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Microscopic identification of dissipative modes in relativistic field theories

Yohei Saito, Hirotsugu Fujii, Kazunori Itakura A, Osamu Morimatsu

Published Jan 1, 2015• 1 citation
OpenAlex

Abstract

We present an argument to support the existence of dissipative modes in relativistic field theories. For an O(N) ϕ4 theory in spatial dimension 1 ≤ d ≤ 3, the two-point function of ϕ is shown to develop a pole of the form p0 ∼ i−1(p2 + m2) at small energy p0 and momentum p, with a nonzero finite coefficient or relaxation constant,, when evaluated in the two-particle irreducible (2PI) framework at the next-leading order (NLO) of 1/N expansion. In contrast, an NLO calcu-lation in the one-particle irreducible (1PI) framework fails to give a nonzero . The dissipative mode emerges from multiple scattering of a particle with other particles, which is appropriately treated in the 2PI–NLO calculation through the resummation of secular terms to improve the long-time behavior of the two-point function. Assuming that this slow dissipative mode survives at the critical point, one can identify the dynamic critical exponent z for the two-point function as z = 2 − η. We also discuss possible improvement of the result. Subject Index A40, A52

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Microscopic identification of dissipative modes in relativistic field theories

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Kadanoff-Baym Theory for Thermalization of Quantum Fields

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We present a theoretical study of thermalization of quantum fields with Kadanoff-Baym (KB) equation. First we introduce a field theoretical technique known as 2 Particle Irreducible (2PI) effective action and review derivation of equation of motion for mean fields and fluctuations, then derive Kadanoff-Baym equation in scalar and gauge theories. In order to analyze thermalization processes we introduce relativistic entropy current based on the first order gradient expansion of Kadanoff-Baym equation. Then we show that in taking into account next-to-leading order (NLO) self-energy of the coupling expansion in φ4 theory (in symmetric phase <φ^> = 0), it is possible to prove the H-theorem within the 1st order gradient expansion. We also show that it is possible to prove the H-theorem for KB equation with NLO self-energy of 1/N expansion in O(N) theory (in symmetric phase). Furthermore we suggest a possibility for H-theorem to be satisfied in KB equation with leading-order (LO) self-energy of the coupling expansion in non-Abelian gauge theory. In d+1 dimensions (d>2) LO particle number changing processes, such as 0-to-3, 1-to-2 and 2-to-1, which are prohibited in the normal Boltzmann approach with on-shell particles, may contribute to entropy production in KB approach although we must deal with gauge dependence and infrared divergence to complete the proof. Next we perform numerical simulations in spatially homogeneous configurations to investigate thermalization properties of the system in 1+1 and 2+1 dimensions for φ4 theory with NLO self-energy of the coupling expansion and 1+1 dimensions for O(N) theory with NLO self-energy of 1/N expansion. We also estimate the time evolution of the kinetic entropy in the case of scalar φ4 and O(N) theory. Then we find that at later times X0≫1/m, where m represents mass of particles, the kinetic entropy increases monotonically and approaches the equilibrium value, although the limited time interval at the earlier times X0~1/m invalidates the use of it. No thermalization occurs in the simulations with the normal Boltzmann equation with 2-to-2 collision term in 1+1 dimensions, while it occurs in the simulations with KB equation in 1+1 dimensions. It is due to two types of offshell effects: memory effects and spectral functions with the decay width.

