Why is lattice QCD called non-perturbative?












2














Like, if you are approximating a smooth structure with a discrete lattice, isn't this like a perturbation from smooth space-time?



If Feynman diagrams are a perturbative method, why are Feynamn diagrams on a lattice/grid called non-perturbative?










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  • My mistake, I assumed lattice QCD was the same as QCD Feynman diagrams on a finite grid.
    – zooby
    Dec 22 at 21:35
















2














Like, if you are approximating a smooth structure with a discrete lattice, isn't this like a perturbation from smooth space-time?



If Feynman diagrams are a perturbative method, why are Feynamn diagrams on a lattice/grid called non-perturbative?










share|cite|improve this question
























  • My mistake, I assumed lattice QCD was the same as QCD Feynman diagrams on a finite grid.
    – zooby
    Dec 22 at 21:35














2












2








2


1





Like, if you are approximating a smooth structure with a discrete lattice, isn't this like a perturbation from smooth space-time?



If Feynman diagrams are a perturbative method, why are Feynamn diagrams on a lattice/grid called non-perturbative?










share|cite|improve this question















Like, if you are approximating a smooth structure with a discrete lattice, isn't this like a perturbation from smooth space-time?



If Feynman diagrams are a perturbative method, why are Feynamn diagrams on a lattice/grid called non-perturbative?







quantum-chromodynamics non-perturbative lattice-gauge-theory






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edited 14 hours ago









Qmechanic

101k121831142




101k121831142










asked Dec 22 at 21:04









zooby

1,215514




1,215514












  • My mistake, I assumed lattice QCD was the same as QCD Feynman diagrams on a finite grid.
    – zooby
    Dec 22 at 21:35


















  • My mistake, I assumed lattice QCD was the same as QCD Feynman diagrams on a finite grid.
    – zooby
    Dec 22 at 21:35
















My mistake, I assumed lattice QCD was the same as QCD Feynman diagrams on a finite grid.
– zooby
Dec 22 at 21:35




My mistake, I assumed lattice QCD was the same as QCD Feynman diagrams on a finite grid.
– zooby
Dec 22 at 21:35










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















7














In general, by a perturbative approach, we mean an approximation of the form,



$$f = f_0 + epsilon f_1 + epsilon^2 f_2 + dots$$



where $epsilon$ is the perturbation parameter, for some solution $f$. That is to say, one can approximate the behaviour of the solution by this series.



However, summing all the terms does not mean you will recover the exact solution; in most cases perturbative series are asymptotic series.



On the other hand, lattice QCD is an approach which is not described as perturbation theory because it does not follow this scheme, and in principle one recovers the exact solution in the appropriate limit.



To convince yourself of the distinction, consider the differential equation,



$$frac{mathrm d f}{mathrm dx} = g(x).$$



If we choose to discretize it (very naively), we obtain a linear system,



$$frac{f_{i+1}-f_{i}}{Delta x} = g_i$$



which is a totally different approach to plugging in a series expansion like the one above. That being said, Feynman diagrams are always a perturbative approach, so Feynman diagrams on a lattice are a perturbative approach, but putting the theory on a lattice is not what makes it perturbative.






share|cite|improve this answer





















  • So in general it's just the kind of limit your taking.
    – zooby
    Dec 22 at 21:33






  • 1




    @zooby: For a perturbative expansion, the limit does not exist. (This is what "asymptotic series" means.) For lattice QCD, as far as we can tell, the limit exists.
    – Peter Shor
    Dec 22 at 22:42












  • @Peter do you know if string theory perturbation theory uses asymptotic expansions?
    – zooby
    Dec 23 at 0:03






  • 1




    @zooby String perturbation theory replaces Feynman diagrams with a higher dimensional analogue, namely Riemann surfaces. It's still a perturbative expansion.
    – JamalS
    2 days ago






  • 1




    zooby didn't ask whether string perturbation theory is perturbative (which is kind of obvious from the name), but whether it's asymptotic.
    – tparker
    12 hours ago











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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









7














In general, by a perturbative approach, we mean an approximation of the form,



$$f = f_0 + epsilon f_1 + epsilon^2 f_2 + dots$$



where $epsilon$ is the perturbation parameter, for some solution $f$. That is to say, one can approximate the behaviour of the solution by this series.



However, summing all the terms does not mean you will recover the exact solution; in most cases perturbative series are asymptotic series.



