2005/06/28 by P. R. Crompton · 1 citation
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Gauge theory #Impossibility #Mathematical analysis #Mathematical physics #Mathematics #Maxima and minima #Meromorphic function #Parity (physics) #Partition function (quantum field theory) #Physics #Pure mathematics #Quantum #Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions #Quantum field theory #Quantum many-body systems #Quantum mechanics #Statistical physics #Theoretical and Computational Physics #Theoretical physics #hep-lat
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevd.72.076003
published as Phys.Rev.D72:076003,2005 · 6 pages
arxiv created 2005/06/28 · openalex publication_date 2005/10/12 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We disprove the Vafa-Witten theorem on the impossibility of spontaneously breaking parity in vectorlike gauge field theories, identifying a mechanism driven by quantum fluctuations. With the introduction of a meromorphic lattice formulation, defined over 5 dimensions, we demonstrate that the minima of the free energy can be distinct from the maxima of the partition function. By identifying and evaluating a suitable contour for the partition function the asymptotic behavior of the complex action is shown to be nonoscillatory.