Normalizing flows for all-orders QED corrections in lattice field theory

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel framework using normalizing flows to compute all-orders QED corrections in lattice field theory, reducing variance and enabling scalable computations.

Contribution

It develops a new method applying normalizing flows to lattice QED, allowing all-orders corrections without extra Monte Carlo sampling and scalable to larger lattices.

Findings

Reduced variance in estimates compared to standard methods

Flows trained on small lattices perform well on larger lattices

Potential extension to theories with fermions and QCD

Abstract

This work develops a framework to apply normalizing-flow transformations of field configurations for all-orders Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) corrections in lattice field theory. This opens a new possibility to determine all-order corrections without the need for additional Monte Carlo sampling, generally bypassing the complexity in Wick-contraction diagrams needed at fixed order. The new method is applied to lattice scalar QED in two, three, and four spacetime dimensions, using both analytical and machine-learned flows, with both approaches yielding estimates with significantly reduced variance with respect to standard methods. It is further shown that flows can be trained using small lattice geometries and subsequently evaluated on much larger lattice geometries while maintaining good efficiency. A generalization to theories with fermions is envisaged, suggesting a path to applications in challenging field theories including lattice Quantum Chromodynamics.