Square Root Singularity in Boundary Reflection Matrix

Two-particle scattering amplitudes for integrable relativistic quantum field theory in 1+1 dimensions can normally have at most singularities of poles and zeros along the imaginary axis in the complex rapidity plane. It has been supposed that single particle amplitudes of the exact boundary reflection matrix exhibit the same structure. In this paper, single particle amplitudes of the exact boundary reflection matrix corresponding to the Neumann boundary condition for affine Toda field theory associated with twisted affine algebras $a_{2n}^{(2)}$ are conjectured, based on one-loop result, as having a new kind of square root singularity.Comment: 10 pages, latex fil

On the matrix square root via geometric optimization

This paper is triggered by the preprint "\emph{Computing Matrix Squareroot via Non Convex Local Search}" by Jain et al. (\textit{\textcolor{blue}{arXiv:1507.05854}}), which analyzes gradient-descent for computing the square root of a positive definite matrix. Contrary to claims of~\citet{jain2015}, our experiments reveal that Newton-like methods compute matrix square roots rapidly and reliably, even for highly ill-conditioned matrices and without requiring commutativity. We observe that gradient-descent converges very slowly primarily due to tiny step-sizes and ill-conditioning. We derive an alternative first-order method based on geodesic convexity: our method admits a transparent convergence analysis ($< 1$ page), attains linear rate, and displays reliable convergence even for rank deficient problems. Though superior to gradient-descent, ultimately our method is also outperformed by a well-known scaled Newton method. Nevertheless, the primary value of our work is its conceptual value: it shows that for deriving gradient based methods for the matrix square root, \emph{the manifold geometric view of positive definite matrices can be much more advantageous than the Euclidean view}.Comment: 8 pages, 12 plots, this version contains several more references and more words about the rank-deficient cas

A "Square-root" Method for the Density Matrix and its Applications to Lindblad Operators

The evolution of open systems, subject to both Hamiltonian and dissipative forces, is studied by writing the $nm$ element of the time ($t$) dependent density matrix in the form \ber \rho_{nm}(t)&=& \frac {1}{A} \sum_{\alpha=1}^A \gamma ^{\alpha}_n (t)\gamma^{\alpha *}_m (t) \enr The so called "square root factors", the $\gamma(t)$'s, are non-square matrices and are averaged over $A$ systems ($\alpha$) of the ensemble. This square-root description is exact. Evolution equations are then postulated for the $\gamma(t)$ factors, such as to reduce to the Lindblad-type evolution equations for the diagonal terms in the density matrix. For the off-diagonal terms they differ from the Lindblad-equations. The "square root factors" $\gamma(t)$ are not unique and the equations for the $\gamma(t)$'s depend on the specific representation chosen. Two criteria can be suggested for fixing the choice of $\gamma(t)$'s one is simplicity of the resulting equations and the other has to do with the reduction of the difference between the $\gamma(t)$ formalism and the Lindblad-equations.Comment: 36 pages, 7 figure

"On some definitions in matrix algebra"

Many definitions in matrix algebra are not standardized. This notediscusses some of thepitfalls associated with undesirable orwrong definitions, anddealswith central conceptslikesymmetry, orthogonality, square root, Hermitian and quadratic forms, and matrix derivatives.

On the local structure of spacetime in ghost-free bimetric theory and massive gravity

The ghost-free bimetric theory describes interactions of gravity with another spin-2 field in terms of two Lorentzian metrics. However, if the two metrics do not admit compatible notions of space and time, the formulation of the initial value problem becomes problematic. Furthermore, the interaction potential is given in terms of the square root of a matrix which is in general nonunique and possibly nonreal. In this paper we prove that the reality of the square root matrix leads to a classification of the allowed metrics in terms of the intersections of their null cones. Then, the requirement of general covariance further constrains the allowed metrics to admit compatible notions of space and time. It also leads to a unique definition of the square root matrix. The restrictions are compatible with the equations of motion. These results ensure that the ghost-free bimetric theory can be defined unambiguously and that the two metrics always admit compatible 3+1 decompositions, at least locally. In particular, these considerations rule out certain solutions of massive gravity with locally Closed Causal Curves, which have been used to argue that the theory is acausal.Comment: 35 pages, 7 figures; minor edits, added reference