequence of the integer topological charge carried by the instanton. We also argue that $N_c=3$ color QCD at finite isospin density can be used in order to study the origin of OZI-violation in the scalar sector.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

Magnetic anisotropies and magnetization reversal of the Co2_2Cr0.6_{0.6}Fe0.4_{0.4}Al Heusler compound

Magnetic anisotropies and magnetization reversal properties of the epitaxial Heusler compound Co$_2$Cr$_{0.6}$Fe$_{0.4}$Al (CCFA) deposited on Fe and Cr buffer layers are studied. Both samples exhibit a growth-induced fourfold anisotropy, and magnetization reversal occurs through the formation of stripy domains or 90 degree domains. During rotational magnetometric scans the sample deposited on Cr exhibits about 2 degree sharp peaks in the angular dependence of the coercive field, which are oriented along the hard axis directions. These peaks are a consequence of the specific domain structure appearing in this particular measurement geometry. A corresponding feature in the sample deposited on Fe is not observed.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure

Correlator of Topological Charge Densities in Instanton Model in QCD

The QCD sum rule for the correlator of topological charge densities and related to it longitudinal part of the correlator of singlet axial currents is considered in the framework of instanton model. The coupling constant of eta'-meson with the singlet axial current is determined. Its value appears to be in a good coincidence with the value determined recently from the connection of the part of proton spin, carried by u,d,s quarks, with the derivative of QCD topological susceptibility. From the same sum rule eta-eta' mixing angle is found in the framework of two mixing angles model. Its value is close to that found in the chiral effective theory. The correlator of topological charge densities at large momenta is calculated.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure

Inhomogeneous holographic thermalization

The sudden injection of energy in a strongly coupled conformal field theory and its subsequent thermalization can be holographically modeled by a shell falling into anti-de Sitter space and forming a black brane. For a homogeneous shell, Bhattacharyya and Minwalla were able to study this process analytically using a weak field approximation. Motivated by event-by-event fluctuations in heavy ion collisions, we include inhomogeneities in this model, obtaining analytic results in a long wavelength expansion. In the early-time window in which our approximations can be trusted, the resulting evolution matches well with that of a simple free streaming model. Near the end of this time window, we find that the stress tensor approaches that of second-order viscous hydrodynamics. We comment on possible lessons for heavy ion phenomenology.Comment: 53 pages, 10 figures; v2: references adde