Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1409.3294 · Physical Review Letters

Onset of a Limit Cycle and Universal Three-Body Parameter in Efimov Physics

Yusuke Horinouchi, Masahito Ueda

Published Jan 13, 2015• 22 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The Efimov effect is the only experimentally realized universal phenomenon that exhibits the renormalization-group limit cycle with the three-body parameter parametrizing a family of universality classes. Recent experiments in ultracold atoms have unexpectedly revealed that the three-body parameter itself is universal when measured in units of an effective range. By performing an exact functional renormalization-group analysis with various finite-range interaction potentials, we demonstrate that the onset of the renormalization-group flow into the limit cycle is universal, regardless of short-range details, which connects the missing link between the two universalities of the Efimov physics. A close connection between the topological property of the limit cycle and few-body physics is also suggested.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.114.025301

Related papers

Origin of the Three-Body Parameter Universality in Efimov Physics

Jia Wang, José Paulo D'Incao, Brett D. Esry +1 more

In recent years extensive theoretical and experimental studies of universal few-body physics have advanced our understanding of universal Efimov physics. Whereas theory had been the driving force behind our understanding of Efimov physics for decades, recent experiments have contributed an unexpected discovery. Specifically, measurements have found that the so-called three-body parameter determining several properties of the system is universal, even though fundamental assumptions in the theory of the Efimov effect suggest that it should be a variable property that depends on the precise details of the short-range two- and three-body interactions. The present Letter resolves this apparent contradiction by elucidating previously unanticipated implications of the two-body interactions. Our study shows that the three-body parameter universality emerges because a universal effective barrier in the three-body potentials prevents the three particles from simultaneously getting close together. Our results also show limitations on this universality, as it is more likely to occur for neutral atoms but less likely to extend to light nuclei.

arXiv:1201.1176•Physical Review Letters•Jun 26, 2012•181 citations

Theoretical study on a renormalization-group limit cycle in Efimov physics

裕理 堀之内

Physics is often said to be universal when microscopically distinct systems show the same lowenergy behavior.In critical phenomena, the universality of the second-order phase transition is elucidated by the renormalization-group (RG) method, which provides a powerful computational tool for the critical exponents of the power-law behavior of observables.In particular, the attraction of different RG-flow trajectories to a small-dimensional sub-theory space accounts for the universal nature.The attraction structure motivates us to extract universal physical observables by investigating the sub-theory space called the renormalized trajectory, onto which RG flows are attracted.To put the motivation forward, we consider the universality in quantum few-body physics, in which the RG exhibits another characteristic flow than the fixed points.The Efimov physics, which is renowned for self-similar trimer states, shows an RG limit-cycle behavior that refers to a periodic RG-flow trajectory.In this thesis, we investigate the relation between the RG limit cycle and the universality in Efimov physics.Firstly, to verify that the RG limit cycle is the renormalized trajectory in Efimov physics, we demonstrate that the RG-flow trajectories of microscopically distinct systems universally exhibit the RG limit-cycle behavior at sufficiently low energy, thereby giving a numerical evidence of the attraction structure of the RG-flow trajectories to the RG limit cycle; in other words, we show that the RG limit cycle behaves as an attractor of various RG flows.To address this point unbiasedly, we perform an exact RG calculation for various effective models of identical bosons that features Efimov physics at low energy.We apply an exact functional renormalization-group (FRG) method to effective separable models for various systems of identical bosons with short-range resonant interactions.For a given microscopic three-body model, we numerically demonstrate for the first time that the RG-flow trajectory converges at the RG limit cycle in the low-energy regime.Physical observables such as Efimov's scaling factor and the three-body parameter can be extracted from the RG limit cycle.Secondly, we investigate the role of RG limit cycle in a four-body extension of Efimov physics, which has attracted considerable attention in recent years.Although the universality in four-body physics has been established both theoretically and experimentally, the relationship between the RG limit cycle and the four-body physics remains an open question.By performing an FRG calculation for a simple effective field theory, we obtain for the first time the RG limit cycle in the four-body sector that reproduces the universality of the four-body physics.As the first attempt, we develop a simple separable pole approximation of the four-body FRG equation and successfully reproduce qualitative features of the four-body physics.A systematic improvement of the approximation quantitatively reproduces the numbers and the binding energies of tetramer states that emerge universally at low energy.2 The restriction r 0 < ∼ R < ∼ a on the length scale limits the binding energy E t of the Efimov trimers as ℏ ma 2 < ∼ E t < ∼ ℏ mr 2 0 .3 A similar discrete scale-invariant phenomenon is known for the doubly excited H -ion, in which two valence electrons are excited from their ground states [16].In the doubly excited H -ion, an interaction between an electron-

