Evidence for a conformal phase in SU(N) gauge theories

We discuss the existence of a conformal phase in SU(N) gauge theories in four dimensions. In this lattice study we explore the model in the bare parameter space, varying the lattice coupling and bare mass. Simulations are carried out with three colors and twelve flavors of dynamical staggered fermions in the fundamental representation. The analysis of the chiral order parameter and the mass spectrum of the theory indicates the restoration of chiral symmetry at zero temperature and the presence of a Coulomb-like phase, depicting a scenario compatible with the existence of an infrared stable fixed point at nonzero coupling. Our analysis supports the conclusion that the onset of the conformal window for QCD-like theories is smaller than Nf=12, before the loss of asymptotic freedom at sixteen and a half flavors. We discuss open questions and future directions.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures; extended analysis, conclusions unchanged. (version to appear in PRD

Experiences with OpenMP in tmLQCD

An overview is given of the lessons learned from the introduction of multi-threading using OpenMP in tmLQCD. In particular, programming style, performance measurements, cache misses, scaling, thread distribution for hybrid codes, race conditions, the overlapping of communication and computation and the measurement and reduction of certain overheads are discussed. Performance measurements and sampling profiles are given for different implementations of the hopping matrix computational kernel.Comment: presented at the 31st International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2013), 29 July - 3 August 2013, Mainz, German

Fixed point merger in the SU(N) gauge beta functions

We discuss qualitative behavior of the SU(N) gauge beta functions in QCD with many massless flavors. Non-perturbative beta functions can be obtained by extracting the renormalized trajectories in the exact renormalization group framework. We examine the renormalization group equations for the general four-fermi couplings as well as the gauge coupling obtained in a simple approximation scheme. It is shown that the gauge beta function possesses not only an IR but also a UV fixed point in the conformal window. These fixed points merge with each other and disappear at the edge of the conformal window. The scaling dimensions of the quark mass operator at the fixed points are also shown.Comment: 33 pages, 18 figure

Holography of the Conformal Window

Inspired by the model of Jarvinen and Kiritsis, we present a simple holographic model for the on set of chiral symmetry breaking at the edge of the conformal window in QCD in the Veneziano limit. Our most naive model enforces the QCD two loop running coupling on a D3/D7 holographic brane system. The mass of the holographic field, describing the chiral condensate in the model, is driven below the BF bound when the running is sufficiently strong, triggering chiral symmetry breaking for N_f/N_c<2.9. This model though contains too great a remnant of supersymmetry and does not correctly encode the perturbative anomalous dimensions of QCD. In a second model we impose the QCD anomalous dimension result and find chiral symmetry breaking sets in for N_f/N_c=4 at a BKT-type phase transition. In this case the transition is triggered when the anomalous dimension of the mass operator \gamma_m=1.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, v2: minor corrections, improved Figure

Phase structure of SU(3) gauge theory with two flavors of symmetric-representation fermions

We have performed numerical simulations of SU(3) gauge theory coupled to Nf=2 flavors of symmetric representation fermions. The fermions are discretized with the tadpole-improved clover action. Our simulations are done on lattices of length L=6, 8, and 12. In all simulation volumes we observe a crossover from a strongly coupled confined phase to a weak coupling deconfined phase. Degeneracies in screening masses, plus the behavior of the pseudoscalar decay constant, indicate that the deconfined phase is also a phase in which chiral symmetry is restored. The movement of the confinement transition as the volume is changed is consistent with avoidance of the basin of attraction of an infrared fixed point of the massless theory.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figure

Infrared Evolution and Phase Structure of a Gauge Theory Containing Different Fermion Representations

We study the evolution of an asymptotically free vectorial SU($N$) gauge theory from the ultraviolet to the infrared and the resultant phase structure in the general case in which the theory contains fermions transforming according to several different representations of the gauge group. We discuss the sequential fermion condensation and dynamical mass generation that occur, and comment on the effect of bare fermion mass terms.Comment: 13 pages, late

Chiral symmetry of QCD with twelve light flavors

We study QCD with twelve light flavors at intermediate values of the bare lattice coupling. We contrast the results for the order parameter with different theoretical models motivated by the physics of the Goldstone phase and of the symmetric phase, and we perform a model independent analysis of the meson spectrum inspired by universal properties of chiral symmetry. Our analysis favors chiral symmetry restoration.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures. To appear in the proceedings of the XXVIII International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory, Lattice2010, June 14-19, 2010, Villasimius, Ital