Search

We present the most recent results from the FASTSUM collaboration for hadron properties at high temperature. This includes the temperature dependence of the light and charmed meson and baryon spectrum, as well as properties of heavy quarkonia. The results are obtained using anisotropic lattices with a fixed scale approach. We also present the status of our next generation gauge ensembles., 8 pages, 8 figures. Contribution to the XVth Quark Confinement and the Hadron Spectrum, 1-6 August 2022, Stavanger, Norway

The central idea of this review is to consider quantum field theory models relevant for particle physics and replace the fermionic matter in these models by a bosonic one. This is mostly motivated by the fact that bosons are more ``accessible'' and easier to manipulate for experimentalists, but this ``substitution'' also leads to new physics and novel phenomena. It allows us to gain new information about among other things confinement and the dynamics of the deconfinement transition. We will thus consider bosons in dynamical lattices corresponding to the bosonic Schwinger or Z$_2$ Bose-Hubbard models. Another central idea of this review concerns atomic simulators of paradigmatic models of particle physics theory such as the Creutz-Hubbard ladder, or Gross-Neveu-Wilson and Wilson-Hubbard models. Finally, we will briefly describe our efforts to design experimentally friendly simulators of these and other models relevant for particle physics., 12pp. review style

We determine the ground state meson masses at low temperature using simulations with $2+1$ flavours of improved Wilson-clover fermions. Subsequently we study the effect of increasing the temperature of the hadron gas, including the transition to the quark-gluon plasma, as well as the restoration of $SU(2)_A$ chiral symmetry. We use the FASTSUM anisotropic, fixed-scale Generation2L ensembles and consider mesons with light, strange and charm content., 9 pages; 4 figures; contribution to the 38th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory, 26th-30th July 2021, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

K\"ahler's geometric approach in which relativistic fermion fields are treated as differential forms is applied in three spacetime dimensions. It is shown that the resulting continuum theory is invariant under global U($N)\otimes$U($N)$ field transformations, and has a parity-invariant mass term, both symmetries shared in common with staggered lattice fermions. The formalism is used to construct a version of the Thirring model with contact interactions between conserved Noether currents. Under reasonable assumptions about field rescaling after quantum corrections, a more general interaction term is derived, sharing the same symmetries but now including terms which entangle spin and taste degrees of freedom, which exactly coincides with the leading terms in the staggered lattice Thirring model in the long-wavelength limit. Finally truncated versions of the theory are explored; it is found that excluding scalar and pseudoscalar components leads to a theory of six-component fermion fields describing particles with spin 1, with fermion and antifermion corresponding to states with definite circular polarisation. In the UV limit only transverse states with just four non-vanishing components propagate. Implications for the description of dynamics at a strongly interacting renormalisation-group fixed point are discussed., Comment: contribution to Symmetry special issue "New Applications of Symmetry to Lattice Field Theory"

In order to study the fate of mesons in thermal QCD at finite baryon chemical potential, we consider light mesonic correlation functions using the Taylor expansion to ${\cal O}((\mu/T)^2)$, in both the hadronic and quark-gluon plasma phases. We use the FASTSUM anisotropic fixed-scale lattices with $N_f = 2+1$ flavours of Wilson fermion. We find that mesonic correlators are sensitive to finite-density corrections and that the second-order terms indicate the chiral crossover in the vector and axial-vector channels., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Proceeding of the 37th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory - Lattice2019

We study two-color QCD with two flavors of Wilson fermion as a function of quark chemical potential μ and temperature T, for two different lattice spacings and two different quark masses. We find that the quarkyonic region, where the behavior of the quark number density and the diquark condensate are described by a Fermi sphere of almost free quarks distorted by a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer gap, extends to larger chemical potentials with decreasing lattice spacing or quark mass. In both cases, the quark number density also approaches its noninteracting value. The pressure at low temperature is found to approach the Stefan–Boltzmann limit from below.

