Semiclassical particle spectrum of double sine-Gordon model

We present new theoretical results on the spectrum of the quantum field theory of the double sine-Gordon model. This non-integrable model displays different varieties of kink excitations and bound states thereof. Their mass can be obtained by using a semiclassical expression of the matrix elements of the local fields. In certain regions of the coupling-constants space the semiclassical method provides a picture which is complementary to the one of the form factor perturbation theory, since the two techniques give information about the mass of different types of excitations. In other regions the two methods are comparable, since they describe the same kind of particles. Furthermore, the semiclassical picture is particularly suited to describe the phenomenon of false vacuum decay, and it also accounts in a natural way the presence of resonance states and the occurrence of a phase transition. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The behavior of the sextic coupling for the scalar field at the intermediate and strong coupling regime

We study the behavior of the renormalized sextic coupling at the intermediate and strong coupling regime for the phi(4) theory defined in d = 2 dimensions. We found a good agreement with the results obtained by the field-theoretical renormalization-group in the Ising limit. In this work we use the lattice regularization method.

The two-loop massless (lambda/4!)phi(4) model in nontranslational invariant domain

We study the (lambda/4!)phi(4) massless scalar field theory in a four-dimensional Euclidean space, where all but one of the coordinates are unbounded. We are considering Dirichlet boundary conditions in two hyperplanes, breaking the translation invariance of the system. We show how to implement the perturbative renormalization up to two-loop level of the theory. First, analyzing the full two and four-point functions at the one-loop level, we show that the bulk counterterms are sufficient to render the theory finite. Meanwhile, at the two-loop level, we must also introduce surface counterterms in the bare Lagrangian in order to make finite the full two and also four-point Schwinger functions. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate soliton on a two-dimensional optical lattice

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Self-dual hopfions

We construct static and time-dependent exact soliton solutions with nontrivial Hopf topological charge for a field theory in 3 + 1 dimensions with the target space being the two dimensional sphere S(2). The model considered is a reduction of the so-called extended Skyrme-Faddeev theory by the removal of the quadratic term in derivatives of the fields. The solutions are constructed using an ansatz based on the conformal and target space symmetries. The solutions are said self-dual because they solve first order differential equations which together with some conditions on the coupling constants, imply the second order equations of motion. The solutions belong to a sub-sector of the theory with an infinite number of local conserved currents. The equation for the profile function of the ansatz corresponds to the Bogomolny equation for the sine-Gordon model.

Cubic interactions and quantum criticality in dimerized antiferromagnets

In certain Mott-insulating dimerized antiferromagnets, triplet excitations of the paramagnetic phase display both three-particle and four-particle interactions. When such a magnet undergoes a quantum phase transition into a magnetically ordered state, the three-particle interaction becomes part of the critical theory provided that the lattice ordering wave vector is zero. One microscopic example is the staggered-dimer antiferromagnet on the square lattice, for which deviations from O(3) universality have been reported in numerical studies. Using both symmetry arguments and microscopic calculations, we show that a nontrivial cubic term arises in the relevant order-parameter quantum field theory, and we assess its consequences using a combination of analytical and numerical methods. We also present finite-temperature quantum Monte Carlo data for the staggered-dimer antiferromagnet which complement recently published results. The data can be consistently interpreted in terms of critical exponents identical to that of the standard O(3) universality class, but with anomalously large corrections to scaling. We argue that the cubic interaction of critical triplons, although irrelevant in two spatial dimensions, is responsible for the leading corrections to scaling due to its small scaling dimension.

Non-local effects at the onset of the chiral transition

Inspired by analytic results obtained for a systematic expansion of the memory kernel in dissipative quantum mechanics, we propose a phenomenological procedure to incorporate non-markovian corrections to the Langevin dynamics of an order parameter in field theory systematically. In this note, we restrict our analysis to the onset of the evolution. As an example, we consider the process of phase conversion in the chiral transition.

CAUSAL APPROACH TO (2+1)-DIMENSIONAL QED

It is shown that the causal approach to (2 + 1)-dimensional quantum electrodynamics yields a well-defined perturbative theory. In particular, and in contrast to renormalized perturbative quantum field theory, it is free of any ambiguities and ascribes a nonzero value to the dynamically generated, nonperturbative photon mass. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.

Analytic element modelling for strip aquifers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Transient non-Darcy forced convective heat transfer from a flat plate embedded in a fluid-saturated porous medium

Transient non-Darcy forced convection on a flat plate embedded in a porous medium is investigated using the Forchheimer-extended Darcy law. A sudden uniform pressure gradient is applied along the flat plate, and at the same time, its wall temperature is suddenly raised to a high temperature. Both the momentum and energy equations are solved by retaining the unsteady terms. An exact velocity solution is obtained and substituted into the energy equation, which then is solved by means of a quasi-similarity transformation. The temperature field can be divided into the one-dimensional transient (downstream) region and the quasi-steady-state (upstream) region. Thus the transient local heat transfer coefficient can be described by connecting the quasi-steady-state solution and the one-dimensional transient solution. The non-Darcy porous inertia works to decrease the velocity level and the time required for reaching the steady-state velocity level. The porous-medium inertia delays covering of the plate by the steady-state thermal boundary layer. © 1990.

