No Arabic abstract
We investigate two-point correlation functions of left-handed currents computed in quenched lattice QCD with the Neuberger-Dirac operator. We consider two lattice spacings a~0.09,0.12 fm and two different lattice extents L~ 1.5, 2.0 fm; quark masses span both the p- and the epsilon-regimes. We compare the results with the predictions of quenched chiral perturbation theory, with the purpose of testing to what extent the effective theory reproduces quenched QCD at low energy. In the p-regime we test volume and quark mass dependence of the pseudoscalar decay constant and mass; in the epsilon-regime, we investigate volume and topology dependence of the correlators. While the leading order behaviour predicted by the effective theory is very well reproduced by the lattice data in the range of parameters that we explored, our numerical data are not precise enough to test next-to-leading order effects.
This work discusses reliability, possible obstacles and the future perspective of chiral extrapolation of lattice results. In the first part, chiral perturbation theory fits to lattice calculations of the nucleon mass are thoroughly explored in terms of statistical uncertainty and convergence. Lattice volume dependence is exploited as a source of additional fit constraints. In discussing consistency with pion-nucleon scattering, the role of the Delta(1232) excitation is clarified. In the second part of the work, pion and kaon mass lattice data are analyzed using three-flavor chiral perturbation theory. SU(3)-SU(2) matching conditions permit to examine deviations from the Gell-Mann, Oakes, Renner relation. Introductory chapters provide a quick start guide to manifestly covariant baryon chiral perturbation theory, basic understanding of lattice QCD and a self-contained explanation of the relevant statistical methods.
Quenched QCD simulations on three volumes, $8^3 times$, $12^3 times$ and $16^3 times 32$ and three couplings, $beta=5.7$, 5.85 and 6.0 using domain wall fermions provide a consistent picture of quenched QCD. We demonstrate that the small induced effects of chiral symmetry breaking inherent in this formulation can be described by a residual mass ($mres$) whose size decreases as the separation between the domain walls ($L_s$) is increased. However, at stronger couplings much larger values of $L_s$ are required to achieve a given physical value of $mres$. For $beta=6.0$ and $L_s=16$, we find $mres/m_s=0.033(3)$, while for $beta=5.7$, and $L_s=48$, $mres/m_s=0.074(5)$, where $m_s$ is the strange quark mass. These values are significantly smaller than those obtained from a more naive determination in our earlier studies. Important effects of topological near zero modes which should afflict an accurate quenched calculation are easily visible in both the chiral condensate and the pion propagator. These effects can be controlled by working at an appropriately large volume. A non-linear behavior of $m_pi^2$ in the limit of small quark mass suggests the presence of additional infrared subtlety in the quenched approximation. Good scaling is seen both in masses and in $f_pi$ over our entire range, with inverse lattice spacing varying between 1 and 2 GeV.
A numerical study of quenched QCD for light quarks is presented using O(a) improved fermions. Particular attention is paid to the possible existence and determination of quenched chiral logarithms. A `safe region to use for chiral extrapolations appears to be at and above the strange quark mass.
In simulations with dynamical quarks it has been established that the ground state rho in the infrared is a strong mixture of the two chiral representations (0,1)+(1,0) and (1/2,1/2)_b. Its angular momentum content is approximately the 3S1 partial wave which is consistent with the quark model. Effective chiral restoration in an excited rho-meson would require that in the infrared this meson couples predominantly to one of the two representations. The variational method allows one to study the mixing of interpolators with different chiral transformation properties in the non-perturbatively determined excited state at different resolution scales. We present results for the first excited state of the rho-meson using simulations with n_f=2 dynamical quarks. We point out, that in the infrared a leading contribution to rho= rho(1450) comes from (1/2,1/2)_b, in contrast to the rho. Its approximate chiral partner would be a h_1(1380) state. The rho wave function contains a significant contribution of the 3D1 wave which is not consistent with the quark model prediction.
We present results for the binding energies for He and ^3He nuclei calculated in quenched lattice QCD at the lattice spacing of a = 0.128 fm with a heavy quark mass corresponding to m_pi = 0.8 GeV. Enormous computational cost for the nucleus correlation functions is reduced by avoiding redundancy of equivalent contractions stemming from permutation symmetry of protons or neutrons in the nucleus and various other symmetries. To distinguish a bound state from an attractive scattering state, we investigate the volume dependence of the energy difference between the nucleus and the free multi-nucleon states by changing the spatial extent of the lattice from 3.1 fm to 12.3 fm. A finite energy difference left in the infinite spatial volume limit leads to the conclusion that the measured ground states are bounded. It is also encouraging that the measured binding energies and the experimental ones show the same order of magnitude.