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We study the universal critical behavior of two-dimensional (2D) lattice bosonic gases at the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition, which separates the low-temperature superfluid phase from the high-temperature normal phase. For this purpose, we perform quantum Monte Carlo simulations of the hard-core Bose-Hubbard (BH) model at zero chemical potential. We determine the critical temperature by using a matching method that relates finite-size data for the BH model with corresponding data computed in the classical XY model. In this approach, the neglected scaling corrections decay as inverse powers of the lattice size L, and not as powers of 1/lnL, as in more standard approaches, making the estimate of the critical temperature much more reliable. Then, we consider the BH model in the presence of a trapping harmonic potential, and verify the universality of the trap-size dependence at the BKT critical point. This issue is relevant for experiments with quasi-2D trapped cold atoms., Comment: 17 pages, 12 figs, final version

We consider the random-bond +- J Ising model on a square lattice as a function of the temperature T and of the disorder parameter p (p=1 corresponds to the pure Ising model). We investigate the critical behavior along the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition line at low temperatures, below the temperature of the multicritical Nishimori point at T*= 0.9527(1), p*=0.89083(3). We present finite-size scaling analyses of Monte Carlo results at two temperature values, T=0.645 and T=0.5. The results show that the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition line is reentrant for TT*. Our results for the critical exponents are consistent with the hyperscaling relation 2 beta/nu - eta = d - 2 = 0., Comment: 32 pages, added refs and a discussion on hyperscaling

We consider the two-dimensional randomly site diluted Ising model and the random-bond +-J Ising model (also called Edwards-Anderson model), and study their critical behavior at the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition. The critical behavior of thermodynamic quantities can be derived from a set of renormalization-group equations, in which disorder is a marginally irrelevant perturbation at the two-dimensional Ising fixed point. We discuss their solutions, focusing in particular on the universality of the logarithmic corrections arising from the presence of disorder. Then, we present a finite-size scaling analysis of high-statistics Monte Carlo simulations. The numerical results confirm the renormalization-group predictions, and in particular the universality of the logarithmic corrections to the Ising behavior due to quenched dilution., Comment: 30 pages

It is established by numerical means that the continuum large N principal chiral model in two dimensions has a phase transition in a smoothed two point function at a critical distance of the order of the correlation length., Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures

We perform high-statistics Monte Carlo simulations of three three-dimensional Ising spin-glass models: the +-J Ising model for two values of the disorder parameter p, p=1/2 and p=0.7, and the bond-diluted +-J model for bond-occupation probability p_b = 0.45. A finite-size scaling analysis of the quartic cumulants at the critical point shows conclusively that these models belong to the same universality class and allows us to estimate the scaling-correction exponent omega related to the leading irrelevant operator, omega=1.0(1). We also determine the critical exponents nu and eta. Taking into account the scaling corrections, we obtain nu=2.53(8) and eta=-0.384(9)., Comment: 9 pages, published version

We consider the three-dimensional $\pm J$ model defined on a simple cubic lattice and study its behavior close to the multicritical Nishimori point where the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic, the paramagnetic-glassy, and the ferromagnetic-glassy transition lines meet in the T-p phase diagram (p characterizes the disorder distribution and gives the fraction of ferromagnetic bonds). For this purpose we perform Monte Carlo simulations on cubic lattices of size $L\le 32$ and a finite-size scaling analysis of the numerical results. The magnetic-glassy multicritical point is found at $p^*=0.76820(4)$, along the Nishimori line given by $2p-1={\rm Tanh}(J/T)$. We determine the renormalization-group dimensions of the operators that control the renormalization-group flow close to the multicritical point, $y_1 = 1.02(5)$, $y_2 = 0.61(2)$, and the susceptibility exponent $\eta = -0.114(3)$. The temperature and crossover exponents are $\nu=1/y_2=1.64(5)$ and $\phi=y_1/y_2 = 1.67(10)$, respectively. We also investigate the model-A dynamics, obtaining the dynamic critical exponent $z = 5.0(5)$., Comment: 17 pages

We study the spectrum of confining strings in SU(3) pure gauge theory, in different representations of the gauge group. Our results provide direct evidence that the string spectrum agrees with predictions based on n-ality. We also investigate the large-N behavior of the topological susceptibility $\chi$ in four-dimensional SU(N) gauge theories at finite temperature, and in particular across the finite-temperature transition at $T_c$. The results indicate that $\chi$ has a nonvanishing large-N limit for $TT_c$., Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures. Presented at Lattice2004(topology)

