Quantum Phase Transitions and New Scales in QCD-Like Theories

[摘要] It is commonly believed that in confining vector-like gauge theories the center and chiral symmetry realizations are parametrically entangled, and if phase transitions occur, they must take place around the strong scale {Lambda}{sup -1} of the gauge theory. We demonstrate that (non-thermal) vector-like theories formulated on R{sup 3} x S{sup 1} where S{sup 1} is a spatial circle exhibit new dynamical scales and new phenomena. There are chiral phase transitions taking place at {Lambda}{sup -1}/N{sub c} in the absence of any change in center symmetry. {Lambda}{sup -1}/N{sub c}, invisible in (planar) perturbation theory, is also the scale where abelian versus non-abelian confinement regimes meet. Large N{sub c} volume independence (a working Eguchi-Kawai reduction) provides new insights and independently confirms the existence of these scales. We show that certain phases and scales are outside the reach of holographic (supergravity) modeling of QCD.

[发布日期] 2008-07-03

[学科分类] 物理（综合）

[关键词] CHIRAL SYMMETRY;CONFINEMENT;PERTURBATION THEORY;QUANTUM CHROMODYNAMICS;SIMULATION;SUPERGRAVITY;SYMMETRY Theory-HEP;HEPTH