Showing papers on "Partition function (quantum field theory) published in 2012"

The exact superconformal R-symmetry extremizes Z

Abstract: The three sphere partition function, Z , of three dimensional theories with four supercharges and an R-symmetry is computed using localization, resulting in a matrix integral over the Cartan of the gauge group. There is a family of couplings to the curved background, parameterized by a choice of R-charge, such that supersymmetry is preserved; Z is a function of those parameters. The magnitude of the result is shown to be extremized for the superconformal R-charge of the infrared conformal field theory, in the absence of mixing of the R-symmetry with accidental symmetries. This exactly determines the IR superconformal R-charge.

Exact Results in D=2 Supersymmetric Gauge Theories

Abstract: We compute exactly the partition function of two dimensional N=(2,2) gauge theories on S^2 and show that it admits two dual descriptions: either as an integral over the Coulomb branch or as a sum over vortex and anti-vortex excitations on the Higgs branches of the theory. We further demonstrate that correlation functions in two dimensional Liouville/Toda CFT compute the S^2 partition function for a class of N=(2,2) gauge theories, thereby uncovering novel modular properties in two dimensional gauge theories. Some of these gauge theories flow in the infrared to Calabi-Yau sigma models - such as the conifold - and the topology changing flop transition is realized as crossing symmetry in Liouville/Toda CFT. Evidence for Seiberg duality in two dimensions is exhibited by demonstrating that the partition function of conjectured Seiberg dual pairs are the same.

The perturbative partition function of supersymmetric 5D Yang-Mills theory with matter on the five-sphere

Abstract: Based on the construction by Hosomichi, Seong and Terashima we consider N = 1 supersymmetric 5D Yang-Mills theory with matter on a five-sphere with radius r. This theory can be thought of as a deformation of the theory in flat space with deformation parameter r and this deformation preserves 8 supercharges. We calculate the full perturbative partition function as a function of $ {{{r} \left/ {{g_Y^2}} \right.}_M} $ , where $ {g_Y}_M $ is the Yang-Mills coupling, and the answer is given in terms of a matrix model. We perform the calculation using localization techniques. We also argue that in the large N-limit of this deformed 5D Yang-Mills theory this matrix model provides the leading contribution to the partition function and the rest is exponentially suppressed.

Directed polymers and the quantum Toda lattice

Abstract: We characterize the law of the partition function of a Brownian directed polymer model in terms of a diffusion process associated with the quantum Toda lattice. The proof is via a multidimensional generalization of a theorem of Matsumoto and Yor concerning exponential functionals of Brownian motion. It is based on a mapping which can be regarded as a geometric variant of the RSK correspondence.

Reducing the 4d index to the S 3 partition function

Abstract: The superconformal index of a 4d gauge theory is computed by a matrix integral arising from localization of the supersymmetric path integral on S 3 × S 1. As the radius of the circle goes to zero, it is natural to expect that the 4d path integral becomes the partition function of dimensionally reduced gauge theory on S 3. We show that this is indeed the case and recover the matrix integral of Kapustin, Willett and Yaakov from the matrix integral that computes the superconformal index. Remarkably, the superconformal index of the “parent” 4d theory can be thought of as the q-deformation of the 3d partition function.

Perturbative partition function for a squashed S^5

Abstract: We compute the index of 6d N=(1,0) theories on S^5 x R containing vector and hypermultiplets. We only consider the perturbative sector without instantons. By compactifying R to S^1 with a twisted boundary condition and taking the small radius limit, we derive the perturbative partition function on a squashed S^5. The 1-loop partition function is represented in a simple form with the triple sine function.

