We study the two dimensional XY-model with high precision Monte Carlo techniques and investigate the continuum approach of the step-scaling function of its finite volume mass gap. The continuum extrapolated results are found consistent with analytic predictions for the finite volume energy spectrum based on the equivalence with sine-Gordon theory. To come to this conclusion it was essential to use an also predicted form of logarithmic decay of lattice artifacts for the extrapolation.
The Quantum Alternating Operator Ansatz (QAOA) is a promising gate-model meta-heuristic for combinatorial optimization. Applying the algorithm to problems with constraints presents an implementation challenge for near-term quantum resources. This work explores strategies for enforcing hard constraints by using $XY$-Hamiltonians as mixing operators (mixers). Despite the complexity of simulating the $XY$ model, we demonstrate that for problems represented through one-hot-encoding, certain classes of the mixer Hamiltonian can be implemented without Trotter error in depth $O(kappa)$ where $kappa$ is the number of assignable colors. We also specify general strategies for implementing QAOA circuits on all-to-all connected hardware graphs and linearly connected hardware graphs inspired by fermionic simulation techniques. Performance is validated on graph coloring problems that are known to be challenging for a given classical algorithm. The general strategy of using $XY$-mixers is borne out numerically, demonstrating a significant improvement over the general $X$-mixer, and moreover the generalized $W$-state yields better performance than easier-to-generate classical initial states when $XY$ mixers are used.
We consider the 2d XY Model with topological lattice actions, which are invariant against small deformations of the field configuration. These actions constrain the angle between neighbouring spins by an upper bound, or they explicitly suppress vortices (and anti-vortices). Although topological actions do not have a classical limit, they still lead to the universal behaviour of the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) phase transition - at least up to moderate vortex suppression. Thus our study underscores the robustness of universality, which persists even when basic principles of classical physics are violated. In the massive phase, the analytically known Step Scaling Function (SSF) is reproduced in numerical simulations. In the massless phase, the BKT value of the critical exponent eta_c is confirmed. Hence, even though for some topological actions vortices cost zero energy, they still drive the standard BKT transition. In addition we identify a vortex-free transition point, which deviates from the BKT behaviour.
We numerically explore an alternative discretization of continuum $text{SU}(N_c)$ Yang-Mills theory on a Euclidean spacetime lattice, originally introduced by Budzcies and Zirnbauer for gauge group $text{U}(N_c)$. This discretization can be reformulated such that the self-interactions of the gauge field are induced by a path integral over $N_b$ auxiliary bosonic fields, which couple linearly to the gauge field. In the first paper of the series we have shown that the theory reproduces continuum $text{SU}(N_c)$ Yang-Mills theory in $d=2$ dimensions if $N_b$ is larger than $N_c-frac{3}{4}$ and conjectured, following the argument of Budzcies and Zirnbauer, that this remains true for $d>2$. In the present paper, we test this conjecture by performing lattice simulations of the simplest nontrivial case, i.e., gauge group $text{SU}(2)$ in three dimensions. We show that observables computed in the induced theory, such as the static $qbar q$ potential and the deconfinement transition temperature, agree with the same observables computed from the ordinary plaquette action up to lattice artifacts. We also find that the bound for $N_b$ can be relaxed to $N_c-frac{5}{4}$ as conjectured in our earlier paper. Studies of how the new discretization can be used to change the order of integration in the path integral to arrive at dual formulations of QCD are left for future work.
We consider the two-dimensional classical XY model on a square lattice in the thermodynamic limit using tensor renormalization group and precisely determine the critical temperature corresponding to the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) phase transition to be 0.89290(5) which is an improvement compared to earlier studies using tensor network methods.
The quantum field theory describing the massive O(2) nonlinear sigma-model is investigated through two non-perturbative constructions: The form factor bootstrap based on integrability and the lattice formulation as the XY model. The S-matrix, the spin and current two-point functions, as well as the 4-point coupling are computed and critically compared in both constructions. On the bootstrap side a new parafermionic super selection sector is found; in the lattice theory a recent prediction for the (logarithmic) decay of lattice artifacts is probed.