•Mar 24, 2010•0 citations
We present an argument to support the existence of dissipative modes in relativistic field theories. For an O(N) ϕ4 theory in spatial dimension 1 ≤ d ≤ 3, the two-point function of ϕ is shown to develop a pole of the form p0 ∼ i−1(p2 + m2) at small energy p0 and momentum p, with a nonzero finite coefficient or relaxation constant,, when evaluated in the two-particle irreducible (2PI) framework at the next-leading order (NLO) of 1/N expansion. In contrast, an NLO calcu-lation in the one-particle irreducible (1PI) framework fails to give a nonzero . The dissipative mode emerges from multiple scattering of a particle with other particles, which is appropriately treated in the 2PI–NLO calculation through the resummation of secular terms to improve the long-time behavior of the two-point function. Assuming that this slow dissipative mode survives at the critical point, one can identify the dynamic critical exponent z for the two-point function as z = 2 − η. We also discuss possible improvement of the result. Subject Index A40, A52
We present an argument to support the existence of dissipative modes in relativistic field theories. For an |O(N)O(N)O(N)||φ4\varphi ^4φ4| theory in spatial dimension |1≤d≤31\leq d\le 31≤d≤3|⁠, the two-point function of |φ\varphiφ| is shown to develop a pole of the form |p0∼iΓ−1(p2+m2)p_0\sim i\Gamma ^{-1} ({\boldsymbol{{ {p}}}}^2+m^2)p0​∼iΓ−1(p2+m2)| at small energy |p0p_0p0​| and momentum |p{\boldsymbol{{ {p}}}}p|⁠, with a nonzero finite coefficient or relaxation constant, |Γ\GammaΓ|⁠, when evaluated in the two-particle irreducible (2PI) framework at the next-leading order (NLO) of |1/N1/N1/N| expansion. In contrast, an NLO calculation in the one-particle irreducible (1PI) framework fails to give a nonzero |Γ\GammaΓ|⁠. The dissipative mode emerges from multiple scattering of a particle with other particles, which is appropriately treated in the 2PI–NLO calculation through the resummation of secular terms to improve the long-time behavior of the two-point function. Assuming that this slow dissipative mode survives at the critical point, one can identify the dynamic critical exponent |zzz| for the two-point function as |z=2−ηz=2-\etaz=2−η|⁠. We also discuss possible improvement of the result.
We study the dynamic critical exponent from effective and microscopic theories. We employ a simple TDGL model, or model A in the classification of Hohenberg and Halperin, as an effective theory and the imaginary time formalism of the finite-temperature filed theory as a microscopic theory. Taking an O(N) scalar model as an example and carrying out the 1/N expansion up to the NLO in the 1PI and 2PI effective actions, we compare the low-energy and low-momentum behavior of the response function in the effective theory and of the retarded Green's function in the microscopic theory. At the NLO of the 1PI 1/N expansion the low-energy and low-momentum behavior of the two-point function is very much different in the microscopic and effective theories: in the field theory it is dominated by the propagating mode while in model A it is dominated by the diffusive mode. Also, in the microscopic theory the dynamic critical exponent, z, depends on whether the kinematics is relativistic or nonrelativistic. In contrast, at the NLO of the 2PI 1/N expansion the microscopic and effective theories are equivalent. They satisfy exactly the same Kadanoff-Baym equation. Also, whether the kinematics is relativistic or nonrelativistic in the microscopic theory becomes irrelevant. This implies that the diffusive mode with z = 2 + O(1/N) is dominant at low energies and momenta even in the microscopic theory at the NLO of the 2PI 1/N expansion, though we do not explicitly solve the Kadanoff-Baym equation. We also try to improve the calculation of the dynamic critical exponent of model A by incorporating the static 2PI NLO correlations. The obtained critical exponent is slightly smaller than the previous result and its N dependence is also milder than the previous one.
From quantum to classical dynamics: Dynamic crossover in the relativistic O(N)O(N)O(N) model
We investigate the transition from unitary to dissipative dynamics in the relativistic O(N)O(N)O(N) vector model with the λ(φ2)2\lambda (\varphi^{2})^{2}λ(φ2)2 interaction using the nonperturbative functional renormalization group in the real-time formalism. In thermal equilibrium, the theory is characterized by two scales, the interaction range for coherent scattering of particles and the mean free path determined by the rate of incoherent collisions with excitations in the thermal medium. Their competition determines the renormalization group flow and the effective dynamics of the model. Here we quantify the dynamic properties of the model in terms of the scale-dependent dynamic critical exponent zzz in the limit of large temperatures and in 2≤d≤42 \leq d \leq 42≤d≤4 spatial dimensions. We contrast our results to the behavior expected at vanishing temperature and address the question of the appropriate dynamic universality class for the given microscopic theory.