Approximation algorithms for two-state anti-ferromagnetic spin systems on bounded degree graphs

Abstract: In a seminal paper [12], Weitz gave a deterministic fully polynomial approximation scheme for counting exponentially weighted independent sets (equivalently, approximating the partition function of the hard-core model from statistical physics) on graphs of degree at most d, up to the critical activity for the uniqueness of the Gibbs measure on the infinite d-regular tree. More recently Sly [10] showed that this is optimal in the sense that if there is an FPRAS for the hard-core partition function on graphs of maximum degree d for activities larger than the critical activity on the infinite d-regular tree then NP = RP. In this paper, we extend Weitz's approach to derive a deterministic fully polynomial approximation scheme for the partition function of the anti-ferromagnetic Ising model with arbitrary field on graphs of maximum degree d, up to the corresponding critical point on the d-regular tree. The main ingredient of our result is a proof that for two-state anti-ferromagnetic spin systems on the d-regular tree, weak spatial mixing implies strong spatial mixing. This in turn uses a message-decay argument which extends a similar approach proposed recently for the hard-core model by Restrepo et al [9] to the case of the anti-ferromagnetic Ising model with arbitrary field. By a standard correspondence, these results translate to arbitrary two-state anti-ferromagnetic spin systems with soft constraints.

Exact abjm partition function from tba

Abstract: We report on the exact computation of the S3 partition function of U(N)k × U(N)-k ABJM theory for k = 1, N = 1, …, 19. The result is a polynomial in π-1 with rational coefficients. As an application of our results, we numerically determine the coefficient of the membrane 1-instanton correction to the partition function.

The Gravity Dual of the Ising Model

Abstract: We evaluate the partition function of three dimensional theories of gravity in the quantum regime, where the AdS radius is Planck scale and the central charge is of order one. The contribution from the AdS vacuum sector can – with certain assumptions – be computed and equals the vacuum character of a minimal model CFT. The torus partition function is given by a sum over geometries which is finite and computable. For generic values of Newton’s constant G and the AdS radius l the result has no Hilbert space interpretation, but in certain cases it agrees with the partition function of a known CFT. For example, the partition function of pure Einstein gravity with G = 3l equals that of the Ising model, providing evidence that these theories are dual. We also present somewhat weaker evidence that the 3-state and tricritical Potts models are dual to pure higher spin theories of gravity based on SL(3) and E6, respectively.

Approximating the partition function of the ferromagnetic Potts model

Abstract: We provide evidence that it is computationally difficult to approximate the partition function of the ferromagnetic q-state Potts model when q > 2. Specifically, we show that the partition function is hard for the complexity class #RHPi under approximation-preserving reducibility. Thus, it is as hard to approximate the partition function as it is to find approximate solutions to a wide range of counting problems, including that of determining the number of independent sets in a bipartite graph. Our proof exploits the first-order phase transition of the “random cluster” model, which is a probability distribution on graphs that is closely related to the q-state Potts model.

Inapproximability of the Partition Function for the Antiferromagnetic Ising and Hard-Core Models

Abstract: Recent inapproximability results of Sly (2010), together with an approximation algorithm presented by Weitz (2006) establish a beautiful picture for the computational complexity of approximating the partition function of the hard-core model. Let $\lambda_c(T_\Delta)$ denote the critical activity for the hard-model on the infinite $\Delta$-regular tree. Weitz presented an FPTAS for the partition function when $\lambda 0$ such that (unless RP=NP) there is no FPRAS for approximating the partition function on graphs of maximum degree $\Delta$ for activities $\lambda$ satisfying $\lambda_c(T_\Delta)<\lambda<\lambda_c(T_\Delta)+\epsilon_\Delta$. We prove that a similar phenomenon holds for the antiferromagnetic Ising model. Recent results of Li et al. and Sinclair et al. extend Weitz's approach to any 2-spin model, which includes the antiferromagnetic Ising model, to yield an FPTAS for the partition function for all graphs of constant maximum degree $\Delta$ when the parameters of the model lie in the uniqueness regime of the infinite tree $T_\Delta$. We prove the complementary result that for the antiferrogmanetic Ising model without external field that, unless RP=NP, for all $\Delta\geq 3$, there is no FPRAS for approximating the partition function on graphs of maximum degree $\Delta$ when the inverse temperature lies in the non-uniqueness regime of the infinite tree $T_\Delta$. Our results extend to a region of the parameter space for general 2-spin models. Our proof works by relating certain second moment calculations for random $\Delta$-regular bipartite graphs to the tree recursions used to establish the critical points on the infinite tree.

