Jose I. Latorre

Entanglement in quantum critical phenomena

Entanglement, one of the most intriguing features of quantum theory and a main resource in quantum information science, is expected to play a crucial role also in the study of quantum phase transitions, where it is responsible for the appearance of long-range correlations. We investigate, through a microscopic calculation, the scaling properties of entanglement in spin chain systems, both near and at a quantum critical point. Our results establish a precise connection between concepts of quantum information, condensed matter physics, and quantum field theory, by showing that the behavior of critical entanglement in spin systems is analogous to that of entropy in conformal field theories. We explore some of the implications of this connection.

Parton distributions with LHC data

We present the first determination of parton distributions of the nucleon at NLO and NNLO based on a global data set which includes LHC data: NNPDF2.3. Our data set includes, besides the deep inelastic, Drell-Yan, gauge boson production and jet data already used in previous global PDF determinations, all the relevant LHC data for which experimental systematic uncertainties are currently available: ATLAS and LHCb W and Z rapidity distributions from the 2010 run, CMS W electron asymmetry data from the 2011 run, and ATLAS inclusive jet cross-sections from the 2010 run. We introduce an improved implementation of the FastKernel method which allows us to fit to this extended data set, and also to adopt a more effective minimization methodology. We present the NNPDF2.3 PDF sets, and compare them to the NNPDF2.1 sets to assess the impact of the LHC data. We find that all the LHC data are broadly consistent with each other and with all the older data sets included in the fit. We present predictions for various standard candle cross-sections, and compare them to those obtained previously using NNPDF2.1, and specifically discuss the impact of ATLAS electroweak data on the determination of the strangeness fraction of the proton. We also present collider PDF sets, constructed using only data from HERA, Tevatron and LHC, but find that this data set is neither precise nor complete enough for a competitive PDF determination.

Parton distributions for the LHC Run II

A bstractWe present NNPDF3.0, the first set of parton distribution functions (PDFs) determined with a methodology validated by a closure test. NNPDF3.0 uses a global dataset including HERA-II deep-inelastic inclusive cross-sections, the combined HERA charm data, jet production from ATLAS and CMS, vector boson rapidity and transverse momentum distributions from ATLAS, CMS and LHCb, W +c data from CMS and top quark pair production total cross sections from ATLAS and CMS. Results are based on LO, NLO and NNLO QCD theory and also include electroweak corrections. To validate our methodology, we show that PDFs determined from pseudo-data generated from a known underlying law correctly reproduce the statistical distributions expected on the basis of the assumed experimental uncertainties. This closure test ensures that our methodological uncertainties are negligible in comparison to the generic theoretical and experimental uncertainties of PDF determination. This enables us to determine with confidence PDFs at different perturbative orders and using a variety of experimental datasets ranging from HERA-only up to a global set including the latest LHC results, all using precisely the same validated methodology. We explore some of the phenomenological implications of our results for the upcoming 13 TeV Run of the LHC, in particular for Higgs production cross-sections.

Impact of heavy quark masses on parton distributions and LHC phenomenology

Abstract We present a determination of the parton distributions of the nucleon from a global set of hard scattering data using the NNPDF methodology including heavy quark mass effects: NNPDF2.1. In comparison to the previous NNPDF2.0 parton determination, the dataset is enlarged to include deep-inelastic charm structure function data. We implement the FONLL-A general-mass scheme in the FastKernel framework and assess its accuracy by comparison to the Les Houches heavy quark benchmarks. We discuss the impact on parton distributions of the treatment of the heavy quark masses, and we provide a determination of the uncertainty in the parton distributions due to uncertainty in the masses. We assess the impact of these uncertainties on LHC observables by providing parton sets with different values of the charm and bottom quark masses. Finally, we construct and discuss parton sets with a fixed number of flavors.