We perform a high-statistics simulation of the three-dimensional randomly dilute Ising model on cubic lattices $L^3$ with $L\le 256$. We choose a particular value of the density, x=0.8, for which the leading scaling corrections are suppressed. We determine the critical exponents, obtaining $\nu = 0.683(3)$, $\eta = 0.035(2)$, $\beta = 0.3535(17)$, and $\alpha = -0.049(9)$, in agreement with previous numerical simulations. We also estimate numerically the fixed-point values of the four-point zero-momentum couplings that are used in field-theoretical fixed-dimension studies. Although these results somewhat differ from those obtained using perturbative field theory, the field-theoretical estimates of the critical exponents do not change significantly if the Monte Carlo result for the fixed point is used. Finally, we determine the six-point zero-momentum couplings, relevant for the small-magnetization expansion of the equation of state, and the invariant amplitude ratio $R^+_\xi$ that expresses the universality of the free-energy density per correlation volume. We find $R^+_\xi = 0.2885(15)$., Comment: 34 pages, 7 figs, few corrections

We determine the critical equation of state of three-dimensional randomly dilute Ising systems, i.e. of the random-exchange Ising universality class. We first consider the small-magnetization expansion of the Helmholtz free energy in the high-temperature phase. Then, we apply a systematic approximation scheme of the equation of state in the whole critical regime, that is based on polynomial parametric representations matching the small-magnetization of the Helmholtz free energy and satisfying a global stationarity condition. These results allow us to estimate several universal amplitude ratios, such as the ratio A^+/A^- of the specific-heat amplitudes. Our best estimate A^+/A^-=1.6(3) is in good agreement with experimental results on dilute uniaxial antiferromagnets., Comment: 21 pages, 1 figure, refs added

We compute the dynamic structure factor for the Ising model with a purely relaxational dynamics (model A). We perform a perturbative calculation in the $\epsilon$ expansion, at two loops in the high-temperature phase and at one loop in the temperature magnetic-field plane, and a Monte Carlo simulation in the high-temperature phase. We find that the dynamic structure factor is very well approximated by its mean-field Gaussian form up to moderately large values of the frequency $\omega$ and momentum $k$. In the region we can investigate, $k\xi \lesssim 5$, $\omega \tau \lesssim 10$, where $\xi$ is the correlation length and $\tau$ the zero-momentum autocorrelation time, deviations are at most of a few percent., Comment: 21 pages, 3 figures

We study the dependence of the free energy on the CP violating angle theta, in four-dimensional SU(N) gauge theories with N >= 3, and in the large-N limit. Using the Wilson lattice formulation for numerical simulations, we compute the first few terms of the expansion of the ground-state energy F(theta) around theta = 0, F(theta) - F(0) = A_2 theta^2 (1 + b_2 theta^2 + ...). Our results support Witten's conjecture: F(theta) - F(0) = A theta^2 + O(1/N) for theta < pi. We verify that the topological susceptibility has a nonzero large-N limit chi_infinity = 2A with corrections of O(1/N^2), in substantial agreement with the Witten-Veneziano formula which relates chi_infinity to the eta' mass. Furthermore, higher order terms in theta are suppressed; in particular, the O(theta^4) term b_2 (related to the eta' - eta' elastic scattering amplitude) turns out to be quite small: b_2 = -0.023(7) for N=3, and its absolute value decreases with increasing N, consistently with the expectation b_2 = O(1/N^2)., Comment: 3 pages, talk presented at the conference Lattice2002(topology). v2: One reference has been updated, no further changes

We report on some results concerning the effects of cubic anisotropy and quenched uncorrelated impurities on multicomponent spin models. The analysis of the six-loop three-dimensional series provides an accurate description of the renormalization-group flow., Comment: 6 pages. Talk given at the V International Conference Renormalization Group 2002, Strba, Slovakia, March 10-16 2002