Results of a lattice field theory simulation of the single-flavor Thirring model in 2+1 spacetime dimensions are presented. The lattice model is formulated using domain wall fermions as a means to recover the correct U(2) symmetries of the continuum model in the limit where wall separation $L_s\to\infty$. Simulations on $12^3, 16^3\times L_s$, varying self-interaction strength $g^2$ and bare mass $m$ are performed with $L_s = 8, \ldots 48$, and the results for the bilinear condensate $\langle\bar\psi\psi\rangle$ fitted to a model equation of state assuming a U(2)$\to$U(1)$\otimes$U(1) symmetry-breaking phase transition at a critical $g_c^2$. First estimates for $g^{-2}a$ and critical exponents are presented, showing small but significant departures from mean-field values. The results confirm that a symmetry-breaking transition does exist and therefore the critical number of flavors for the Thirring model $N_c > 1$. Results for both condensate and associated susceptibility are also obtained in the broken phase on $16^3\times48$, suggesting that here the $L_s\to\infty$ extrapolation is not yet under control. We also present results obtained with the associated 2+1$d$ truncated overlap operator DOL demonstrating exponential localisation, a necessary condition for the recovery of U(2) global symmetry, but that recovery of the Ginsparg-Wilson condition as $L_s\to\infty$ is extremely slow in the broken phase., Comment: 25 pages, 16 figures, a reference added and 2 figure captions amended

The Thirring model in 2+1 spacetime dimensions, in which N flavors of relativistic fermion interact via a contact interaction between conserved fermion currents, is studied using lattice field theory simulations employing domain wall fermions, which furnish the correct U(2N) global symmetry in the limit that the wall separation Ls→∞. Attention is focussed on the issue of spontaneous symmetry breakdown via a nonvanishing fermion bilinear condensate ⟨ψ¯ψ⟩≠0. Results from quenched simulations are presented demonstrating that a nonzero condensate does indeed form over a range of couplings, provided simulation results are first extrapolated to the Ls→∞ limit. Next, results from simulations with N=1 using an RHMC algorithm demonstrate that U(2) symmetry is unbroken at weak coupling but plausibly broken at strong coupling. Correlators of mesons with spin zero are consistent with the Goldstone spectrum expected from U(2)→U(1)⊗U(1). We infer the existence of a symmetry-breaking phase transition at some finite coupling, and combine this with previous simulation results to deduce that the critical number of flavors for the existence of a quantum critical point in the Thirring model satisfies 01.

A status report on FASTSUM's programme of computing spectral quantities in thermal QCD, using anisotropic lattice simulations with $N_f=2+1$ flavours of Wilson fermions, is given. We provide in particular some details of the next generation of ensembles, which is currently being finalised, and give preliminary results for susceptibilities and baryonic correlators on those ensembles., Submitted for the 36th annual international symposium on lattice field theory, LATTICE2018, 7 pages

We analyse the behaviour of hyperons with strangeness S = –1,–2,–3 in the hadronic and quark gluon plasma phases, with particular interest in parity doubling and its emergence as the temperature grows. This study uses our FASTSUM anisotropic Nf = 2+1 ensembles, with four temperatures below and four above the deconfinement transition temperature, Tc. The positive-parity groundstate masses are found to be largely temperature independent below Tc, whereas the negative-parity ones decrease considerably as the temperature increases. Close to the transition, the masses are almost degenerate, in line with the expectation from chiral symmetry restoration. This may be of interest for heavy-ion phenomenology. In particular we show an application of this effect to the Hadron Resonance Gas model. A clear signal of parity doubling is found above Tc in all hyperon channels, with the strength of the effect depending on the number of s-quarks in the baryons., EPJ Web of Conferences, 175, ISSN:2100-014X, ISSN:2101-6275

