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First-order deconfining phase transitions in Yang-Mills theories / DAVID MASON

Swansea University Author: DAVID MASON

DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUThesis.69934

Abstract

Finite temperature first-order deconfinement phase transitions of non-Abelian gauge theory systems can lead to rich phenomenological implications to the cosmological evolution of the early universe, resulting in potentially observable imprints on the current universe such as the matter anti-matter asy...

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Published: Swansea University, Wales, UK 2024
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: Lucini, B, and Piai, M
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69934
first_indexed 2025-07-10T09:55:12Z
last_indexed 2025-07-11T05:02:54Z
id cronfa69934
recordtype RisThesis
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spelling 2025-07-10T11:04:17.1249280 v2 69934 2025-07-10 First-order deconfining phase transitions in Yang-Mills theories 9dc0ce41c82d2d04999bf2711008a0e8 DAVID MASON DAVID MASON true false 2025-07-10 Finite temperature first-order deconfinement phase transitions of non-Abelian gauge theory systems can lead to rich phenomenological implications to the cosmological evolution of the early universe, resulting in potentially observable imprints on the current universe such as the matter anti-matter asymmetry and a background of gravitational waves. It is generally accepted that deconfinement in standard model of particle physics arises through a cross-over and therefore the system transitions from one regime to the other without producing non-equilibrium effects. However, it is also widely acknowledged that the standard model is not the full picture in particle physics, since, for instance, to explain problems such as the existence of dark matter, we require new physics. A large array of extensions of the standard model are based on the addition of a new strongly interacting sector, with a new set of non-Abelian gauge fields. This new sector might undergo a first order deconfinement phase transition whose observable effects can in principle be detectable. This thesis develops a methodology for precision studies of these phase transitions considering the be-yond the standard model theory – and in particular its gauge sector - in isolation. As the confining properties of the model are inherently non-perturbative we choose to analyse it numerically using lattice field theory. However, the meta-stable dynamics characteristic of a first-order phase transition can lead to intractable problems with standard importance sampling methods. We resolve this issue through the use of the Logarithmic Linear Relaxation (LLR) method, which samples a flat energy distribution to accurately compute the density of states. Through the density of states, we can reconstruct observables, compute the energy distribution and determine thermodynamic properties, such as the free-energy, that are out of reach with importance sampling methods. This work develops a density of state approach based on the LLR method and tests in SU(3) and Sp(4) gauge theories, for which a highly accurate set of results for thermodynamic observables is obtained. E-Thesis Swansea University, Wales, UK Lattice Field Theory, Thermodynamics, Particle Physics, Beyond the Standard Model, Phase transitions, 7 11 2024 2024-11-07 10.23889/SUThesis.69934 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Lucini, B, and Piai, M Doctoral Ph.D Data Intensive Centre for Doctoral Training Data Intensive Centre for Doctoral Training 2025-07-10T11:04:17.1249280 2025-07-10T10:45:55.0702831 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Physics DAVID MASON 1 69934__34720__2f9aeb11826e471399183d65ab62064d.pdf 2024_Mason_D.final.69934.pdf 2025-07-10T10:53:22.4654015 Output 11684150 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true Copyright: The author, David Mason, 2924 true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title First-order deconfining phase transitions in Yang-Mills theories
spellingShingle First-order deconfining phase transitions in Yang-Mills theories
DAVID MASON
title_short First-order deconfining phase transitions in Yang-Mills theories
title_full First-order deconfining phase transitions in Yang-Mills theories
title_fullStr First-order deconfining phase transitions in Yang-Mills theories
title_full_unstemmed First-order deconfining phase transitions in Yang-Mills theories
title_sort First-order deconfining phase transitions in Yang-Mills theories
author_id_str_mv 9dc0ce41c82d2d04999bf2711008a0e8
author_id_fullname_str_mv 9dc0ce41c82d2d04999bf2711008a0e8_***_DAVID MASON
author DAVID MASON
author2 DAVID MASON
format E-Thesis
publishDate 2024
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.23889/SUThesis.69934
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Physics{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Physics
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Finite temperature first-order deconfinement phase transitions of non-Abelian gauge theory systems can lead to rich phenomenological implications to the cosmological evolution of the early universe, resulting in potentially observable imprints on the current universe such as the matter anti-matter asymmetry and a background of gravitational waves. It is generally accepted that deconfinement in standard model of particle physics arises through a cross-over and therefore the system transitions from one regime to the other without producing non-equilibrium effects. However, it is also widely acknowledged that the standard model is not the full picture in particle physics, since, for instance, to explain problems such as the existence of dark matter, we require new physics. A large array of extensions of the standard model are based on the addition of a new strongly interacting sector, with a new set of non-Abelian gauge fields. This new sector might undergo a first order deconfinement phase transition whose observable effects can in principle be detectable. This thesis develops a methodology for precision studies of these phase transitions considering the be-yond the standard model theory – and in particular its gauge sector - in isolation. As the confining properties of the model are inherently non-perturbative we choose to analyse it numerically using lattice field theory. However, the meta-stable dynamics characteristic of a first-order phase transition can lead to intractable problems with standard importance sampling methods. We resolve this issue through the use of the Logarithmic Linear Relaxation (LLR) method, which samples a flat energy distribution to accurately compute the density of states. Through the density of states, we can reconstruct observables, compute the energy distribution and determine thermodynamic properties, such as the free-energy, that are out of reach with importance sampling methods. This work develops a density of state approach based on the LLR method and tests in SU(3) and Sp(4) gauge theories, for which a highly accurate set of results for thermodynamic observables is obtained.
published_date 2024-11-07T05:29:30Z
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score 11.089386

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