We improve the theoretical estimates of the critical exponents for the three-dimensional Heisenberg universality class. We find gamma=1.3960(9), nu=0.7112(5), eta=0.0375(5), alpha=-0.1336(15), beta=0.3689(3), and delta=4.783(3). We consider an improved lattice phi^4 Hamiltonian with suppressed leading scaling corrections. Our results are obtained by combining Monte Carlo simulations based on finite-size scaling methods and high-temperature expansions. The critical exponents are computed from high-temperature expansions specialized to the phi^4 improved model. By the same technique we determine the coefficients of the small-magnetization expansion of the equation of state. This expansion is extended analytically by means of approximate parametric representations, obtaining the equation of state in the whole critical region. We also determine a number of universal amplitude ratios., Comment: 40 pages, final version. In publication in Phys. Rev. B

We compute, for the four-dimensional SU(4) and SU(6) gauge theories formulated on a lattice, the string tensions sigma_k related to sources with Z_N charge k, using Monte Carlo simulations. Our results are compatible with sigma_k \propto sin (k pi/N), and show sizeable deviations from Casimir scaling., Comment: Lattice2001(confinement)

We study crossover phenomena in a model of self-avoiding walks with medium-range jumps, that corresponds to the limit $N\to 0$ of an $N$-vector spin system with medium-range interactions. In particular, we consider the critical crossover limit that interpolates between the Gaussian and the Wilson-Fisher fixed point. The corresponding crossover functions are computed using field-theoretical methods and an appropriate mean-field expansion. The critical crossover limit is accurately studied by numerical Monte Carlo simulations, which are much more efficient for walk models than for spin systems. Monte Carlo data are compared with the field-theoretical predictions concerning the critical crossover functions, finding a good agreement. We also verify the predictions for the scaling behavior of the leading nonuniversal corrections. We determine phenomenological parametrizations that are exact in the critical crossover limit, have the correct scaling behavior for the leading correction, and describe the nonuniversal lscrossover behavior of our data for any finite range., Comment: 43 pages, revtex

Three-dimensional spin models of the Ising and XY universality classes are studied by a combination of high-temperature expansions and Monte Carlo simulations applied to improved Hamiltonians. The critical exponents and the critical equation of state are determined to very high precision., Comment: 7 pages, contribution to the 2nd Conference on the Exact Renormalization Group, Roma, September 2000

We compute the 2n-point coupling constants in the high-temperature phase of the 2d Ising model by using transfer-matrix techniques. This provides the first few terms of the expansion of the effective potential (Helmholtz free energy) and of the equation of state in terms of the renormalized magnetization. By means of a suitable parametric representation, we determine an analytic extension of these expansions, providing the equation of state in the whole critical region in the t,h plane., Comment: 32 pages, 2 figures, new results added in sect.4

Three-dimensional spin models of the Ising and XY universality classes are studied by a combination of high-temperature expansions and Monte Carlo simulations. Critical exponents are determined to very high precision. Scaling amplitude ratios are computed via the critical equation of state. Our results are compared with other theoretical computations and with experiments, with special emphasis on the lambda transition of 4He., Comment: Lattice 2000 (Spin Models), 4 pages

We consider the fixed-dimension perturbative expansion. We discuss the nonanalyticity of the renormalization-group functions at the fixed point and its consequences for the numerical determination of critical quantities., Comment: 9 pages

We compute the ratio between the scale $\Lambda_L$ associated with a lattice formulation of QCD using the overlap-Dirac operator, and $\Lambda_{MS-bar}$. To this end, the one-loop relation between the lattice coupling $g_0$ and the coupling renormalized in the MS-bar scheme is calculated, using the lattice background field technique. We also compute the one-loop renormalization $Z_\Gamma$ of the two-quark operators $\bar{\psi} \Gamma \psi$, where $\Gamma$ denotes a generic Dirac matrix. Furthermore, we study the renormalization of quark bilinears which are more extended and have better chiral properties. Finally, we present improved estimates of $Z_\Gamma$, coming from cactus resummation and from mean field perturbation theory., Comment: 3 pages, LATeX with 2 PS figure files. Talk presented at Confinement IV, Vienna, July 2000. Longer write-ups in: hep-lat/9909158 (NPB 571 (2000) 257), hep-lat/0002010 (NPB 580 (2000) 394). One further reference added, no other changes

