Theta-vacuum: Phase Transitions and/or Symmetry Breaking at θ=π\theta = \pi

Assuming that a quantum field theory with a $\theta$-vacuum term in the action shows non-trivial $\theta$-dependence and provided that some reasonable properties of the probability distribution function of the order parameter hold, we argue that the theory either breaks spontaneously CP at $\theta = \pi$ or shows a singular behavior at some critical $\theta_c$ between 0 and $\pi$. This result, which applies to any model with a pure imaginary contribution to the euclidean action consisting in a quantized charge coupled to a phase, as QCD, is illustrated with two simple examples; one of them intimately related to Witten's result on SU(N) in the large $N$ limit.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, 2 references added, final version to appear in Progr. Theor. Phy

QCD with a theta-vacuum term: a complex system with a simple complex action

We reanalyze in the first part of this paper the old question of P and CT realization in QCD. The second part is devoted to establish general results on the phase structure of this model in the presence of a $\theta$-vacuum term.Comment: 15 pages, to be published in the proceedings of the ``International Workshop on Non-Perturbative Methods and Lattice QCD'', Guangzhou, China, 15-21 May 200

Critical Behavior of CP^1 at theta = pi, Haldane's Conjecture and the Universality Class

Using an approach to analyze the theta dependence of systems with a theta-term we recently proposed, the critical behavior of CP^1 at theta=pi is studied. We find a region outside the strong coupling regime where Haldane's conjecture is verified. The critical line however does not belong to the universality class of the Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten model at topological coupling k=1 since it shows continuously varying critical exponents.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

No-go theorem on spontaneous parity breaking revisited

An essential assumption in the Vafa and Witten's theorem on P and CT realization in vector-like theories concerns the existence of a free energy density in Euclidean space in the presence of any external hermitian symmetry breaking source. We show how this requires the previous assumption that the symmetry is realized in the vacuum. Even if Vafa and Witten's conjecture is plausible, actually a theorem is still lacking.Comment: Talk presented at LATTICE99(Theoretical Developments),3 pages. Latex using espcrc2.st

Diquark condensation in two colour QCD

Unquenched lattice SU(2) is studied at nonzero chemical potential in the strong coupling limit. The topic of diquark condensation is addressed analyzing the probability distribution function of the diquark condensate. We present results at zero external source without using any potentially dangerous extrapolation procedure. We find strong evidences for a (high density) second order phase transition where a diquark condensate appears, and show quantitative agreement of lattice calculations with low-energy effective Lagrangian calculations.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, to be published in the proceedings of the ``International Workshop on Non-Perturbative Methods and Lattice QCD'', Guangzhou, China, 15-21 May 200