In this thesis we study the connection between conformal symmetry breaking and the the renormalization group. In the first chapter we review the main properties of conformal field theories (CFTs), Wilsonian RG and describe how renormalization induces a flow between different CFTs. The prominent role is given to the trace of energy-momentum tensor (TEMT) as a measure for conformal symmetry violation. Scaling properties of supersymmetric gauge theories are also reviewed . In the second chapter the quantum action principle is introduced as a scheme for renormalizing composite operators. The framework is then applied to derive conditions for UV finiteness of two-point correlators of composite operators with special emphasis on TEMT. We then proceed to discuss the application of the Feynman-Hellmann theorem to evaluate gluon condensates. In the third chapter the basic elements the Trace anomaly on curved space are examined. The finiteness results from Chapter 2 are given physical meaning in relation with the RG flow of the geometrical quantity ~ d (coefficient of □R in the anomaly). The last chapter is dedicated to the a-theorem. First we apply some of the results derived in Chapter 3 to extend the known perturbative calculation for the flow of the central charge βa for gauge theories with Banks-Zaks fixed point. In the last part we review the main ideas of the recent proof of the a-theorem by Komargodski and Schwimmer and apply their formalism to re-derive the known non-perturbative formula for ∆ βa of SUSY conformal window theories.

xv, 177 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / In this dissertation, three different topics related to terascale physics are explored. First, a new method is suggested to match next-to-leading order (NLO) scattering matrix elements with parton showers. This method is based on the original approach which adds primary parton splittings in Born-level Feynman graphs in order to remove several types of infrared divergent subtractions from the NLO calculation. The original splitting functions are modified so that parton showering has a less severe effect on the jet structure of the generated events. We also examine the Large Hadron Collider phenomenology of quantum black holes in models of TeV scale gravity. Based on a few minimal assumptions, such as the conservation of color charges, interesting signatures are identified that should be readily visible above the Standard Model background. The detailed phenomenology depends heavily on whether one requires a Lorentz invariant, low-energy effective field theory description of black hole processes. Finally, in the calculation of cross sections in high energy collisions at NLO, one option is to perform all of the integrations, including the virtual loop integration, by Monte Carlo numerical integration. A new method is developed to perform the loop integration directly, without introducing Feynman parameters, after suitably deforming the integration contour. Our example is the N-photon scattering amplitude with a massless electron loop. Results for six photons and eight photons are reported. / Committee in charge: Stephen Hsu, Chairperson, Physics; Graham Kribs, Member, Physics; David Strom, Member, Physics; Davison Soper, Member, Physics; Marina Guenza, Outside Member, Chemistry

