On the Simulation of Quantum Statistical Field Theories: A case study of sine Gordon-type models with and without disorder
Martin Mueser
Department of Applied Mathematics, UWO
Abstract
In my talk, I will discuss how one can efficiently simulate quantum field theories in the framework of path integral molecular
dynamics. Some few technical aspects will be mentioned such as how to reduce correlation times and how to keep discretization
effects as small as possible. The methods will be applied to an elastic chain embedded in an external potential. Models of this kind
are used in various contexts in physics, for instance, to describe the motion of electrons in one dimension. Depending on the strength
of the quantum fluctuations and the qualitative features of the embedding potential, the chain may be pinned (insulator) or unpinned
(conductor): Self-affine embedding potentials will always pin a chain. Chains moving in potentials with a well-defined variance can
be pinned or unpinned depending on the mass of their constituents.