Toda lattice field theories, discrete W algebras, Toda lattice hierarchies and quantum groups

In analogy with the Liouville case we study the sl3 Toda theory on the lattice and define the relevant quadratic algebra and out of it we recover the discrete W3 algebra. We define an integrable system with respect to the latter and establish the relation with the Toda lattice hierarchy. We compute the relevant continuum limits. Finally we find the quantum version of the quadratic algebra.

PCM thermal insulation in buildings

This paper presents the results of a numerical and experimental study of phase change material (PCM) filled walls and roofs under real operational conditions to achieve passive thermal comfort. The numerical part of the study was based on a one-dimensional model for the phase change problem controlled by pure conduction. Real radiation data was used to determine the external face temperature. The numerical treatment was based upon using finite difference approximations and the ADI scheme. The results obtained were compared with field measurements. The experimental set-up consisted of a small room with movable roof and side wall. The roof was constructed in the traditional way but with the phase change material enclosed. Thermocouples were distributed across the cross section of the roof. Another roof, identical but without the PCM, was also used during comparative tests. The movable wall was also constructed as is done traditionally but with the PCM enclosed. Again, thermocouples were distributed across the wall thickness to enable measurement of the local temperatures. Another wall, identical but without the PCM, was also used during comparative tests. The PCM used in the numerical and experimental tests was composed of a mixture of two commercial grades of glycol in order to obtain the required fusion temperature range. Comparison between the simulation results and the experiments indicated good agreement. Field tests also indicated that the PCM used was adequate and that the concept was effective in maintaining the indoor temperature very close to the established comfort limits. Further economical analysis indicated that the concept could effectively help in reducing the electric energy consumption and improving the energy demand pattern. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Negative dimensional integration: Lab testing at two loops

Negative dimensional integration method (NDIM) is a technique to deal with D-dimensional Feynman loop integrals. Since most of the physical quantities in perturbative Quantum Field Theory (pQFT) require the ability of solving them, the quicker and easier the method to evaluate them the better. The NDIM is a novel and promising technique, ipso facto requiring that we put it to test in different contexts and situations and compare the results it yields with those that we already know by other well-established methods. It is in this perspective that we consider here the calculation of an on-shell two-loop three point function in a massless theory. Surprisingly this approach provides twelve non-trivial results in terms of double power series. More astonishing than this is the fact that we can show these twelve solutions to be different representations for the same well-known single result obtained via other methods. It really comes to us as a surprise that the solution for the particular integral we are dealing with is twelvefold degenerate.

Prescriptionless light-cone integrals

Perturbative quantum gauge field theory as seen within the perspective of physical gauge choices such as the light-cone gauge entails the emergence of troublesome poles of the type (k · n)-α in the Feynman integrals. These come from the boson field propagator, where α = 1, 2, ⋯ and nμ is the external arbitrary four-vector that defines the gauge proper. This becomes an additional hurdle in the computation of Feynman diagrams, since any graph containing internal boson lines will inevitably produce integrands with denominators bearing the characteristic gauge-fixing factor. How one deals with them has been the subject of research over decades, and several prescriptions have been suggested and tried in the course of time, with failures and successes. However, a more recent development at this fronteer which applies the negative dimensional technique to compute light-cone Feynman integrals shows that we can altogether dispense with prescriptions to perform the calculations. An additional bonus comes to us attached to this new technique, in that not only it renders the light-cone prescriptionless but, by the very nature of it, it can also dispense with decomposition formulas or partial fractioning tricks used in the standard approach to separate pole products of the type (k · n)-α[(k - p) · n]-β (β = 1, 2, ⋯). In this work we demonstrate how all this can be done.

Loop Integrals in Three Outstanding Gauges: Feynman, Light-Cone, and Coulomb

We apply the negative dimensional integration method (NDIM) to three outstanding gauges: Feynman, light-cone, and Coulomb gauges. Our aim is to show that NDIM is a very suitable technique to deal with loop integrals, regardless of which gauge choice that originated them. In the Feynman gauge we perform scalar two-loop four-point massless integrals; in the light-cone gauge we calculate scalar two-loop integrals contributing to two-point functions without any kind of prescriptions, since NDIM can abandon such devices - this calculation is the first test of our prescriptionless method beyond one-loop order; and finally, for the Coulomb gauge we consider a four-propagator massless loop integral, in the split-dimensional regularization context. © 2001 Academic Press.