In 1948, Richard Feynman published the first paper on his new approach to non-relativistic quantum mechanics. Before Feynman's work there were two mathematical formulations of quantum mechanics. Schrödinger's formulation was based on PDE (the Schrödinger equation) and states representation by wave functions, so it was in the framework of analysis and differential equations. The other formulation was Heisenberg's matrix algebra. Initially, they were thought to be competing. The proponents of one claimed that the other was “ wrong. ” Within a couple of years, John von Neumann had proved that they are equivalent. Although Feynman's theory was not fundamentally new, it nonetheless offered an entirely fresh and different perspective: via a precise formulation of Bohr's correspondence principle, it made quantum mechanics similar to classical mechanics in a precise sense. In addition, Feynman's approach made it possible to explain physical experiments, and, via diagrams, link them directly to computations. What resulted was a very powerful device for computing energies and scattering amplitudes - the famous Feynman's diagrams. In his formulation, Feynman aimed at representing the solution to the non-relativistic Schrödinger equation in the form of an “ average ” over histories or paths of a particle. This solution is commonly known as the Feynman path integral. It plays an important role in the theory but appears as a postulate based on intuition coming from physics rather than a justified mathematical object. This is why Feynman's vision has caught the attention of many mathematicians as well as physicists. The papers of Gelfand, Cameron, and Nelson are among the first, and more substantial, attempts to supply Feynman's theory with a rigorous mathematical foundation. These attempts were followed by many others, but unfortunately all of them were not quite satisfactory. The difficulty comes from a need to define a measure on an infinite-dimensional space of continuous functions that represent all possible paths of a particle. This Feynman's measure has to produce an integral with the properties requested by Feynman. In particular, the expression for the Feynman measure has to involve the non-absolutely integrable Fresnel integrands. The non-absolute integrability of the Fresnel integrands makes the measure fail to be positive and to have the countably additive property. Thus, a well-defined measure in the case of the Feynman path integral does not exist. Extensive research has been done on the methods of relating the Feynman path integral to the integral with respect to the Wiener measure. The method of analytic continuation in mass defines the Feynman path integral as a certain limit of the Wiener integrals. Unfortunately, this method can be used as definition for only almost all values of the mass parameter in the Schrödinger equation. For physicists, this is not a satisfactory result and needs to be improved. In this work we examine those questions which originally led to the Feynman path integral. By now we know that Feynman's “ dream ” cannot be realized as a positive and countably additive measure on the path-space. Here, we offer a new way out by modifying Feynman's question, and thereby achieving a solution to the Schrödinger equation via a different kind of averages in the path-space. We give our version of the question that Feynman “ should have asked ” in order to realize the elusive path integral. In our formulation, we get a Feynman path integral as a limit of linear functionals, as opposed to the more familiar inductive limits of positive measures, traditionally used for constructing the Wiener measure, and related Gaussian families. We adapt here an approach pioneered by Patrick Muldowney. In it, Muldowney suggested a Henstock integration technique in order to deal with the non-absolute integrability of the kind of Fresnel integrals which we need in our solution to Feynman's question. By applying Henstock's theory to Fresnel integrals, we construct a complex-valued “ probability distribution functions ” on the path-space. Then we use this “ probability ” distribution function to define the Feynman path integral as an inductive limit. This establishes a mathematically rigorous Feynman limit, and at the same time, preserves Feynman's intuitive idea in resulting functional. In addition, our definition, and our solution, do not place any restrictions on any of the parameters in the Schrödinger equation, and have a potential to offer useful computational experiments, and other theoretical insights.

<p>This thesis studies infinite dimensional Gaussian measures on Banach spaces. Let $\mu_0$ be a centered Gaussian measure on Banach space $\mathcal B$, and $\mu^\ast$ is a measure equivalent to $\mu_0$. We are interested in approximating, in sense of relative entropy (or KL divergence) the quantity $\frac{d\mu^z}{d\mu^\ast}$ where $\mu^z$ is a mean shift measure of $\mu_0$ by an element $z$ in the so-called ``Cameron-Martin" space $\mathcal H_{\mu_0}$. That is, we want to find the information projection</p> <p><br></p> <p>$$\inf_{z\in \mathcal H_{\mu_0}} D_{KL}(\mu^z||\mu_0)=\inf_{z\in \mathcal H_{\mu_0}} E_{\mu^z} \left(\log \left(\frac{d\mu^z}{d\mu^\ast}\right)\right).$$</p> <p><br></p> <p>We relate this information projection to a mode computation, to an ``open loop" control problem, and to a variational formulation leading to an Euler-Lagrange equation. Furthermore, we use this relationship to establish a kind of Feynman-Kac theorem for systems of ordinary differential equations. We demonstrate that the solution to a system of second order linear ordinary differential equations is the mode of a diffusion, analogous to the result of Feynman-Kac for parabolic partial differential equations. </p>

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第19741号 / 工博第4196号 / 新制||工||1647(附属図書館) / 32777 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科分子工学専攻 / (主査)教授 田中 庸裕, 教授 佐藤 啓文, 教授 梶 弘典 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM

The goal of computational research in the fields of engineering, physics, chemistry or as a matter of fact in any field, is to study the properties of systems from the various principles available. In computational engineering, particularly in nano-scale simulations involving low-energy physics or chemistry, the goal is to model such structures and understand their properties from first principles or better known as \textit{Ab Initio} calculations. Geometry optimization is the basic component used in modeling molecules. The calculations involved are used to find the coordinates or the positions of the atoms of the molecule where it has the minimum energy and is hence stable. Efficient calculation of the forces acting on the atoms is the most important factor to be able to study the stable geometry of a molecule. In this thesis, the approach used begins with efficient electronic structure calculations using all electron calculations which paves the way for efficient force calculations. Kohn-Sham equations Density functional theory (DFT) are used to find the electron wave functions as accurately as possible using a finite element basis that introduces minimum errors in calculations. FEAST, a highly efficient density matrix based eigenvalue solver, is used to obtain accurate eigenvalues. Derivation of forces is done using the Hellmann-Feynman theorem. To find the minimum energy configuration of the system, Newton's iterative method is used that converges to the desired coordinates where the energy at the global minimum is found. The theory behind energy minimization and the calculations involved will be elaborated in this thesis and a method to move the atom in the existing framework will be discussed.

In the work described in this thesis, the Feynman-Dyson perturbation theory, developed from quantum field theory, was employed in semiempirical calculations on trans - polyacetylene. A variety of soliton-like excited states of the molecule were studied by the PPP-UHF-RPA method. The results of this study provide useful information on the nature of these states, which are thought to account for the unique electrical conduction properties of trans - polyacetylene and similar conducting polymers. Feynman-Dyson perturbation theory was also used to extend Hartree-Fock theory by the inclusion of time-independent second-order self-energy insertions. The results of calculations on polyenes show that consideration of this approach is warranted, as the contribution of the second- order terms is significant. The computer program, written during the course of the research reported here, is discussed as well. / Ph. D.

Wir untersuchen Feynman-Integrale in der Darstellung mit Schwinger-Parametern und leiten rekursive Integralgleichungen für masselose 3- und 4-Punkt-Funktionen her. Eigenschaften der analytischen (und dimensionalen) Regularisierung werden zusammengefasst und wir beweisen, dass in der Euklidischen Region jedes Feynman-Integral als eine Linearkombination konvergenter Feynman-Integrale geschrieben werden kann. Dies impliziert, dass man stets eine Basis aus konvergenten Masterintegralen wählen kann und somit divergente Integrale nicht selbst berechnet werden müssen. Weiterhin geben wir eine in sich geschlossene Darstellung der Theorie der Hyperlogarithmen und erklären detailliert die nötigen Algorithmen, um diese für die Berechnung mehrfacher Integrale anzuwenden. Wir definieren eine neue Methode um die Singularitäten solcher Integrale zu bestimmen und stellen ein Computerprogramm vor, welches die Integrationsalgorithmen implementiert. Unser Hauptresultat ist die Konstruktion unendlicher Familien masseloser 3- und 4-Punkt-Funktionen (diese umfassen unter anderem alle Leiter-Box-Graphen und deren Minoren), deren Feynman-Integrale zu allen Ordnungen in der epsilon-Entwicklung durch multiple Polylogarithmen dargestellt werden können. Diese Integrale können mit dem vorgestellten Programm explizit berechnet werden. Die Arbeit enthält interessante Beispiele von expliziten Ergebnissen für Feynman-Integrale mit bis zu 6 Schleifen. Insbesondere präsentieren wir den ersten exakt bestimmten Gegenterm in masseloser phi^4-Theorie, der kein multipler Zetawert ist sondern eine Linearkombination multipler Polylogarithmen, ausgewertet an primitiven sechsten Einheitswurzeln (und geteilt durch die Quadratwurzel aus 3). Zu diesem Zweck beweisen wir ein Paritätsresultat über die Zerlegbarkeit der Real- und Imaginärteile solcher Zahlen in Produkte und Beiträge geringerer Tiefe (depth). / We study Feynman integrals in the representation with Schwinger parameters and derive recursive integral formulas for massless 3- and 4-point functions. Properties of analytic (including dimensional) regularization are summarized and we prove that in the Euclidean region, each Feynman integral can be written as a linear combination of convergent Feynman integrals. This means that one can choose a basis of convergent master integrals and need not evaluate any divergent Feynman graph directly. Secondly we give a self-contained account of hyperlogarithms and explain in detail the algorithms needed for their application to the evaluation of multivariate integrals. We define a new method to track singularities of such integrals and present a computer program that implements the integration method. As our main result, we prove the existence of infinite families of massless 3- and 4-point graphs (including the ladder box graphs with arbitrary loop number and their minors) whose Feynman integrals can be expressed in terms of multiple polylogarithms, to all orders in the epsilon-expansion. These integrals can be computed effectively with the presented program. We include interesting examples of explicit results for Feynman integrals with up to 6 loops. In particular we present the first exactly computed counterterm in massless phi^4 theory which is not a multiple zeta value, but a linear combination of multiple polylogarithms at primitive sixth roots of unity (and divided by the square-root of 3). To this end we derive a parity result on the reducibility of the real- and imaginary parts of such numbers into products and terms of lower depth.