On the other hand, lattice QCD is an approach which is not described as perturbation theory because it does not follow this scheme, and in principle one recovers the exact solution in the appropriate limit.



To convince yourself of the distinction, consider the differential equation,



$$frac{mathrm d f}{mathrm dx} = g(x).$$



If we choose to discretize it (very naively), we obtain a linear system,



$$frac{f_{i+1}-f_{i}}{Delta x} = g_i$$



which is a totally different approach to plugging in a series expansion like the one above. That being said, Feynman diagrams are always a perturbative approach, so Feynman diagrams on a lattice are a perturbative approach, but putting the theory on a lattice is not what makes it perturbative.






share|cite|improve this answer





















  • So in general it's just the kind of limit your taking.
    – zooby
    Dec 22 at 21:33






  • 1




    @zooby: For a perturbative expansion, the limit does not exist. (This is what "asymptotic series" means.) For lattice QCD, as far as we can tell, the limit exists.
    – Peter Shor
    Dec 22 at 22:42












  • @Peter do you know if string theory perturbation theory uses asymptotic expansions?
    – zooby
    Dec 23 at 0:03






  • 1




    @zooby String perturbation theory replaces Feynman diagrams with a higher dimensional analogue, namely Riemann surfaces. It's still a perturbative expansion.
    – JamalS
    2 days ago






  • 1




    zooby didn't ask whether string perturbation theory is perturbative (which is kind of obvious from the name), but whether it's asymptotic.
    – tparker
    12 hours ago
















7














In general, by a perturbative approach, we mean an approximation of the form,



$$f = f_0 + epsilon f_1 + epsilon^2 f_2 + dots$$



where $epsilon$ is the perturbation parameter, for some solution $f$. That is to say, one can approximate the behaviour of the solution by this series.



However, summing all the terms does not mean you will recover the exact solution; in most cases perturbative series are asymptotic series.



On the other hand, lattice QCD is an approach which is not described as perturbation theory because it does not follow this scheme, and in principle one recovers the exact solution in the appropriate limit.



To convince yourself of the distinction, consider the differential equation,



$$frac{mathrm d f}{mathrm dx} = g(x).$$



If we choose to discretize it (very naively), we obtain a linear system,



$$frac{f_{i+1}-f_{i}}{Delta x} = g_i$$



which is a totally different approach to plugging in a series expansion like the one above. That being said, Feynman diagrams are always a perturbative approach, so Feynman diagrams on a lattice are a perturbative approach, but putting the theory on a lattice is not what makes it perturbative.






share|cite|improve this answer





















  • So in general it's just the kind of limit your taking.
    – zooby
    Dec 22 at 21:33






  • 1




    @zooby: For a perturbative expansion, the limit does not exist. (This is what "asymptotic series" means.) For lattice QCD, as far as we can tell, the limit exists.
    – Peter Shor
    Dec 22 at 22:42












  • @Peter do you know if string theory perturbation theory uses asymptotic expansions?
    – zooby
    Dec 23 at 0:03






  • 1




    @zooby String perturbation theory replaces Feynman diagrams with a higher dimensional analogue, namely Riemann surfaces. It's still a perturbative expansion.
    – JamalS
    2 days ago






  • 1




    zooby didn't ask whether string perturbation theory is perturbative (which is kind of obvious from the name), but whether it's asymptotic.
    – tparker
    12 hours ago














7












7








7






In general, by a perturbative approach, we mean an approximation of the form,



$$f = f_0 + epsilon f_1 + epsilon^2 f_2 + dots$$



where $epsilon$ is the perturbation parameter, for some solution $f$. That is to say, one can approximate the behaviour of the solution by this series.



However, summing all the terms does not mean you will recover the exact solution; in most cases perturbative series are asymptotic series.



On the other hand, lattice QCD is an approach which is not described as perturbation theory because it does not follow this scheme, and in principle one recovers the exact solution in the appropriate limit.



To convince yourself of the distinction, consider the differential equation,



$$frac{mathrm d f}{mathrm dx} = g(x).$$



If we choose to discretize it (very naively), we obtain a linear system,



$$frac{f_{i+1}-f_{i}}{Delta x} = g_i$$



which is a totally different approach to plugging in a series expansion like the one above. That being said, Feynman diagrams are always a perturbative approach, so Feynman diagrams on a lattice are a perturbative approach, but putting the theory on a lattice is not what makes it perturbative.






share|cite|improve this answer












In general, by a perturbative approach, we mean an approximation of the form,



$$f = f_0 + epsilon f_1 + epsilon^2 f_2 + dots$$



where $epsilon$ is the perturbation parameter, for some solution $f$. That is to say, one can approximate the behaviour of the solution by this series.