We discuss the analytic properties of the Callan-Symanzik beta-function beta(g) associated with the zero-momentum four-point coupling g in the two-dimensional phi^4 model with O(N) symmetry. Using renormalization-group arguments, we derive the asymptotic behavior of beta(g) at the fixed point g^*. We argue that beta'(g) = beta'(g^*) + O(|g-g^*|^{1/7}) for N=1 and beta'(g) = beta'(g^*) + O(1/\log |g-g^*|) for N > 2. Our claim is supported by an explicit calculation in the Ising lattice model and by a 1/N calculation for the two-dimensional phi^4 theory. We discuss how these nonanalytic corrections may give rise to a slow convergence of the perturbative expansion in powers of g., Comment: 18 pages. Discussion on Logarithmic CFT added in Appendix A. References updated. A note on the interpretation of the p_5 constant added. Final version, accepted for publication in Journal of Physics A

We consider the Ginzburg-Landau MN-model that describes M N-vector cubic models with O(M)-symmetric couplings. We compute the renormalization-group functions to six-loop order in d=3. We focus on the limit N -> 0 which describes the critical behaviour of an M-vector model in the presence of weak quenched disorder. We perform a detailed analysis of the perturbative series for the random Ising model (M=1). We obtain for the critical exponents: gamma = 1.330(17), nu = 0.678(10), eta = 0.030(3), alpha=-0.034(30), beta = 0.349(5), omega = 0.25(10). For M > 1 we show that the O(M) fixed point is stable, in agreement with general non-perturbative arguments, and that no random fixed point exists., Comment: 29 pages, RevTex

We compute the one-loop lattice renormalization of the two-quark operators $\bar{\psi} \Gamma \psi$, where $\Gamma$ denotes the generic Dirac matrix, for the lattice formulation of QCD using the overlap-Dirac operator. We also study the renormalization of quark bilinears which are more extended and have better chiral properties. Finally, we present improved estimates of these renormalization constants, coming from cactus resummation and from mean field perturbation theory., Comment: 14 pages, LATeX with 2 PS figure files. One further reference on the axial anomaly has been added; no other changes. Nuclear Physics B, in press

We consider the Ginzburg-Landau Hamiltonian with a cubic-symmetric quartic interaction and compute the renormalization-group functions to six-loop order in d=3. We analyze the stability of the fixed points using a Borel transformation and a conformal mapping that takes into account the singularities of the Borel transform. We find that the cubic fixed point is stable for N>N_c, N_c = 2.89(4). Therefore, the critical properties of cubic ferromagnets are not described by the Heisenberg isotropic Hamiltonian, but instead by the cubic model at the cubic fixed point. For N=3, the critical exponents at the cubic and symmetric fixed points differ very little (less than the precision of our results, which is $\lesssim 1%$ in the case of $\gamma$ and $\nu$). Moreover, the irrelevant interaction bringing from the symmetric to the cubic fixed point gives rise to slowly-decaying scaling corrections with exponent $\omega_2=0.010(4)$. For N=2, the isotropic fixed point is stable and the cubic interaction induces scaling corrections with exponent $\omega_2 = 0.103(8)$. These conclusions are confirmed by a similar analysis of the five-loop $\epsilon$-expansion. A constrained analysis which takes into account that $N_c = 2$ in two dimensions gives $N_c = 2.87(5)$., Comment: 29 pages, RevTex, new refs added, Phys. Rev. B in press

We study the effective potential of three-dimensional O($N$) models. In statistical physics the effective potential represents the free-energy density as a function of the order parameter (Helmholtz free energy), and, therefore, it is related to the equation of state. In particular, we consider its small-field expansion in the symmetric (high-temperature) phase, whose coefficients are related to the zero-momentum $2j$-point renormalized coupling constants $g_{2j}$. For generic values of $N$, we calculate $g_{2j}$ to three loops in the field-theoretic approach based on the $\epsilon$-expansion. The estimates of $g_{2j}$, or equivalently of $r_{2j}\equiv g_{2j}/g_4^{j-1}$, are obtained by a constrained analysis of the series that takes into account the exact results in one and zero dimensions., Comment: 22 pages, RevTex, Nucl. Phys. B, in press

We compute the ratio $\Lambda_L/\Lambda_{\bar{MS}}$ between the scale parameter $\Lambda_L$, associated with a lattice formulation of QCD using the overlap-Dirac operator, and $\Lambda_{\bar{MS}}$ of the $\bar{\rm MS}$ renormalization scheme. To this end, the necessary one-loop relation between the lattice coupling $g_0$ and the coupling renormalized in the $\bar{{\rm MS}}$ scheme is calculated, using the lattice background field technique., Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures

We show how to perform a resummation, to all orders in perturbation theory, of a certain class of gauge invariant tadpole-like diagrams in Lattice QCD. These diagrams are often largely responsible for lattice artifacts. Our resummation leads to an improved perturbative expansion. Applied to a number of cases of interest, e.g. the lattice renormalization of some two-fermion operators, this expansion yields results remarkably close to corresponding nonperturbative estimates. We consider in our study both the Wilson and the clover action for fermions., Comment: LATTICE99(Improvement and Renormalization), 3 pages, LATeX with eps figures, uses espcrc2.sty. Corrected a statement regarding comparison with other methods. (We thank A. Kronfeld for bringing this point to our attention.)

We study the critical crossover between the Gaussian and the Wilson-Fisher fixed point for general O(N)-invariant spin models with medium-range interactions. We perform a systematic expansion around the mean-field solution, obtaining the universal crossover curves and their leading corrections. In particular we show that, in three dimensions, the leading correction scales as $R^{-3}, R$ being the range of the interactions. We compare our results with the existing numerical ones obtained by Monte Carlo simulations and present a critical discussion of other approaches., Comment: 49 pages, 8 figures

In the framework of the 1/N-expansion we show that the Callan-Symanzik beta- function associated with the four-point coupling g is non-analytic at its zero, i.e. at the fixed-point value g^* of g. This behavior can be interpreted by renormalization group arguments, and written in terms of scaling correction exponents. We obtain accurate determinations of g^* in 3-d and 2-d by exploiting two alternative approaches: the (4-d)-expansion and the high-temperature expansion. These results are compared with the available estimates by other approaches, such as the fixed-dimension perturbative expansion, Monte Carlo simulations, etc... We also present results for the n-point renormalized coupling constants that parameterize the behavior of the effective potential in the high- and low- temperature phases., Comment: LATTICE98(spin), 3 pages

We extend to the clover improved lattice formulation of QCD the resummation of cactus diagrams, i.e. a certain class of tadpole-like gauge invariant diagrams. Cactus resummation yields an improved perturbative expansion. We apply it to the lattice renormalization of some two-fermion operators improving their one-loop perturbative estimates., Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures

We show how to perform a resummation, to all orders in perturbation theory, of a certain class of gauge invariant diagrams in Lattice QCD. These diagrams are often largely responsible for lattice artifacts. Our resummation leads to an improved perturbative expansion. Applied to a number of cases of interest, this expansion yields results remarkably close to corresponding nonperturbative estimates., Comment: 18 pages

We study the low-temperature effective potential of the Ising model. We evaluate the three-point and four-point zero-momentum renormalized coupling constants that parametrize the expansion of the effective potential near the coexistence curve. These results are obtained by a constrained analysis of the $\epsilon$-expansion that uses accurate estimates for the two-dimensional Ising model., Comment: 16 pages, RevTex, few minor changes

We study the crossover between classical and nonclassical critical behaviors. The critical crossover limit is driven by the Ginzburg number G. The corresponding scaling functions are universal with respect to any possible microscopic mechanism which can vary G, such as changing the range or the strength of the interactions. The critical crossover describes the unique flow from the unstable Gaussian to the stable nonclassical fixed point. The scaling functions are related to the continuum renormalization-group functions. We show these features explicitly in the large-N limit of the O(N) phi^4 model. We also show that the effective susceptibility exponent is nonmonotonic in the low-temperature phase of the three-dimensional Ising model., Comment: 5 pages, final version to appear in Phys. Rev. E

We consider the effective potential in three-dimensional models with O(N) symmetry. For generic values of N, and in particular for the physically interesting cases N=0,1,2,3, we determine the six-point and eight-point renormalized coupling constants which parametrize its small-field expansion. These estimates are obtained from the analysis of their $\epsilon$-expansion, taking into account the exact results in one and zero dimensions, and, for the Ising model (i.e. N=1), the accurate high-temperature estimates in two dimensions. They are compared with the available results from other approaches. We also obtain corresponding estimates for the two-dimensional O($N$) models., Comment: 22 pages, revtex, 2 figs