In 2+1 dimensions the global U($2N$) symmetry associated with massless Dirac fermions is broken to U($N)\otimes$U($N$) by a parity-invariant mass. I will show how to adapt the domain wall formulation to recover the U($2N$)-invariant limit in interacting fermion models as the domain wall separation is increased. In particular, I will focus on the issue of potential dynamical mass generation in the Thirring model, postulated to take place for $N$ less than some critical $N_c$. I will present results of simulations of the model using both HMC ($N=2$) and RHMC ($N=1$) algorithms, and show that the outcome is very different from previous numerical studies of the model made with staggered fermions, where the corresponding pattern of symmetry breaking is distinct., talk at 35th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2017), Granada, Spain

The properties of the ground state of two-color QCD at non-zero baryon chemical potential $\mu$ present an interesting problem in strongly-interacting gauge theory; in particular the nature of the physically-relevant degrees of freedom in the superfluid phase in the post-onset regime $\mu>m_\pi/2$ still needs clarification. In this study we present evidence for in-medium effects at high $\mu$ by studying the wavefunctions of mesonic and diquark states using orthodox lattice simulation techniques, made possible by the absence of a Sign Problem for the model with $N_f=2$. Our results show that beyond onset the spatial extent of hadrons decreases as $\mu$ grows, and that the wavefunction profiles are consistent with the existence of a dynamically-gapped Fermi surface in this regime., Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures

We present a lattice QCD calculation of the charge diffusion coefficient, the electrical conductivity and various susceptibilities of conserved charges, for a range of temperatures below and above the deconfinement crossover. The calculations include the contributions from up, down and strange quarks. We find that the diffusion coefficient is of the order of 1/(2\pi T) and has a dip around the crossover temperature. Our results are obtained with lattice simulations containing 2+1 dynamical flavours on anisotropic lattices. The Maximum Entropy Method is used to construct spectral functions from correlators of the conserved vector current., Comment: 27 pages, several figures; references added, to appear in JHEP

The FASTSUM Collaboration has calculated several quantities relevant for QCD studies at non-zero temperature using the lattice technique. We report here our results for the (i) interquark potential in charmonium; (ii) bottomonium spectral functions; and (iii) electrical conductivity. All results were obtained with 2+1 flavours of dynamical fermions on an anisotropic lattice which allows greater resolution in the temporal direction., Comment: Plenary talk presented at the Strangeness in Quark Matter SQM 2013, Birmingham UK, 21-27 July 2013

The FASTSUM collaboration has been carrying out simulations of N-f = 2 + 1 QCD at nonzero temperature in the fixed-scale approach using anisotropic lattices. Here we present the status of these studies, including recent results for electrical conductivity and charge diffusion, and heavy quarkonium (charm and beauty) physics.

A lattice calculation is presented for the electrical conductivity of the QCD plasma with 2+1 dynamical flavours at nonzero temperature. We employ the conserved lattice current on anisotropic lattices using a tadpole-improved clover action and study the behaviour of the conductivity over a wide range of temperatures, both below and above the deconfining transition. The conductivity is extracted from a spectral-function analysis using the Maximal Entropy Method and a discussion of its systematics is provided., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, normalisation of the conductivity clarified, minor changes, to appear in PRL

I present recent results from lattice simulations of SU(2) gauge theory with Nf=2 Wilson quark flavors, at non-zero quark chemical potential. The thermodynamic equation of state is discussed along with the nature of the high density matter which forms. It is conjectured that deconfinement may mean different things for bulk and Fermi surface phenomena., 5 pages, contribution to "Extreme QCD" workshop, Washington DC, 21-23 August 2012

