Going with the flow: a new solution to the sign problem

Başar, Gökçe

doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2017.05.004

Title: Going with the flow: a new solution to the sign problem

Journal Article · 25 September 2017 · Nuclear Physics. A

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2017.05.004 · OSTI ID:1502403

Başar, Gökçe ^[1]

Univ. of Illinois, Chicago, IL (United States)

Here, we discuss a novel solution for the sign problem which prevents first principle Monte-Carlo computations of QCD at finite chemical potential (especially important for both the search for the critical point and neutron star physics) as well as real time quantities such as transport coefficients. The solution is based on deforming the region of integration in the path integral into a complex manifold where the sign problem can be mitigated substantially. We explain the new Monte-Carlo algorithm based on this idea and give examples of interacting quantum field theories (bosonic and fermionic) with nonzero chemical potential as well as real time dynamics where this method successfully solves the sign problem. Furthermore this approach generalizes the ”Lefschetz thimble” method that received much attention lately. We also compare/contrast with the complex Langevin method.

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