The refined BPS index from stable pair invariants

Abstract: A refinement of the stable pair invariants of Pandharipande and Thomas for non-compact Calabi-Yau spaces is introduced based on a virtual Bialynicki-Birula decomposition with respect to a C* action on the stable pair moduli space, or alternatively the equivariant index of Nekrasov and Okounkov. This effectively calculates the refined index for M-theory reduced on these Calabi-Yau geometries. Based on physical expectations we propose a product formula for the refined invariants extending the motivic product formula of Morrison, Mozgovoy, Nagao, and Szendroi for local P^1. We explicitly compute refined invariants in low degree for local P^2 and local P^1 x P^1 and check that they agree with the predictions of the direct integration of the generalized holomorphic anomaly and with the product formula. The modularity of the expressions obtained in the direct integration approach allows us to relate the generating function of refined PT invariants on appropriate geometries to Nekrasov's partition function and a refinement of Chern-Simons theory on a lens space. We also relate our product formula to wallcrossing.

On the Partition Function and Random Maximum A-Posteriori Perturbations

Abstract: In this paper we relate the partition function to the max-statistics of random variables. In particular, we provide a novel framework for approximating and bounding the partition function using MAP inference on randomly perturbed models. As a result, we can use efficient MAP solvers such as graph-cuts to evaluate the corresponding partition function. We show that our method excels in the typical "high signal - high coupling" regime that results in ragged energy landscapes difficult for alternative approaches.

Exact ABJM Partition Function from TBA

Abstract: We report on the exact computation of the S^3 partition function of U(N)_k\times U(N)_{-k} ABJM theory for k=1, N=1,...,19. The result is a polynomial in \pi^{-1} with rational coefficients. As an application of our results we numerically determine the coefficient of the membrane 1-instanton correction to the partition function.

The Partition Function of ABJ Theory

Abstract: We study the partition function of the N=6 supersymmetric U(N_1)_k x U(N_2)_{-k} Chern-Simons-matter (CSM) theory, also known as the ABJ theory. For this purpose, we first compute the partition function of the U(N_1) x U(N_2) lens space matrix model exactly. The result can be expressed as a product of q-deformed Barnes G-function and a generalization of multiple q-hypergeometric function. The ABJ partition function is then obtained from the lens space partition function by analytically continuing N_2 to -N_2. The answer is given by min(N_1,N_2)-dimensional integrals and generalizes the "mirror description" of the partition function of the ABJM theory, i.e. the N=6 supersymmetric U(N)_k x U(N)_{-k} CSM theory. Our expression correctly reproduces perturbative expansions and vanishes for |N_1-N_2|>k in line with the conjectured supersymmetry breaking, and the Seiberg duality is explicitly checked for a class of nontrivial examples.

S 3 /Z n partition function and dualities

Abstract: We investigate $ {S^3}/{{\mathbb{Z}}_n} $ partition function of $ \mathcal{N}=2 $ supersymmetric gauge theories. A gauge theory on the orbifold has degenerate vacua specified by the holonomy. The partition function is obtained by summing up the contributions of saddle points with different holonomies. An appropriate choice of the phase of each contribution is essential to obtain the partition function. We determine the relative phases in the holonomy sum in a few examples by using duality to non-gauge theories. In the case of odd n the phase factors can be absorbed by modifying a single function appearing in the partition function.

What Regularized Auto-Encoders Learn from the Data Generating Distribution

Abstract: What do auto-encoders learn about the underlying data generating distribution? Recent work suggests that some auto-encoder variants do a good job of capturing the local manifold structure of data. This paper clarifies some of these previous observations by showing that minimizing a particular form of regularized reconstruction error yields a reconstruction function that locally characterizes the shape of the data generating density. We show that the auto-encoder captures the score (derivative of the log-density with respect to the input). It contradicts previous interpretations of reconstruction error as an energy function. Unlike previous results, the theorems provided here are completely generic and do not depend on the parametrization of the auto-encoder: they show what the auto-encoder would tend to if given enough capacity and examples. These results are for a contractive training criterion we show to be similar to the denoising auto-encoder training criterion with small corruption noise, but with contraction applied on the whole reconstruction function rather than just encoder. Similarly to score matching, one can consider the proposed training criterion as a convenient alternative to maximum likelihood because it does not involve a partition function. Finally, we show how an approximate Metropolis-Hastings MCMC can be setup to recover samples from the estimated distribution, and this is confirmed in sampling experiments.