We present results from a simulation of SU(2) lattice gauge theory with N_f=4 flavors of Wilson fermion and non-zero quark chemical potential mu, using the same 12^3x24 lattice, bare gauge coupling, and pion mass in cut-off units as a previous study with N_f=2. The string tension for N_f=4 is found to be considerably smaller implying smoother gauge field configurations. Thermodynamic observables and order parameters for superfluidity and color deconfinement are studied, and comparisons drawn between the two theories. Results for quark density and pressure as functions of mu are qualitatively similar for N_f=2 and N_f=4; in both cases there is evidence for a phase in which baryonic matter is simultaneously degenerate and confined. Results for the stress-energy tensor, however, suggest that while N_f=2 has a regime where dilute matter is non-relativistic and weakly-interacting, N_f=4 matter is relativistic and strongly-interacting for all values of mu above onset., Comment: Horizontal axes of several figures rescaled. Version accepted for publication

A 2+1 dimensional fermion field theory is proposed as a model for the low-energy electronic excitations in monolayer graphene. The model consists of N=2 four-component Dirac fermions moving in the plane and interacting via a contact interaction between charge densities. For strong couplings there is a continuous transition to a Mott insulting phase. We present results of an extensive numerical study of the model's critical region, including the order parameter, its associated susceptibility, and for the first time the quasiparticle propagator. The data enables an extraction of the critical exponents at the transition, including the dynamical critical exponent, which are hypothesised to be universal features of a quantum critical point. The relation of our model with others in the literature is discussed, along with the implications for physical graphene following from our value of the critical coupling., 19 pages

We present results from Monte Carlo simulations of a three dimensional fermionic field theory which can be derived from a model of graphene in which electrons interact via a screened Coulomb potential. For our simulations we employ lattice gauge theory methods used in elementary particle physics. We show that the theory undergoes a second order phase transition and we provide estimates for the critical exponents. The estimated value of the physical critical coupling implies that graphene in vacuum is an insulator. We also present the first results for the quasiparticle dispersion relation., 6 pages, 4 figures; prepared for the proceedings of Diamond 2009, Athens, Greece

Certain approximate solutions of the continuum Schwinger-Dyson Equations (SDEs) predict chiral symmetry breaking in the 3d Thirring model when the number of fermion flavors N_f, 7 pages, 7 figs, Presented at XXIV International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2006, Tucson, Arizona)

We study a quenched SU(2) lattice gauge theory in which, in an attempt to distinguish between timelike and spacelike gauge fields, the gauge ensemble {U_mu} is generated from a 3 dimensional gauge-Higgs model, the timelike link variables being "reconstructed" from the Higgs fields. The resulting ensemble is used to study quenched quark propagation with non-zero chemical potential mu; in particular, the quark density, chiral and superfluid condensates, meson, baryon and gauge-fixed quark propagators are all studied as functions of mu. While it proves possible to alter the strength of the inter-quark interaction by changing the parameters of the dimensionally reduced model, there is no evidence for any region of parameter space where quarks exhibit deconfined behaviour or thermodynamic observables scale as if there were a Fermi surface., 31 pages, 20 figures, enhanced discussion and analysis of finite volume effects, version accepted for publication by Nucl. Phys. B

Results are presented from a numerical study of lattice QCD with gauge group SU(2) and two flavors of Wilson fermion at non-zero quark chemical potential mu >> T. Studies of the equation of state, the superfluid condensate, and the Polyakov line all suggest that in addition to the low density phase of Bose-condensed diquark baryons, there is a deconfined phase at higher quark density in which quarks form a degenerate system, whose Fermi surface is only mildly disrupted by Cooper pair condensation., 3 pages, 4 figures, contributed talk at "Quarks and Nuclear Physics", Madrid, 5th-10th June 2006

We present results for meson spectral functions at non-zero momentum at temperatures both below and above Tc, obtained in quenched simulations for a number of valence quark masses. For the lightest quark masses, a clear difference between the spectral functions on cold and hot lattices is observed., Talk given at Lattice 2006, 7 pages with 8 figures

