Thirring Model as a Gauge Theory

TL;DR

This paper reformulates the Thirring model as a gauge theory with hidden local symmetry, analyzing dynamical mass generation and phase transitions across different dimensions, and connecting to known results like QED and bosonization.

Contribution

It introduces a gauge-theoretic reformulation of the Thirring model using hidden local symmetry, simplifying the analysis of dynamical mass generation and phase transitions.

Findings

Dynamical fermion mass generation as a second order phase transition in (2+1)D.

Critical fermion number for mass generation matches QED results.

Consistent results with exact solutions and bosonization in (1+1)D.

Abstract

We reformulate the Thirring model in $D$ $(2 \le D < 4)$ dimensions as a gauge theory by introducing $U(1)$ hidden local symmetry (HLS) and study the dynamical mass generation of the fermion through the Schwinger-Dyson (SD) equation. By virtue of such a gauge symmetry we can greatly simplify the analysis of the SD equation by taking the most appropriate gauge (``nonlocal gauge'') for the HLS. In the case of even-number of (2-component) fermions, we find the dynamical fermion mass generation as the second order phase transition at certain fermion number, which breaks the chiral symmetry but preserves the parity in (2+1) dimensions ($D=3$). In the infinite four-fermion coupling (massless gauge boson) limit in (2+1) dimensions, the result coincides with that of the (2+1)-dimensional QED, with the critical number of the 4-component fermion being $N_{\rm cr} = \frac{128}{3\pi^{2}}$. As to the case of odd-number (2-component) fermion in (2+1) dimensions, the regularization ambiguity on the induced Chern-Simons term may be resolved by specifying the regularization so as to preserve the HLS. Our method also applies to the (1+1) dimensions, the result being consistent with the exact solution. The bosonization mechanism in (1+1) dimensional Thirring model is also reproduced in the context of dual-transformed theory for the HLS.