Die Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit zwei Themen: den nichtkommutativen Yang-Mills-Theorien und der AdS/CFT-Korrespondenz. Im ersten Teil wird eine teilweise Aufsummation der theta-entwickelten Störungstheorie untersucht. Letztere stellt einen Weg dar, nichtkommutative Yang-Mills-Theorien mit beliebigen Eichgruppen G als Störungsentwicklung im Nichtkommutativitätsparameter theta zu definieren. Es wird gezeigt, daß man im Fall, daß G eine echte Untergruppe von U(N) ist, die ungleich einer U(M) ist (M / This thesis addresses two topics: noncommutative Yang-Mills theories and the AdS/CFT correspondence. In the first part we study a partial summation of the theta-expanded perturbation theory. The latter allows one to define noncommutative Yang-Mills theories with arbitrary gauge groups G as a perturbation expansion in the noncommutativity parameter theta. We show that for G being a subset of U(N) but not equal to U(M), M

Cette thèse porte sur le développement de méthodes de Monte-Carlo pour calculer des représentations Feynman-Kac impliquant des opérateurs sous forme divergence avec un coefficient de diffusion constant par morceaux. Les méthodes proposées sont des variantes de la marche sur les sphères à l'intérieur des zones avec un coefficient de diffusion constant et des techniques de différences finies stochastiques pour traiter les conditions aux interfaces aussi bien que les conditions aux limites de différents types. En combinant ces deux techniques, on obtient des marches aléatoires dont le score calculé le long du chemin fourni un estimateur biaisé de la solution de l'équation aux dérivées partielles considérée. On montre que le biais global de notre algorithme est en général d'ordre deux par rapport au pas de différences finies. Ces méthodes sont ensuite appliquées au problème direct lié à la tomographie par impédance électrique pour la détection de tumeurs. Une technique de réduction de variance est également proposée dans ce cadre. On traite finalement du problème inverse de la détection de tumeurs à partir de mesures de surfaces à l'aide de deux algorithmes stochastiques basés sur une représentation paramétrique de la tumeur ou des tumeurs sous forme d'une ou plusieurs sphères. De nombreux essais numériques sont proposés et montrent des résultats probants dans la localisation des tumeurs. / This thesis deals with the development of Monte-Carlo methods to compute Feynman-Kac representations involving divergence form operators with a piecewise constant diffusion coefficient. The proposed methods are variations around the walk on spheres method inside the regions with a constant diffusion coefficient and stochastic finite differences techniques to treat the interface conditions as well as the different kinds of boundary conditions. By combining these two techniques, we build random walks which score computed along the walk gives us a biased estimator of the solution of the partial differential equation we consider. We prove that the global bias is in general of order two with respect to the finite difference step. These methods are then applied for tumour detection to the forward problem in electrical impedance tomography. A variance reduction technique is also proposed in this case. Finally, we treat the inverse problem of tumours detection from surface measurements using two stochastics algorithms based on a spherical parametric representation of the tumours. Many numerical tests are proposed and show convincing results in the localization of the tumours.