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Topological Data Analysis of Monopole Current Networks in $U(1)$ Lattice Gauge Theory

by Xavier Crean, Jeffrey Giansiracusa, Biagio Lucini

Submission summary

Authors (as registered SciPost users): Xavier Crean · Jeffrey Giansiracusa · Biagio Lucini
Submission information
Preprint Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.07739v3  (pdf)
Code repository: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10806185
Data repository: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10806046
Date submitted: 2024-07-22 12:06
Submitted by: Crean, Xavier
Submitted to: SciPost Physics
Ontological classification
Academic field: Physics
Specialties:
  • High-Energy Physics - Theory
  • Statistical and Soft Matter Physics
Approaches: Theoretical, Computational

Abstract

In $4$-dimensional pure compact $U(1)$ lattice gauge theory, we analyse topological aspects of the dynamics of monopoles across the deconfinement phase transition. We do this using tools from Topological Data Analysis (TDA). We demonstrate that observables constructed from the zeroth and first homology groups of monopole current networks may be used to quantitatively and robustly locate the critical inverse coupling $\beta_{c}$ through finite-size scaling. Our method provides a mathematically robust framework for the characterisation of topological invariants related to monopole currents, putting on firmer ground earlier investigations. Moreover, our approach can be generalised to the study of Abelian monopoles in non-Abelian gauge theories.

Author indications on fulfilling journal expectations

  • Provide a novel and synergetic link between different research areas.
  • Open a new pathway in an existing or a new research direction, with clear potential for multi-pronged follow-up work
  • Detail a groundbreaking theoretical/experimental/computational discovery
  • Present a breakthrough on a previously-identified and long-standing research stumbling block

Author comments upon resubmission

Dear Editor,

Please accept the resubmission of our paper 'Topological Data Analysis of Monopole Current Networks in U(1) Lattice Gauge Theory'.

Yours sincerely,
The Authors

List of changes

Changes are in the format (1) brief summary of the referee request, (2) change that the authors have made.

1. More about future non-Abelian application:
We have included a paragraph in the conclusion discussing future applications of our methodology to the non-Abelian case.

2. Change hot/cold nomenclature to low-beta/high-beta:
Throughout the paper, we have changed the nomenclature from hot/cold phase to low-β/high-β phase.

3. Move subsection introducing the Betti numbers to subsection 3.1 and expand section 3:
There are several changes we have made here:
3.1 We have moved the Appendix C that describes background on homology and Betti numbers to a new Subsection 3.1 and created another new subsection 3.2 called `Analysis of Monopole Current Networks` that contains content from the original submission.
3.2 We have created a new Appendix B.3 (a Subsection in the Appendix 3 on Methods) that includes additional details on our computational pipeline. We have gone into much more detail on how we actually compute Betti numbers of the directed graph using giotto-tda. This entails mapping graphs to a 1-dimensional cubical complex with periodic boundary conditions (a data structure that is implemented by the GUDHI library); we have included an explanatory figure.
3.3 In Subsubsection 3.2.1, we have rephrased the description of how we map monopole current networks to directed graphs.

4. Clarify explanation of large network breaking into smaller networks
The picture we describe of a large percolating network in the low beta phase and small distinct networks in the high beta phase is based on the accepted physical picture from the literature. We have added some relevant references to aid the reader. Our comment about the large network breaking into smaller networks as \rho_0 obtains its maximum is a statement that in the critical region the behaviour of \rho_0 corresponds with the accepted physical picture from the literature. We have rephrased the language to clarify the point that at large \beta values sampled configurations are less likely to contain monopole current loops.


5. Reference Kerler et al more explicitly
We have more explicitly mentioned Kerler et al. Ref. [22] in the introduction. We have also included a comment on the fact that the phase transition was found, e.g., in Ref. [29], to exist on a lattice representation of the 4-sphere where non-trivial winding is not possible.

6. Add citation for graph homology independent of coefficient field
We have included an explanation/reference in a footnote.

7. Add variance plots of the observables
We have included the variance plots in the main body of the text with appropriate inset zoom-ins to highlight the peaks in the variance (including error bars) in the critical region.

8. Explain why periodically closed loops come in oppositely oriented pairs
We have included a sentence explaining this.

9. Prefactors in monopole number equation (8)
This was a typo that has now been corrected: Equation (8) now includes the prefactor -1/2.

10. Explain why betti_1 has smaller critical beta than betti_0
We have added a footnote highlighting that whilst E, \rho_0 and \rho_1 are not equal for finite size L, they converge in the physically significant infinite volume limit.

11. Make notation consistent for density of betti_k
Throughout the paper, the notation has been clarified and updated.

12. Make zoom-in plots embedded with diagonal lines
Inset zoom-ins have been added to the plots to highlight the behaviour in the critical region more clearly.

13. Change title to highlight Monopole Current Networks
The title has been changed to “Topological Data Analysis of Monopole Current Networks in U(1) Lattice Gauge Theory”.

14. Sample number N in bootstrap error estimation
We have a made a small edit to the text in Appendix B.2 to highlight the fact that each set S_i, generated by the resampling, consists of N samples.

Current status:
In refereeing

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