•Mar 23, 2017•0 citations

Microscopic Origin and Universality Classes of the Efimov Three-Body Parameter

Pascal Naidon, Shimpei Endo, Masahito Ueda

The low-energy spectrum of three particles interacting via nearly resonant two-body interactions in the Efimov regime is set by the so-called three-body parameter. We show that the three-body parameter is essentially determined by the zero-energy two-body correlation. As a result, we identify two classes of two-body interactions for which the three-body parameter has a universal value in units of their effective range. One class involves the universality of the three-body parameter recently found in ultracold atom systems. The other is relevant to short-range interactions that can be found in nuclear physics and solid-state physics.

arXiv:1403.0294•Physical Review Letters•Mar 10, 2014•99 citations

Topological origin of universal few-body clusters in Efimov physics

Yusuke Horinouchi, Masahito Ueda

Efimov physics is renowned for the self-similar spectrum featuring the universal ratio of one eigenenergy to its neighbor. Even more esoteric is the numerically unveiled fact that every Efimov trimer is accompanied by a pair of tetramers. Here we demonstrate that this hierarchy of universal few-body clusters has a topological origin by identifying the numbers of universal three- and four-body bound states with the winding numbers of the renormalization-group limit cycle in theory space. The finding suggests a topological phase transition in mass-imbalanced few-body systems which should be tested experimentally.

arXiv:1603.05328•Physical Review A•Nov 28, 2016•7 citations

Universality and scaling in the N -body sector of Efimov physics

M. Gattobigio, Alejandro Kievsky

Universal behavior has been found inside the window of Efimov physics for systems with $N=4,5,6$ particles. Efimov physics refers to the emergence of a number of three-body states in systems of identical bosons interacting via a short-range interaction becoming infinite at the verge of binding two particles. These Efimov states display a discrete scale invariance symmetry, with the scaling factor independent of the microscopic interaction. Their energies in the limit of zero-range interaction can be parametrized, as a function of the scattering length, by a universal function. We have found, using the form of finite-range scaling introduced by A. Kievsky and M. Gattobigio [Phys. Rev A 87, 052719 (2013)], that the same universal function can be used to parametrize the ground and excited energy of $N\ensuremath{\le}6$ systems inside the Efimov-physics window. Moreover, we show that the same finite-scale analysis reconciles experimental measurements of three-body binding energies with the universal theory.

arXiv:1309.1927•Physical Review A•Jul 2, 2014•49 citations

Few-body physics with functional renormalization

Sergej Moroz

In this thesis nonrelativistic few-body quantum physics is investigated with the method of functional renormalization. In particular, we discuss different theoretical aspects of few-body physics related to the Efimov effect. Our central finding is that this effect manifests itself as a renormalization group limit cycle. First, we treat the problem of a singular, inverse square potential in quantum mechanics. Then we examine the original Efimov problem of three particles interacting via a short-range two-body potential. Subsequently, we present a first step towards the renormalization group solution of the four-body quantum problem for bosons. Finally, a general theoretical feature of the Efimov physics, composite operators with complex scaling dimensions, are discussed.