We discuss quark antiquark energies and the screening mass in hot QCD using the non-perturbative lattice approach. For this purpose we analyze properties of quark antiquark energies and entropies at infinitely large separation of the quark antiquark pair at low and high temperatures. In the limit of high temperatures these energies and entropies can be related perturbatively to the temperature dependence of the Debye mass and the coupling. On the one hand our analysis thus suggests that the quark antiquark energies at (infinite) large distances are rather related to the Debye screening mass and the coupling than to the temperature dependence of heavy-light meson masses. On the other hand we find no or only little differences in all mass scales introduced by us when changing from quenched to 2-flavor QCD at temperatures which are only moderately above the phase transition., 5 pages, 2 figures, To appear in the proceedings of Workshop on Extreme QCD, Swansea, Wales, 2-5 Aug 2005

QED3 with fermi and gap anisotropies is considered to be a candidate effective field theory of high temperature superconductors. Simulations of a variant of the theory have demonstrated that there is evidence consistent with a phase transition to a chirally restored phase as the velocity anisotropy increases, and that the correlation lengths of pions in spatial directions behave in a manner consistent with the anisotropy being a relevant parameter of the theory. We present the first measurements of the fermion propagator in Landau gauge for this theory and suggest that the structure of this theory is more complex than previously thought., 6 pages, 3 figures, LATEX(POS), Parallel talk (Spin and Higgs) given at LATTICE 2005 (XXIII International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory, School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 25th-30th July 2005). This version corrects a mistake in the citations

We present initial results of a numerical investigation of the chiral symmetry restoring transition in the (3+1)-dimensional Nambu -- Jona-Lasinio model with both non-zero baryon chemical potential (mu_B) and isospin chemical potential (mu_I). With non-zero isospin chemical potential, the model suffers from a sign problem. We proceed in two ways: (i) We perform ``partially quenched'' simulations in which mu_I is made non-zero only during the measurement of chiral observables; (ii) We perform full simulations with imaginary isospin chemical potential with the aim to analytically continue results to real mu_I., 3 pages, 3 figures, poster presented at LATTICE 2004, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, June 21-26, 2004

We study the N_f-flavor Gross-Neveu model in 2+1 dimensions with a baryon chemical potential mu, using both analytical and numerical methods. In particular, we study the self-consistent Boltzmann equation in the Fermi liquid framework using the quasiparticle interaction calculated to O(1/N_f), and find solutions for zero sound propagation for almost all mu > mu_c, the critical chemical potential for chiral symmetry restoration. Next we present results of a numerical lattice simulation, examining temporal correlation functions of mesons defined using a point-split interpolating operator, and finding evidence for phonon-like behaviour characterised by a linear dispersion relation in the long wavelength limit. We argue that our results provide the first evidence for a collective excitation in a lattice simulation., 18 pages, 6 figures

We investigate the distribution of the spacings of adjacent eigenvalues of the lattice Dirac operator. At zero chemical potential $\mu$, the nearest-neighbor spacing distribution $P(s)$ follows the Wigner surmise of random matrix theory both in the confinement and in the deconfinement phase. This is indicative of quantum chaos. At nonzero chemical potential, the eigenvalues of the Dirac operator become complex and we discuss how $P(s)$ can be defined in the complex plane. Numerical results from an SU(2) simulation with staggered fermions in fundamental and adjoint representations are compared with predictions from non-hermitian random matrix theory, and agreement with the Ginibre ensemble is found for $\mu\approx 0.5$., Comment: Contribution to the Workshop on ``Finite Density QCD'' (Nara, Japan, 2003-07-10 -- 2003-07-12); 6 pages, 12 figures

We present results of numerical simulations of the 3+1 dimensional Nambu - Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model with a non-zero baryon density enforced via the introduction of a chemical potential mu not equal to 0. The triviality of the model with a number of dimensions d>=4 is dealt with by fitting low energy constants, calculated analytically in the large number of colors (Hartree) limit, to phenomenological values. Non-perturbative measurements of local order parameters for superfluidity and their related susceptibilities show that, in contrast to the 2+1 dimensional model, the ground-state at high chemical potential and low temperature is that of a traditional BCS superfluid. This conclusion is supported by the direct observation of a gap in the dispersion relation for 0.5, 41 pages, 19 figures, uses axodraw.sty, v2: minor typographical corrections