We calculate the third coefficient of the lattice beta function associated with the Wilson formulation for both gauge fields and fermions. This allows us to evaluate the three-loop correction (linear in $g_0^2$) to the relation between the lattice Lambda-parameter and the bare coupling $g_0$, which is important in order to verify asymptotic scaling predictions. Our calculation also leads to the two-loop relation between the coupling renormalized in the MSbar scheme and $g_0$. The original version of this paper contained a numerical error in one of the diagrams, which has now been corrected. The calculations, as well as the layout of the paper have remained identical, but there are some important changes in the numerical results., Comment: One 14-page LaTeX file, one PostScript file containing 2 figures. Corrected a numerical error in one of the diagrams. The calculations, as well as the layout of the paper have remained unaffected, but there are some important changes in the numerical results

We investigate some issues concerning the zero-momentum four-point renormalized coupling constant g in the symmetric phase of O(N) models, and the corresponding Callan-Symanzik beta-function. In the framework of the 1/N expansion we show that the Callan- Symanzik beta-function is non-analytic at its zero, i.e. at the fixed-point value g^* of g. This fact calls for a check of the actual accuracy of the determination of g^* from the resummation of the d=3 perturbative g-expansion, which is usually performed assuming analyticity of the beta-function. Two alternative approaches are exploited. We extend the \epsilon-expansion of g^* to O(\epsilon^4). Quite accurate estimates of g^* are then obtained by an analysis exploiting the analytic behavior of g^* as function of d and the known values of g^* for lower-dimensional O(N) models, i.e. for d=2,1,0. Accurate estimates of g^* are also obtained by a reanalysis of the strong-coupling expansion of lattice N-vector models allowing for the leading confluent singularity. The agreement among the g-, \epsilon-, and strong-coupling expansion results is good for all N. However, at N=0,1, \epsilon- and strong-coupling expansion favor values of g^* which are sligthly lower than those obtained by the resummation of the g-expansion assuming analyticity in the Callan-Symanzik beta-function., Comment: 35 pages (3 figs), added Ref. for GRT, some estimates are revised, other minor changes

We calculate the third coefficient of the lattice beta function in QCD with Wilson fermions, extending the pure gauge results of Luescher and Weisz; we show how this coefficient modifies the scaling function on the lattice. We also calculate the three-loop average plaquette in the presence of Wilson fermions. This allows us to compute the lattice scaling function both in the standard and energy schemes., Comment: 3 pages, LaTeX (fleqn.sty, espcrc2.sty), contribution to Lattice'97. Table caption corrected. The longer write-ups are in hep-lat/9801007 (beta function) and hep-lat/9801003 (plaquette)

In three-dimensional O(N) models, we investigate the low-momentum behavior of the two-point Green's function G(x) in the critical region of the symmetric phase. We consider physical systems whose criticality is characterized by a rotational-invariant fixed point. Several approaches are exploited, such as strong-coupling expansion of lattice non-linear O(N) sigma models, 1/N-expansion, field-theoretical methods within the phi^4 continuum formulation. In non-rotational invariant physical systems with O(N)-invariant interactions, the vanishing of space-anisotropy approaching the rotational-invariant fixed point is described by a critical exponent rho, which is universal and is related to the leading irrelevant operator breaking rotational invariance. At N=\infty one finds rho=2. We show that, for all values of $N\geq 0$, $\rho\simeq 2$. Non-Gaussian corrections to the universal low-momentum behavior of G(x) are evaluated, and found to be very small., Comment: 65 pages, revtex

We investigate the relation between on-shell and zero-momentum non-perturbative quantities entering the parametrization of the two-point Green's function of two-dimensional non-linear O(N) sigma models. We present accurate estimates of ratios of mass-scales and renormalization constants, obtained by an analysis of the strong-coupling expansion of the two-point Green's function. These ratios allow to connect exact known on-shell results with typical zero-momentum lattice evaluations. Our results are supported by the 1/N-expansion., Comment: 10 pages, revtex

Using the background field technique, we calculate the 3-loop beta function of lattice $SU(N)$ gauge theories. In the pure gluonic case, we present our results, comparing to those recently obtained by Luescher and Weisz. We also provide a progress report in the case of QCD with Wilson fermions., Comment: 3 pgs. Latex source, espcrc2.sty not included. Talk presented at LATTICE96(theoretical developments)

We investigate the performance of the hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm in updating non-trivial global topological structures. We find that the hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm has serious problems decorrelating the global topological charge. This represents a warning which must be seriously considered when simulating full QCD, regardless of the number and type of fermions, with this or any similar algorithm. Simulated tempering is examined as a means of accelerating the decorrelation., Comment: Talk presented at LATTICE96(topology) LaTeX2e, uses espcrc2.sty (included), amstex package. 3 pages, 1 figure