•Jan 1, 2011•4 citations
The Efimov effect is the only experimentally realized universal phenomenon that exhibits the renormalization-group limit cycle with the three-body parameter parametrizing a family of universality classes. Recent experiments in ultracold atoms have unexpectedly revealed that the three-body parameter itself is universal when measured in units of an effective range. By performing an exact functional renormalization-group analysis with various finite-range interaction potentials, we demonstrate that the onset of the renormalization-group flow into the limit cycle is universal, regardless of short-range details, which connects the missing link between the two universalities of the Efimov physics. A close connection between the topological property of the limit cycle and few-body physics is also suggested.
In recent years extensive theoretical and experimental studies of universal few-body physics have advanced our understanding of universal Efimov physics. Whereas theory had been the driving force behind our understanding of Efimov physics for decades, recent experiments have contributed an unexpected discovery. Specifically, measurements have found that the so-called three-body parameter determining several properties of the system is universal, even though fundamental assumptions in the theory of the Efimov effect suggest that it should be a variable property that depends on the precise details of the short-range two- and three-body interactions. The present Letter resolves this apparent contradiction by elucidating previously unanticipated implications of the two-body interactions. Our study shows that the three-body parameter universality emerges because a universal effective barrier in the three-body potentials prevents the three particles from simultaneously getting close together. Our results also show limitations on this universality, as it is more likely to occur for neutral atoms but less likely to extend to light nuclei.
Physics is often said to be universal when microscopically distinct systems show the same lowenergy behavior.In critical phenomena, the universality of the second-order phase transition is elucidated by the renormalization-group (RG) method, which provides a powerful computational tool for the critical exponents of the power-law behavior of observables.In particular, the attraction of different RG-flow trajectories to a small-dimensional sub-theory space accounts for the universal nature.The attraction structure motivates us to extract universal physical observables by investigating the sub-theory space called the renormalized trajectory, onto which RG flows are attracted.To put the motivation forward, we consider the universality in quantum few-body physics, in which the RG exhibits another characteristic flow than the fixed points.The Efimov physics, which is renowned for self-similar trimer states, shows an RG limit-cycle behavior that refers to a periodic RG-flow trajectory.In this thesis, we investigate the relation between the RG limit cycle and the universality in Efimov physics.Firstly, to verify that the RG limit cycle is the renormalized trajectory in Efimov physics, we demonstrate that the RG-flow trajectories of microscopically distinct systems universally exhibit the RG limit-cycle behavior at sufficiently low energy, thereby giving a numerical evidence of the attraction structure of the RG-flow trajectories to the RG limit cycle; in other words, we show that the RG limit cycle behaves as an attractor of various RG flows.To address this point unbiasedly, we perform an exact RG calculation for various effective models of identical bosons that features Efimov physics at low energy.We apply an exact functional renormalization-group (FRG) method to effective separable models for various systems of identical bosons with short-range resonant interactions.For a given microscopic three-body model, we numerically demonstrate for the first time that the RG-flow trajectory converges at the RG limit cycle in the low-energy regime.Physical observables such as Efimov's scaling factor and the three-body parameter can be extracted from the RG limit cycle.Secondly, we investigate the role of RG limit cycle in a four-body extension of Efimov physics, which has attracted considerable attention in recent years.Although the universality in four-body physics has been established both theoretically and experimentally, the relationship between the RG limit cycle and the four-body physics remains an open question.By performing an FRG calculation for a simple effective field theory, we obtain for the first time the RG limit cycle in the four-body sector that reproduces the universality of the four-body physics.As the first attempt, we develop a simple separable pole approximation of the four-body FRG equation and successfully reproduce qualitative features of the four-body physics.A systematic improvement of the approximation quantitatively reproduces the numbers and the binding energies of tetramer states that emerge universally at low energy.2 The restriction r 0 < ∼ R < ∼ a on the length scale limits the binding energy E t of the Efimov trimers as ℏ ma 2 < ∼ E t < ∼ ℏ mr 2 0 .3 A similar discrete scale-invariant phenomenon is known for the doubly excited H -ion, in which two valence electrons are excited from their ground states [16].In the doubly excited H -ion, an interaction between an electron-
The low-energy spectrum of three particles interacting via nearly resonant two-body interactions in the Efimov regime is set by the so-called three-body parameter. We show that the three-body parameter is essentially determined by the zero-energy two-body correlation. As a result, we identify two classes of two-body interactions for which the three-body parameter has a universal value in units of their effective range. One class involves the universality of the three-body parameter recently found in ultracold atom systems. The other is relevant to short-range interactions that can be found in nuclear physics and solid-state physics.
Efimov physics is renowned for the self-similar spectrum featuring the universal ratio of one eigenenergy to its neighbor. Even more esoteric is the numerically unveiled fact that every Efimov trimer is accompanied by a pair of tetramers. Here we demonstrate that this hierarchy of universal few-body clusters has a topological origin by identifying the numbers of universal three- and four-body bound states with the winding numbers of the renormalization-group limit cycle in theory space. The finding suggests a topological phase transition in mass-imbalanced few-body systems which should be tested experimentally.
Universal behavior has been found inside the window of Efimov physics for systems with N=4,5,6N=4,5,6N=4,5,6 particles. Efimov physics refers to the emergence of a number of three-body states in systems of identical bosons interacting via a short-range interaction becoming infinite at the verge of binding two particles. These Efimov states display a discrete scale invariance symmetry, with the scaling factor independent of the microscopic interaction. Their energies in the limit of zero-range interaction can be parametrized, as a function of the scattering length, by a universal function. We have found, using the form of finite-range scaling introduced by A. Kievsky and M. Gattobigio [Phys. Rev A 87, 052719 (2013)], that the same universal function can be used to parametrize the ground and excited energy of $N\ensuremath{\le}6$ systems inside the Efimov-physics window. Moreover, we show that the same finite-scale analysis reconciles experimental measurements of three-body binding energies with the universal theory.
In this thesis nonrelativistic few-body quantum physics is investigated with the method of functional renormalization. In particular, we discuss different theoretical aspects of few-body physics related to the Efimov effect. Our central finding is that this effect manifests itself as a renormalization group limit cycle. First, we treat the problem of a singular, inverse square potential in quantum mechanics. Then we examine the original Efimov problem of three particles interacting via a short-range two-body potential. Subsequently, we present a first step towards the renormalization group solution of the four-body quantum problem for bosons. Finally, a general theoretical feature of the Efimov physics, composite operators with complex scaling dimensions, are discussed.