The matrix model of two-color one-flavor QCD: The ultra-strong coupling regime

TL;DR

This paper uses variational methods to numerically analyze a matrix model of two-color one-flavor QCD at ultra-strong coupling, revealing complex quantum phase transitions, sector-dependent properties, and a phase diagram with non-zero spin states at high chemical potential.

Contribution

It provides a detailed numerical study of the matrix-QCD$_{2,1}$ model in the ultra-strong coupling limit, uncovering its phase structure and spin contributions.

Findings

Identification of superselection sectors labeled by baryon number and spin.

Discovery of rich quantum phase transition structures in different sectors.

Construction of the phase diagram showing non-zero spin ground states at high chemical potential.

Abstract

Using variational methods, we numerically investigate the matrix model for the two-color QCD coupled to a single quark (matrix-QCD$_{2,1}$) in the limit of ultra-strong Yang-Mills coupling ($g =\infty$). The spectrum of the model has superselection sectors labelled by baryon number $B$ and spin $J$. We study sectors with $B=0,1,2$ and $J=0,1$, which may be organized as mesons, (anti-)diquarks and (anti-)tetraquarks. For each of these sectors, we study the properties of the respective ground states in both chiral and heavy quark limits, and uncover a rich quantum phase transition (QPT) structure. We also investigate the division of the total spin between the glue and the quark and show that glue contribution is significant for several of these sectors. For the $(B,J)=(0,0)$ sector, we find that the dominant glue contribution to the ground state comes from reducible connections. Finally, in the presence of non-trivial baryon chemical potential $\mu$, we construct the phase diagram of the model. For sufficiently large $\mu$, we find that the ground state of the theory may have non-zero spin.