A first unbiased global NLO determination of parton distributions and their uncertainties

We present a determination of the parton distributions of the nucleon from a global set of hard scattering data using the NNPDF methodology: NNPDF2.0. Experimental data include deep-inelastic scattering with the combined HERA-I dataset, fixed target Drell-Yan production, collider weak boson production and inclusive jet production. Next-to-leading order QCD is used throughout without resorting to K-factors. We present and utilize an improved fast algorithm for the solution of evolution equations and the computation of general hadronic processes. We introduce improved techniques for the training of the neural networks which are used as parton parametrization, and we use a novel approach for the proper treatment of normalization uncertainties. We assess quantitatively the impact of individual datasets on PDFs. We find very good consistency of all datasets with each other and with NLO QCD, with no evidence of tension between datasets. Some PDF combinations relevant for LHC observables turn out to be determined rather more accurately than in any other parton fit

Differential regularization and renormalization: a new method of calculation in quantum field theory☆

Abstract Most primitively divergent Feynman diagrams are well defined in x -space but too singular at short distances for transformation to p -space. A new method of regularization is developed in which singular functions are written as derivatives of less singular functions which contain a logarithmic mass scale. The Fourier transform is then defined by formal integration by parts. The procedure is extended to graphs with divergent subgraphs. No explicit cutoff or counter-terms are required, and the method automatically delivers renormalized amplitudes which satisfy Callan-Symanzik equations. These features are thoroughly explored in massless φ 4 theory through 3-loop order, and the method yields explicit functional forms for all amplitudes with less difficulty than conventional methods which use dimensional regularization in p -space. The procedure also appears to be compatible with gauge invariance and the chiral structure of the standard model. This aspect is tested in extensive 1-loop calculations which include the Ward identity in quantum electrodynamics, the chiral anomaly, and the background field algorithm in non-abelian gauge theories.

c-theorem and spectral representation

Abstract Zamolodchikovs c -theorem is reformulated by using the spectral representation for the two-point function of the stress tensor. This approach makes explicit the unitarity constraints on the field theory and implements a nice physical picture of the renormalization group flow. An attempt is made to generalize the theorem above two space-time dimensions. There are two candidate c -functions, the spectral densities for spin-zero and spin-two intermediate states. The latter one is ruled out by means of examples. The spin-zero density can satisfy a generalized c -theorem, if the corresponding “central charge” is well defined at the fixed points. A meaningful charge is obtained by defining the theory on curved hyperbolic space. However, its limit to flat space needs some assumptions which seem to hold for free theories only. As a by-product, the trace anomaly in four dimensions is related to the spectral densities.

Generalized Schmidt Decomposition and Classification of Three-Quantum-Bit States

We prove for any pure three-quantum-bit state the existence of local bases which allow one to build a set of five orthogonal product states in terms of which the state can be written in a unique form. This leads to a canonical form which generalizes the two-quantum-bit Schmidt decomposition. It is uniquely characterized by the five entanglement parameters. It leads to a complete classification of the three-quantum-bit states. It shows that the right outcome of an adequate local measurement always erases all entanglement between the other two parties.

Precision determination of electroweak parameters and the strange content of the proton from neutrino deep-inelastic scattering

Abstract We use recent neutrino dimuon production data combined with a global deep-inelastic parton fit to construct a new parton set, NNPDF1.2, which includes a determination of the strange and antistrange distributions of the nucleon. The result is characterized by a faithful estimation of uncertainties thanks to the use of the NNPDF methodology, and is free of model or theoretical assumptions other than the use of NLO perturbative QCD and exact sum rules. Better control of the uncertainties of the strange and antistrange parton distributions allows us to reassess the determination of electroweak parameters from the NuTeV dimuon data. We perform a direct determination of the | V cd | and | V cs | CKM matrix elements, obtaining central values in agreement with the current global CKM fit: specifically we find | V cd | = 0.244 ± 0.019 and | V cs | = 0.96 ± 0.07 . Our result for | V cs | is more precise than any previous direct determination. We also reassess the uncertainty on the NuTeV determination of sin 2 θ W through the Paschos–Wolfenstein relation: we find that the very large uncertainties in the strange valence momentum fraction are sufficient to bring the NuTeV result into complete agreement with the results from precision electroweak data.

SCHEME INDEPENDENCE AND THE EXACT RENORMALIZATION GROUP

Abstract We compute critical exponents in a Z2 symmetric scalar field theory in three dimensions, using Wilsons exact renormalization group equations expanded in powers of derivatives. A nontrivial relation between these exponents is confirmed explicitly at the first two orders in the derivative expansion. At leading order all our results are cutoff independent, while at next-to-leading order they are not, and the determination of critical exponents becomes ambiguous. We discuss the possible ways in which this scheme ambiguity might be resolved.