Conformal Window and Correlation Functions in Lattice Conformal QCD

Abstract

We discuss various aspects of Conformal Field Theories on the Lattice. We mainly investigate the SU(3) gauge theory with N_f degenerate fermions in the fundamental representation, employing the one-plaquette gauge action and the Wilson fermion action. First we make a brief review of our previous works and thereby clarify the reason why we conjecture that the conformal window is 7 le N_f le 16. Secondly, we introduce a new concept, "conformal theories with an IR cutoff" and point out that any numerical simulation on a lattice is bounded by an IR cutoff Lambda_{IR}. Then we make predictions that when N_f is within the conformal window, the propagator of a meson G(t) behaves at large t, as G(t) = c exp(-m_H t)/t^alpha, that is, a modified Yukawa-type decay form, instead of the usual exponential decay form in the small quark mass region. This holds on an any lattice for any coupling constant g, as far as g is between 0 and g^*, where g^* is the IR fixed point. We verify that numerical results really satisfy the predictions for the N_f=7 case and the N_f=16 case. Thirdly, we discuss small number of flavors (N_f=2 sim 6) QCD at finite temperatures. We point out theoretically and verify numerically that the correlation functions at T/T_c > 1 exhibit the characteristics of the conformal function with IR cutoff, an exponential decay with power correction. Further, we observe our data are consistent with the picture that the N_f=7 case and the N_f=2 at T sim 2 T_c case are close to the meson unparticle model, and we estimate gamma^* = 1.2(1). On the other hand, the N_f=16 case and the N_f=2 at T= 10^2 sim 10^5 Tc cases are close to a free state in the Z(3) twisted vacuum. The results give clues for long standing issues such as slow approach of the free energy to the Stefan-Boltzmann ideal gas limit.