Monte Carlo simulation of abelian gauge-Higgs lattice models using dual representation

Understand

We study abelian gauge-Higgs models on the lattice and consider gauge groups Z(3) and U(1).

• For both cases the partition sums are mapped exactly to a dual representation where the degrees of freedom are surfaces for the gauge fields and loops of flux that may serve as boundaries for the surfaces represent the matter fields.
• Also at finite chemical potential the dual partition sums have only real and positive contributions and the complex action problem of the conventional representation is overcome in the dual approach.
• We apply a local Metropolis update for the dual degrees of freedom, as well as a generalization of the worm algorithm to bounded surfaces.