Finite-Size Effects in Lattice QCD with Dynamical Wilson Fermions

As computing resources are limited, choosing the parameters for a full Lattice QCD simulation always amounts to a compromise between the competing objectives of a lattice spacing as small, quarks as light, and a volume as large as possible. Aiming to push unquenched simulations with the Wilson action towards the computationally expensive regime of small quark masses we address the question whether one can possibly save computing time by extrapolating results from small lattices to the infinite volume, prior to the usual chiral and continuum extrapolations. In the present work the systematic volume dependence of simulated pion and nucleon masses is investigated and compared with a long-standing analytic formula by Luescher and with results from Chiral Perturbation Theory. We analyze data from Hybrid Monte Carlo simulations with the standard (unimproved) two-flavor Wilson action at two different lattice spacings of a=0.08fm and 0.13fm. The quark masses considered correspond to approximately 85 and 50% (at the smaller a) and 36% (at the larger a) of the strange quark mass. At each quark mass we study at least three different lattices with L/a=10 to 24 sites in the spatial directions (L=0.85-2.08fm).Comment: 21 pages, 20 figures, REVTeX 4; v2: caption of Fig.7 corrected, one reference adde

Compact QED under scrutiny: it's first order

We report new results from our finite size scaling analysis of 4d compact pure U(1) gauge theory with Wilson action. Investigating several cumulants of the plaquette energy within the Borgs-Kotecky finite size scaling scheme we find strong evidence for a first-order phase transition and present a high precision value for the critical coupling in the thermodynamic limit.Comment: Lattice2002(Spin

Pressure-Induced Superconductivity in Sc to 74 GPa

Using a diamond anvil cell with nearly hydrostatic helium pressure medium we have significantly extended the superconducting phase diagram Tc(P) of Sc, the lightest of all transition metals. We find that superconductivity is induced in Sc under pressure, Tc increasing monotonically to 8.2 K at 74.2 GPa. The Tc(P) dependences of the trivalent d-electron metals Sc, Y, La, and Lu are compared and discussed within a simple s-d charge transfer framework.Comment: to be published in Phys. Rev. B (Brief Reports

Bailey flows and Bose-Fermi identities for the conformal coset models (A1(1))N×(A1(1))N′/(A1(1))N+N′(A^{(1)}_1)_N\times (A^{(1)}_1)_{N'}/(A^{(1)}_1)_{N+N'}

We use the recently established higher-level Bailey lemma and Bose-Fermi polynomial identities for the minimal models $M(p,p')$ to demonstrate the existence of a Bailey flow from $M(p,p')$ to the coset models $(A^{(1)}_1)_N\times (A^{(1)}_1)_{N'}/(A^{(1)}_1)_{N+N'}$ where $N$ is a positive integer and $N'$ is fractional, and to obtain Bose-Fermi identities for these models. The fermionic side of these identities is expressed in terms of the fractional-level Cartan matrix introduced in the study of $M(p,p')$. Relations between Bailey and renormalization group flow are discussed.Comment: 28 pages, AMS-Latex, two references adde

Accelerating Wilson Fermion Matrix Inversions by Means of the Stabilized Biconjugate Gradient Algorithm

The stabilized biconjugate gradient algorithm BiCGStab recently presented by van der Vorst is applied to the inversion of the lattice fermion operator in the Wilson formulation of lattice Quantum Chromodynamics. Its computational efficiency is tested in a comparative study against the conjugate gradient and minimal residual methods. Both for quenched gauge configurations at beta= 6.0 and gauge configurations with dynamical fermions at beta=5.4, we find BiCGStab to be superior to the other methods. BiCGStab turns out to be particularly useful in the chiral regime of small quark masses.Comment: 25 pages, WUB 94-1

Superconducting pipes and levitating magnets

Motivated by a beautiful demonstration of the Faraday's and Lenz's law in which a small neodymium magnet falls slowly through a conducting non-ferromagnetic tube, we consider the dynamics of a magnet falling through a superconducting pipe. Unlike the case of normal conducting pipes, in which the magnet quickly reaches the terminal velocity, inside a superconducting tube the magnet falls freely. On the other hand, to enter the pipe the magnet must overcome a large electromagnetic energy barrier. For sufficiently strong magnets, the barrier is so large that the magnet will not be able to penetrate it and will be suspended over the front edge. We calculate the work that must done to force the magnet to enter a superconducting tube. The calculations show that superconducting pipes are very efficient at screening magnetic fields. For example, the magnetic field of a dipole at the center of a short pipe of radius $a$ and length $L \approx a$ decays, in the axial direction, with a characteristic length $\xi \approx 0.26 a$. The efficient screening of the magnetic field might be useful for shielding highly sensitive superconducting quantum interference devices, SQUIDs. Finally, the motion of the magnet through a superconducting pipe is compared and contrasted to the flow of ions through a trans-membrane channel

Volume dependence of light hadron masses in full lattice QCD

The aim of the GRAL project is to simulate full QCD with standard Wilson fermions at light quark masses on small to medium-sized lattices and to obtain infinite-volume results by extrapolation. In order to establish the functional form of the volume dependence we study systematically the finite-size effects in the light hadron spectrum. We give an update on the status of the GRAL project and show that our simulation data for the light hadron masses depend exponentially on the lattice size.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure, Lattice2003(spectrum

Description of hard sphere crystals and crystal-fluid interfaces: a critical comparison between density functional approaches and a phase field crystal model

In materials science the phase field crystal approach has become popular to model crystallization processes. Phase field crystal models are in essence Landau-Ginzburg-type models, which should be derivable from the underlying microscopic description of the system in question. We present a study on classical density functional theory in three stages of approximation leading to a specific phase field crystal model, and we discuss the limits of applicability of the models that result from these approximations. As a test system we have chosen the three--dimensional suspension of monodisperse hard spheres. The levels of density functional theory that we discuss are fundamental measure theory, a second-order Taylor expansion thereof, and a minimal phase-field crystal model. We have computed coexistence densities, vacancy concentrations in the crystalline phase, interfacial tensions and interfacial order parameter profiles, and we compare these quantities to simulation results. We also suggest a procedure to fit the free parameters of the phase field crystal model.Comment: 21 page

Are patients admitted to emergency departments with regular supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) treated appropriately?

Regular supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is frequently encountered in clinical practice. Guidelines are available from the National Service Framework (NSF) for the treatment of patients attending emergency departments (ED) with SVT. These recommend a thyroid-function test (TFT) and arrhythmia electrocardiography (ECG), and referral to a heart-rhythm specialist on discharge. Hospital admission is rarely required. In our multicentre study, we examined the implementation of these guidelines among patients attending the ED with SVT. Only 34% of patients had specialist referrals, with an average wait of 50.3 days (the majority of delays resulted from referral requests from general practitioners). A history of previous SVT, the mode of tachycardia termination, patient age and/or comorbidities were similar for the 27 (23.5%) patients who were admitted overnight. Of these, 15 (13%) of the total 115 patients who attended ED with regular SVT were referred for Holter monitoring despite having ECGs demonstrating arrhythmia. Low referral rates, unnecessary investigations and admissions indicate a need for improvement for better patient care and to minimise healthcare costs. We have formulated a standard operating procedure, which will be available via the College of Emergency Medicine website