The Bethe Partition Function of Log-supermodular Graphical Models

Abstract: Sudderth, Wainwright, and Willsky conjectured that the Bethe approximation corresponding to any fixed point of the belief propagation algorithm over an attractive, pairwise binary graphical model provides a lower bound on the true partition function. In this work, we resolve this conjecture in the affirmative by demonstrating that, for any graphical model with binary variables whose potential functions (not necessarily pairwise) are all log-supermodular, the Bethe partition function always lower bounds the true partition function. The proof of this result follows from a new variant of the “four functions” theorem that may be of independent interest.

Matrix models for supersymmetric Chern-Simons theories with an ADE classification

Abstract: We consider $ \mathcal{N} $ = 3 supersymmetric Chern-Simons (CS) theories that contain product U(N ) gauge groups and bifundamental matter fields. Using the matrix model of Kapustin, Willett and Yaakov, we examine the Euclidean partition function of these theories on an S 3 in the large N limit. We show that the only such CS theories for which the long range forces between the eigenvalues cancel have quivers which are in one-to-one correspondence with the simply laced affine Dynkin diagrams. As the A n series was studied in detail before, in this paper we compute the partition function for the D 4 quiver. The D 4 example gives further evidence for a conjecture that the saddle point eigenvalue distribution is determined by the distribution of gauge invariant chiral operators. We also see that the partition function is invariant under a generalized Seiberg duality for CS theories.

Interacting fermions and N=2 Chern-Simons-matter theories

Abstract: The partition function on the three-sphere of N=3 Chern-Simons-matter theories can be formulated in terms of an ideal Fermi gas. In this paper we show that, in theories with N=2 supersymmetry, the partition function corresponds to a gas of interacting fermions in one dimension. The large N limit is the thermodynamic limit of the gas and it can be analyzed with the Hartree and Thomas-Fermi approximations, which lead to the known large N solutions of these models. We use this interacting fermion picture to analyze in detail N=2 theories with one single node. In the case of theories with no long-range forces we incorporate exchange effects and argue that the partition function is given by an Airy function, as in N=3 theories. For the theory with g adjoint superfields and long-range forces, the Thomas-Fermi approximation leads to an integral equation which determines the large N, strongly coupled R-charge.

Self-dual noncommutative \phi^4-theory in four dimensions is a non-perturbatively solvable and non-trivial quantum field theory

Abstract: We study quartic matrix models with partition function Z[E,J]=\int dM \exp(trace(JM-EM^2-(\lambda/4)M^4)). The integral is over the space of Hermitean NxN-matrices, the external matrix E encodes the dynamics, \lambda>0 is a scalar coupling constant and the matrix J is used to generate correlation functions. For E not a multiple of the identity matrix, we prove a universal algebraic recursion formula which gives all higher correlation functions in terms of the 2-point function and the distinct eigenvalues of E. The 2-point function itself satisfies a closed non-linear equation which must be solved case by case for given E. These results imply that if the 2-point function of a quartic matrix model is renormalisable by mass and wavefunction renormalisation, then the entire model is renormalisable and has vanishing \beta-function. As main application we prove that Euclidean \phi^4-quantum field theory on four-dimensional Moyal space with harmonic propagation, taken at its self-duality point and in the infinite volume limit, is exactly solvable and non-trivial. This model is a quartic matrix model, where E has for N->\infty the same spectrum as the Laplace operator in 4 dimensions. Using the theory of singular integral equations of Carleman type we compute (for N->\infty and after renormalisation of E,\lambda) the free energy density (1/volume)\log(Z[E,J]/Z[E,0]) exactly in terms of the solution of a non-linear integral equation. Existence of a solution is proved via the Schauder fixed point theorem. The derivation of the non-linear integral equation relies on an assumption which we verified numerically for coupling constants 0<\lambda\leq (1/\pi).

S^3/Z_n partition function and dualities

Abstract: We investigate S^3/Z_n partition function of N = 2 supersymmetric gauge theories. A gauge theory on the orbifold has degenerate vacua specified by the holonomy. The partition function is obtained by summing up the contributions of saddle points with different holonomies. An appropriate choice of the phase of each contribution is essential to obtain the partition function. We determine the relative phases in the holonomy sum in a few examples by using duality to non-gauge theories. In the case of odd n the phase factors can be absorbed by modifying a single function appearing in the partition function.