The high density effective theory recently introduced by Hong and Hsu to describe ultradense relativistic fermionic matter is used to calculate the tree-level forward scattering amplitude between two particles at the Fermi surface. While the direct term correctly reproduces that of the underlying gauge theory, the exchange term has the wrong sign. The physical consequences are discussed in the context of Landau's theoretical description of the Fermi liquid., 15 pages, 2 figures; conclusion expanded, reference added

We determine the location of the second order endpoint of the line of first order chiral phase transition in 3-flavor QCD at vanishing chemical potential. Using Ferrenberg-Swendsen reweighting for two values of the quark mass we determine the dependence of the transition line on the chemical potential and locate the chiral critical point. For both quantities we find a significant quark mass dependence., 3 pages, Lattice2003(nonzero), one reference exchanged

Monte Carlo simulations of the 3+1 dimensional NJL model are performed with baryon chemical potential mu>0. For mu>Sigma_0, the constituent quark mass in vacuum, chiral symmetry is restored and a diquark condensate forms. We analyse the fermion propagator and find evidence for particle-hole mixing in the vicinity of the Fermi surface and an energy gap Delta>0, both of which provide evidence for superfluidity at high baryon density induced by a BCS mechanism. At (mu a)=0.8 the ratio between the BCS gap and the vacuum quark mass is Delta/Sigma_0=0.15(2)., Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, Lattice2003(nonzero)

We present results of a simulation of QCD on a 4x16^3 lattice with 2 continuum flavors of p4-improved staggered fermion with mass m/T=0.4. Derivatives of the thermodynamic grand potential with respect to quark chemical potential mu_q up to fourth order are calculated, enabling estimates of the pressure, quark number density and associated susceptibilities as functions of mu_q via Taylor series expansion. Discretisation effects associated with various staggered fermion formulations are discussed in some detail. In addition it is possible to estimate the radius of convergence of the expansion as a function of temperature. We also discuss the calculation of energy and entropy densities which are defined via mixed derivatives of the thermodynamic grand potential with respect to the bare couplings and quark masses., 30 pages, LaTeX2e File, 17 Postscript figures

We study the Gross-Neveu model in 2+1 dimensions with a baryon chemical potential mu using both analytical and numerical methods. For mu greater than a critical value the model is chirally symmetric and has a Fermi surface with Fermi momentum ~mu. We have calculated the particle interaction in medium due to scalar meson exchange to leading order in 1/N, where N is the number of flavors, in the hard dense loop approach. The result has been used to calculate the relation between mu and the Fermi momentum and velocity in the resulting Fermi liquid to O(1/N). Simulation results from a 32^2x48 lattice for fermion and meson dispersion relations and meson wavefunctions are then presented, showing qualitative and in some cases quantitative agreement with analytic predictions. In particular, the simulations show clear evidence for the in-medium modification of the scalar propagator, oscillatory behaviour in the wavefunction consistent with a sharp Fermi surface, and tentative evidence for a massless pole in the vector meson channel resembling zero sound., 33 pages, 16 figures

We study the thermal properties of QCD in the presence of a small quark chemical potential $\mu$. Derivatives of the phase transition point with respect to $\mu$ are computed at $\mu=0$ for 2 and 3 flavors of p-4 improved staggered fermions on a $16^3\times4$ lattice. Moreover we contrast the case of isoscalar and isovector chemical potentials, quantify the effect of $\mu\not=0$ on the equation of state, and comment on the screening effect by dynamical quarks and the complex phase of the fermion determinant in QCD with $\mu\not=0$., Comment: Lattice2002(nonzerot), 3 pages, 2 figures