We investigate the performance of the hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm, the standard algorithm used for lattice QCD simulations involving fermions, in updating non-trivial global topological structures. We find that the hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm has serious problems decorrelating the global topological charge at the values of $\beta$ and $m$ currently simulated, where continuum physics should be approximately realized. This represents a warning which must be seriously considered when simulating full QCD by hybrid Monte Carlo., Comment: LaTeX2e, uses elsart.cls (included), amstex package, cite.sty (included). 8 pages, 1 figure. Change to the mass dependence of the autocorrelation and a couple of references changed

We analyze the properties of a class of improved lattice topological charge density operators, constructed by a smearing-like procedure. By optimizing the choice of the parameters introduced in their definition, we find operators having (i) a better statistical behavior as estimators of the topological charge density on the lattice, i.e. less noisy; (ii) a multiplicative renormalization much closer to one; (iii) a large suppression of the perturbative tail (and other unphysical mixings) in the corresponding lattice topological susceptibility., Comment: 11 pages (REVTEX) + 4 (uuencoded) figures

We analyze the properties of a class of improved lattice topological charge density operators, constructed by a smearing-like procedure. By optimizing the choice of the parameters introduced in their definition, we find operators having (i) a much better statistical behavior as estimators of the topological charge density on the lattice, i.e. much less noisy; (ii) a multiplicative renormalization much closer to one; (iii) a large suppression of the perturbative tail in the corresponding lattice topological susceptibility., Comment: 4 pages, to be published in the Proceedings of Lattice 95, uuencoded postscript file

The renormalized zero-momentum four-point coupling $g_r$ of $O(N)$-invariant scalar field theories in $d$ dimensions is studied by applying the $1/N$ expansion and strong coupling analysis. The $O(1/N)$ correction to the $\beta$-function and to the fixed point value $g_r^*$ are explictly computed. Strong coupling series for lattice non-linear $\sigma$ models are analyzed near criticality in $d=2$ and $d=3$ for several values of $N$ and the corresponding values of $g_r^*$ are extracted. Large-$N$ and strong coupling results are compared with each other, finding a good general agreement. For small $N$ the strong coupling analysis in 2-d gives the best determination of $g^*_r$ to date (or comparable for $N=2,3$ with the available Monte Carlo estimates), and in 3-d it is consistent with available $\phi^4$ field theory results., Comment: 4 pages, to be published in the Proceedings of Lattice 95, Postscript file

The large-N saddle-point equations for the principal chiral models defined on a d-1 dimensional simplex are derived from the external field problem for unitary integrals. The saddle point equation are studied analytically and numerically in many relevant instances, including d=4 and $d\rightarrow\infty$, with special attention to the critical domain, which is found to correspond to $\beta_c=1/d$ for all d. Related models (chiral chains) are discussed and large-N solutions are analyzed., Comment: 47 pages + 4 figures in an uuencoded file

We study the renormalization group behaviour of the topological charge density in full QCD on the lattice. We propose a way of extracting the necessary renormalization functions from Monte Carlo simulations., Comment: 8 pages, Revtex

Two dimensional large-N chiral models on the square and honeycomb lattices are investigated by a strong coupling analysis. Strong coupling expansion turns out to be predictive for the evaluation of continuum physical quantities, to the point of showing asymptotic scaling. Indeed in the strong coupling region a quite large range of beta values exists where the fundamental mass agrees, within about 5% on the square lattice and about 10% on the honeycomb lattice, with the continuum predictions in the %%energy scheme., Comment: 16 pages, Revtex, 8 uuencoded postscript figures

We investigate the large-N critical behavior of 2-d lattice chiral models by Monte Carlo simulations of U(N) and SU(N) groups at large N. Numerical results confirm strong coupling analyses, i.e. the existence of a large-N second order phase transition at a finite $\beta_c$., Comment: 12 pages, Revtex, 8 uuencoded postscript figures

Two dimensional $N=\infty$ lattice chiral models are investigate by a strong coupling analysis. Strong coupling expansion turns out to be predictive for the evaluation of continuum physical quantities, to the point of showing asymptotic scaling (within 5\%)., Comment: 3 pages, PostScript file, contribution to conference LATTICE '94