Critical Behaviour in the Single Flavor Thirring Model in 2+1$d$ with Wilson Kernel Domain Wall Fermions

Abstract

We present results of a lattice field theory simulation of the 2+1$d$ Thirring model with $N=1$ fermion flavors, using domain wall fermions. The model exhibits a U(2) symmetry-breaking phase transition with the potential to define a UV-stable renormalisation group fixed point. The novelty is the replacement of the Shamir kernel used in all previous work with the Wilson kernel, improving the action particularly with respect to the $L_s\to\infty$ limit needed to recover U(2), now under much better control. Auxiliary field ensembles generated on $16^3\times24$ with varying self-interaction strength $g^2$ and bare mass $m$ are used to measure the bilinear condensate order parameter $\langle\barψiγ_3ψ\rangle$ with domain wall separations as large as $L_s=120$. The resulting $L_s\to\infty$ extrapolation is used to fit an empirical equation of state modelling spontaneous symmetry breaking as $m\to0$. The fit is remarkably stable and compelling, with the fitted critical exponents $β_m\simeq2.4$, $δ\simeq1.3$ differing markedly from previous estimates. The associated susceptibility exhibits a mass hierarchy in line with physical expectations, again unlike previous estimates. Schwinger-Dyson equation (SDE) solutions of the Thirring model exploiting a hidden local symmetry in the action are reviewed, and analytic predictions presented for the exponents. In contrast to all previous lattice studies, the universal characteristics of the critical point revealed qualitatively resemble the SDE predictions.