A field theory approach for the nonequilibrium relaxation dynamics in open systems at late times is developed. In the absence of conservation laws, all excitations are subject to dissipation. Nevertheless, ordered stationary states satisfy Goldstone's theorem. It implies a vanishing damping rate at small momenta, which in turn allows for competition between environment-induced dissipation and thermalization due to collisions. We derive the dynamic theory in the symmetry-broken phase of an O(N)O(N)O(N)-symmetric field theory based on an expansion of the two-particle irreducible (2PI) effective action to next-to-leading order in 1/N1/N1/N and highlight the analogies and differences to the corresponding theory for closed systems. A central result of this approach is the systematic derivation of an open-system Boltzmann equation, which takes a very different form from its closed-system counterpart due to the absence of well-defined quasiparticles. As a consequence of the general structure of its derivation, it applies to open, gapless field theories that satisfy certain testable conditions, which we identify here. Specifically for the O(N)O(N)O(N) model, we use scaling analysis and numerical simulations to show that interactions are screened efficiently at small momenta and, therefore, the late-time evolution is effectively collisionless. This implies that fluctuations induced by a quench dissipate into the environment before they thermalize. Goldstone's theorem also constrains the dynamics far from equilibrium, which is used to show that the order parameter equilibrates more quickly for quenches preserving the O(N)O(N)O(N) symmetry than those breaking it explicitly.
The perturbative approach to the description of long-wavelength excitations at high temperature breaks down near the critical point of a second order phase transition. We study the dynamics of these excitations in a relativistic scalar field theory at and near the critical point via a renormalization group approach at high temperature and an $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ expansion in $d=5\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ space-time dimensions. The long-wavelength physics is determined by a nontrivial fixed point of the renormalization group. At the critical point we find that the dispersion relation and width of quasiparticles of momentum p are ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{p}\ensuremath{\sim}{p}^{z}$ and ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{p}\ensuremath{\sim}(z\ensuremath{-}1){\ensuremath{\omega}}_{p},$ respectively, and the group velocity of quasiparticles ${v}_{g}\ensuremath{\sim}{p}^{z\ensuremath{-}1}$ vanishes in the long-wavelength limit at the critical point. Away from the critical point for $T\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{T}_{c}$ we find ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{p}\ensuremath{\sim}{\ensuremath{\xi}}^{\ensuremath{-}z}[1+(p\ensuremath{\xi}{)}^{2z}{]}^{1/2}$ and ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{p}\ensuremath{\sim}(z\ensuremath{-}1){\ensuremath{\omega}}_{p}(p\ensuremath{\xi}{)}^{2z}/[1+(p\ensuremath{\xi}{)}^{2z}]$ with $\ensuremath{\xi}$ the finite temperature correlation length $\ensuremath{\xi}\ensuremath{\propto}|T\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c}{|}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\nu}}.$ The new dynamical exponent z results from anisotropic renormalization in the spatial and time directions. For a theory with O(N)O(N)O(N) symmetry we find $z=1+\ensuremath{\epsilon}{(N+2)/(N+8)}^{2}+\mathcal{O}({\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{2}).$ This dynamical critical exponent describes a new universality class for dynamical critical phenomena in quantum field theory. Critical slowing down, i.e., a vanishing width in the long-wavelength limit, and the validity of the quasiparticle picture emerge naturally from this analysis.
We present a theoretical study of thermalization of quantum fields with Kadanoff-Baym (KB) equation. First we introduce a field theoretical technique known as 2 Particle Irreducible (2PI) effective action and review derivation of equation of motion for mean fields and fluctuations, then derive Kadanoff-Baym equation in scalar and gauge theories. In order to analyze thermalization processes we introduce relativistic entropy current based on the first order gradient expansion of Kadanoff-Baym equation. Then we show that in taking into account next-to-leading order (NLO) self-energy of the coupling expansion in φ4 theory (in symmetric phase <φ^> = 0), it is possible to prove the H-theorem within the 1st order gradient expansion. We also show that it is possible to prove the H-theorem for KB equation with NLO self-energy of 1/N expansion in O(N) theory (in symmetric phase). Furthermore we suggest a possibility for H-theorem to be satisfied in KB equation with leading-order (LO) self-energy of the coupling expansion in non-Abelian gauge theory. In d+1 dimensions (d>2) LO particle number changing processes, such as 0-to-3, 1-to-2 and 2-to-1, which are prohibited in the normal Boltzmann approach with on-shell particles, may contribute to entropy production in KB approach although we must deal with gauge dependence and infrared divergence to complete the proof. Next we perform numerical simulations in spatially homogeneous configurations to investigate thermalization properties of the system in 1+1 and 2+1 dimensions for φ4 theory with NLO self-energy of the coupling expansion and 1+1 dimensions for O(N) theory with NLO self-energy of 1/N expansion. We also estimate the time evolution of the kinetic entropy in the case of scalar φ4 and O(N) theory. Then we find that at later times X0≫1/m, where m represents mass of particles, the kinetic entropy increases monotonically and approaches the equilibrium value, although the limited time interval at the earlier times X0~1/m invalidates the use of it. No thermalization occurs in the simulations with the normal Boltzmann equation with 2-to-2 collision term in 1+1 dimensions, while it occurs in the simulations with KB equation in 1+1 dimensions. It is due to two types of offshell effects: memory effects and spectral functions with the decay width.