Non-compact QED(3) with four-component fermion flavor content larger than or equal to two is studied numerically near the chiral limit to understand its chiral symmetry breaking features. We monitor discretization and finite size effects on the chiral condensate by simulating the model at different values of the gauge coupling on lattices ranging in size from 10^3 to 50^3. Our upper bound for the dimensionless condensate beta^2 in the N_f=2 case is 5x10^{-5}., Comment: Lattice2002(theoretical)

Non-compact three-dimensional QED is studied by computer simulations to understand its chiral symmetry breaking features for N_f>=2, on lattice volumes up to 50^3 and bare masses as low as ma=0.0000625. We compute the chiral condensate, scalar and pseudoscalar susceptibilities, and the masses of scalar and pseudoscalar mesons. Finite volume effects and discretisation artifacts are carefully monitored. Our results reveal no decisive signal for chiral symmetry breaking for any N_f>=2. For N_f=2 the dimensionless condensate can be bounded by beta^2, Comment: 19 pages, 12 figures

A study of QCD at non-zero chemical potential, mu, and temperature, T, is performed using the lattice technique. The transition temperature (between the confined and deconfined phases) is determined as a function of mu and is found to be in agreement with other work. In addition the variation of the pressure and energy density with mu is obtained for small positive mu. These results are of particular relevance for heavy-ion collision experiments., Invited paper presented at the Joint Workshop on Physics at the Japanese Hadron Facility, March 2002, Adelaide. 10 pages, uses ws-procs9x6.cls style file (provided)

We study SU(2) lattice gauge theory at non-zero chemical potential with one staggered quark flavor in the adjoint representation. In this model the fermion determinant, although real, can be both positive and negative. We have performed numerical simulations using both hybrid Monte Carlo and two-step multibosonic algorithms, the latter being capable of exploring sectors with either determinant sign. We find that the positive determinant sector behaves like a two-flavor theory, with the chiral condensate rotating into a two-flavor diquark condensate for mu>m_pi/2, implying a superfluid ground state. Good agreement is found with analytical predictions made using chiral perturbation theory. In the `full' model there is no sign of either onset of baryon density or diquark condensation for the range of chemical potentials we have considered. The impact of the sign problem has prevented us from exploring the true onset transition and the mode of diquark condensation, if any, for this model., 11 pages, 15 figures; uses svjour.cls

We present Monte Carlo simulation results for the three dimensional Thirring model on moderate sized lattices using a hybrid molecular dynamics algorithm which permits an odd or non-integer number Nf of fermion flavors. We find a continuous chiral symmetry breaking transition for Nf approximately equal to 3 with critical exponents consistent with expectations from previous studies. For Nf=5 the order of the transition is difficult to determine on the lattice sizes explored. We present a phase diagram for the model in the (1/g^2,Nf) plane and contrast our findings with expectations based on approximate solutions of the continuum Schwinger-Dyson equations., 13 pages, 7 figures

Results are presented from a Monte Carlo simulation of the Nambu -- Jona-Lasinio model with SU(2)xSU(2) chiral symmetry and N_f=2 flavors of fermion. We show that fits to the equation of state are sensitive to the shape and extent of the assumed scaling region; the best fits favour a triviality scenario predicted by the large-N_f approximation, in which the scalar degrees of freedom are fermion -- anti-fermion composites with wavefunction renormalisation constant vanishing logarithmically in the continuum limit., 3 page contribution to proceedings of LAT'97

I review three different non-perturbative approaches to the three dimensional Thirring model: the 1/N_f expansion, Schwinger-Dyson equations, and Monte Carlo simulation. Simulation results are presented to support the existence of a non-perturbative fixed point at a chiral symmetry breaking phase transition for N_f=2 and 4, but not for N_f=6. Spectrum calculations for $N_f=2$ reveal conventional level ordering near the transition., 7 pages LaTeX with 4 figures. Talk given at the International Workshop "Perspectives of Strong Coupling Gauge Theories", Nov. 1996, Nagoya, Japan