However, summing all the terms does not mean you will recover the exact solution; in most cases perturbative series are asymptotic series.



On the other hand, lattice QCD is an approach which is not described as perturbation theory because it does not follow this scheme, and in principle one recovers the exact solution in the appropriate limit.



To convince yourself of the distinction, consider the differential equation,



$$frac{mathrm d f}{mathrm dx} = g(x).$$



If we choose to discretize it (very naively), we obtain a linear system,



$$frac{f_{i+1}-f_{i}}{Delta x} = g_i$$



which is a totally different approach to plugging in a series expansion like the one above. That being said, Feynman diagrams are always a perturbative approach, so Feynman diagrams on a lattice are a perturbative approach, but putting the theory on a lattice is not what makes it perturbative.







share|cite|improve this answer












share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer










answered Dec 22 at 21:27









JamalS

14.2k53084




14.2k53084












  • So in general it's just the kind of limit your taking.
    – zooby
    Dec 22 at 21:33






  • 1




    @zooby: For a perturbative expansion, the limit does not exist. (This is what "asymptotic series" means.) For lattice QCD, as far as we can tell, the limit exists.
    – Peter Shor
    Dec 22 at 22:42












  • @Peter do you know if string theory perturbation theory uses asymptotic expansions?
    – zooby
    Dec 23 at 0:03






  • 1




    @zooby String perturbation theory replaces Feynman diagrams with a higher dimensional analogue, namely Riemann surfaces. It's still a perturbative expansion.
    – JamalS
    2 days ago






  • 1




    zooby didn't ask whether string perturbation theory is perturbative (which is kind of obvious from the name), but whether it's asymptotic.
    – tparker
    12 hours ago


















  • So in general it's just the kind of limit your taking.
    – zooby
    Dec 22 at 21:33






  • 1




    @zooby: For a perturbative expansion, the limit does not exist. (This is what "asymptotic series" means.) For lattice QCD, as far as we can tell, the limit exists.
    – Peter Shor
    Dec 22 at 22:42












  • @Peter do you know if string theory perturbation theory uses asymptotic expansions?
    – zooby
    Dec 23 at 0:03






  • 1




    @zooby String perturbation theory replaces Feynman diagrams with a higher dimensional analogue, namely Riemann surfaces. It's still a perturbative expansion.
    – JamalS
    2 days ago






  • 1




    zooby didn't ask whether string perturbation theory is perturbative (which is kind of obvious from the name), but whether it's asymptotic.
    – tparker
    12 hours ago
















So in general it's just the kind of limit your taking.
– zooby
Dec 22 at 21:33




So in general it's just the kind of limit your taking.
– zooby
Dec 22 at 21:33




1




1




@zooby: For a perturbative expansion, the limit does not exist. (This is what "asymptotic series" means.) For lattice QCD, as far as we can tell, the limit exists.
– Peter Shor
Dec 22 at 22:42






@zooby: For a perturbative expansion, the limit does not exist. (This is what "asymptotic series" means.) For lattice QCD, as far as we can tell, the limit exists.
– Peter Shor
Dec 22 at 22:42














@Peter do you know if string theory perturbation theory uses asymptotic expansions?
– zooby
Dec 23 at 0:03




@Peter do you know if string theory perturbation theory uses asymptotic expansions?
– zooby
Dec 23 at 0:03




1




1




@zooby String perturbation theory replaces Feynman diagrams with a higher dimensional analogue, namely Riemann surfaces. It's still a perturbative expansion.
– JamalS
2 days ago




@zooby String perturbation theory replaces Feynman diagrams with a higher dimensional analogue, namely Riemann surfaces. It's still a perturbative expansion.
– JamalS
2 days ago




1




1




zooby didn't ask whether string perturbation theory is perturbative (which is kind of obvious from the name), but whether it's asymptotic.
– tparker
12 hours ago




zooby didn't ask whether string perturbation theory is perturbative (which is kind of obvious from the name), but whether it's asymptotic.
– tparker
12 hours ago


















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