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 Physics at Virginia

"Deconfinement on Axion Domain Walls"


Mohamed Anber , Lewis & Clark College
[Host: Peter Arnold]
ABSTRACT:

The general lore, according to effective field theory, is that one ignores the high energy degrees of freedom when studying low energy phenomena. For example, we usually do not need to know quantum chromodynamics (QCD) (the strong nuclear force) in order to study fluid mechanics! However, the existence of 't Hooft anomalies (subtle phases in the partition function) may signal non-trivial intertwining between the high and low energy scales. This assertion can be seen in axion physics; axion is a hypothetical particle that may play important roles in solving a few puzzles in the Universe.  After a brief introduction to QCD and axions, I show how this intertwining takes place on axion domain walls (DW). To this end, I first discuss a new class of 't Hooft anomalies that was recently identified, and then use the anomalies to argue that quarks are deconfined (liberated) on axion DW. This newly discovered phenomenon implies that non-trivial interplay between different scales happens on the walls. Further, I confirm this picture by performing explicit calculations in a toy model, which is argued to be continuously connected to the full-fledged QCD.

Colloquium
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
3:30 PM
Physics Building, Room 204
Note special date.
Note special room.

Special Colloquium


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