Hydrodynamics in 1+1 dimensions with gravitational anomalies

Abstract: The constraints imposed on hydrodynamics by the structure of gauge and gravitational anomalies are studied in two dimensions By explicit integration of the consistent gravitational anomaly, we derive the equilibrium partition function at second derivative order This partition function is then used to compute the parity-violating part of the covariant energy-momentum tensor and the transport coefficients

The perturbative partition function of supersymmetric 5D Yang-Mills theory with matter on the five-sphere

Abstract: Based on the construction by Hosomichi, Seong and Terashima we consider N=1 supersymmetric 5D Yang-Mills theory with matter on a five-sphere with radius r. This theory can be thought of as a deformation of the theory in flat space with deformation parameter r and this deformation preserves 8 supercharges. We calculate the full perturbative partition function as a function of r/g^2, where g is the Yang-Mills coupling, and the answer is given in terms of a matrix model. We perform the calculation using localization techniques. We also argue that in the large N-limit of this deformed 5D Yang-Mills theory this matrix model provides the leading contribution to the partition function and the rest is exponentially suppressed.

Effective gluon potential and hybrid approach to Yang-Mills thermodynamics

Abstract: We derive the partition function for the SU(3) Yang-Mills theory in the presence of a uniform gluon field within the background field method. We show that the $n$-body gluon contributions in the partition function are characterized solely by the Polyakov loop. We express the effective action through characters of different representations of the color gauge group resulting in a form deduced in the strong-coupling expansion. A striking feature of this potential is that at low temperature gluons are physically disfavored, and therefore they do not yield the correct thermodynamics. We suggest a hybrid approach to Yang-Mills thermodynamics, combining the effective gluon potential with glueballs implemented as dilaton fields.

First-principles calculations of rovibrational energies, dipole transition intensities and partition function for ethylene using MULTIMODE.

Abstract: Large-scale, rovibrational variational calculations are performed for ethylene, using the potential energy surface published by Avila and Carrington [J. Chem. Phys. 135, 064101 (2011)]. Energies for J = 0 are in very good agreement with their benchmark results. Corresponding energies for J = 1 and J = 2 are also given. Calculations with a slightly reduced basis permit energies to J = 40, allowing a reliable determination of the partition function at 296 K. Using a new ab initio dipole moment surface, reported here, the infrared spectra of five dipole-allowed fundamentals are calculated. Both the partition function and infrared spectra are shown to be in excellent agreement with those in the experimental HITRAN database, with the exception of one band, which we believe is partially mis-assigned in HITRAN.

Metaplectic Whittaker Functions and Crystals of Type B

Abstract: The spherical metaplectic Whittaker function on the double cover of Sp (2r, F), where F is a nonarchimedean local field, is considered from several different points of view. Previously, an expression, similar to the Casselman–Shalika formula, had been given by Bump, Friedberg, and Hoffstein as a sum is over the Weyl group. It is shown that this coincides with the expression for the p-parts of Weyl group multiple Dirichlet series of type B r as defined by the averaging method of Chinta and Gunnells. Two conjectural expressions as sums over crystals of type B are given and another as the partition function of a free-fermionic six-vertex model system.

N=2 gauge theories on toric singularities, blow-up formulae and W-algebrae

Abstract: We compute the Nekrasov partition function of gauge theories on the (resolved) toric singularities C^2/\Gamma in terms of blow-up formulae. We discuss the expansion of the partition function in the \epsilon_1,\epsilon_2 \to 0 limit along with its modular properties and how to derive them from the M-theory perspective. On the two-dimensional conformal field theory side, our results can be interpreted in terms of representations of the direct sum of Heisenberg plus W_N-algebrae with suitable central charges, which can be computed from the fan of the resolved toric variety.We provide a check of this correspondence by computing the central charge of the two-dimensional theory from the anomaly polynomial of M5-brane theory. Upon using the AGT correspondence our results provide a candidate for the conformal blocks and three-point functions of a class of the two-dimensional CFTs which includes parafermionic theories.