Nearly conformal electroweak sector with chiral fermions
SU(3) gauge theory with dynamical overlap fermions in the 2-index symmetric (sextet) representation is considered. This model may be a viable model of the electroweak symmetry breaking sector along the lines of the walking technicolor paradigm. The number of fermion species is chosen such that the theory is expected to be below the conformal window. We will discuss how the epsilon-regime and random matrix theory can be used to test whether at any given set of parameters (N_c, N_f, representation) the theory is in the conformal phase or indeed just below it. Quenched Monte Carlo results are included in the fundamental representation and also preliminary dynamical ones in the 2-index symmetric representation.

title: The sextet gauge model, light Higgs, and the dilaton
abstract: The frequently discussed strongly interacting gauge theory with a fermion flavor doublet in the two-index symmetric (sextet) representation of the SU(3) color gauge group is investigated \cite{Fodor:2012ty}. The chiral condensate and the mass spectrum are consistent with chiral symmetry breaking at vanishing fermion mass. In contrast, sextet fermion mass deformations of spectral properties are not consistent with leading conformal scaling behavior near the critical surface of a conformal theory. A recent paper \cite{DeGrand:2012yq} which could not resolve the conformal fixed point of the gauge coupling from the slowly walking scenario of a very small nearly vanishing \beta -function is not in conflict with chiral symmetry breaking reported here. A light Higgs impostor could emerge as the dilaton from spontaneous symmetry breaking of scale invariance or, without the dilaton mechanism, as a composite state.

title: Conformal finite size scaling of twelve fermion flavors
abstract: Extended simulation results and their analysis are reported in a strongly coupled gauge theory with twelve fermion flavors in the fundamental SU(3) color representation. The conformality of the model is probed using mass deformed conformal finite size scaling (FSS) theory driven by the fermion mass anomalous dimension. Two independent conformal FSS fitting procedures are used in the analysis. The first one deploys physics motivated scaling functions, complemented by a second fitting procedure with spline based general B-forms for the scaling functions. The results at fixed gauge coupling show unresolved problems with the conformal hypothesis.

title: Twelve massless flavors and three colors below the conformal window
abstract: We report new results for a frequently discussed gauge theory with twelve fermion flavors in the fundamental representation of the SU(3) color gauge group. The model, controversial with respect to its conformality, is important in non-perturbative studies searching for a viable composite Higgs mechanism Beyond the Standard Model (BSM). To resolve the controversy, we subject the model to opposite hypotheses inside and outside of the conformal window. In the first hypothesis we test chiral symmetry breaking ( SB) with its Goldstone spectrum, F , the SB condensate, and several composite hadron states as the fermion mass is varied in a limited range with our best e ort to control finite volume e ects and extrapolation to the massless chiral limit. Supporting results for SB from the running coupling based on the force between static sources and some preliminary evidence for the finite temperature transition are also presented. In the second test for the alternate hypothesis we probe conformal behavior driven by a single anomalous mass dimension under the assumption of unbroken chiral symmetry. Our results show a very low level of confidence in the conformal scenario. Staggered lattice fermions with stout-suppressed taste breaking are used throughout the simulations.

title: The Chiral Phase Transition from Lattice QCD with Physical Pion Masses and Domain Wall Fermions
abstract: The HotQCD collaboration has extended its study of the finite temperature transition in 2+1 flavor QCD using domain wall fermions (DWF) to the physical point. With chiral fermions and truly physical pion masses, these calculations are arguably the most realistic of their kind to date, and not possible without a combination of algorithmic advances (chiefly the dislocation suppressing determinant ratio, DSDR), highly optimized BAGEL/CPS software, and access to the LLNL/IBM 20 Petaflops Sequoia Blue Gene/Q. All results are for a fixed temporal lattice size of 8, yet discretization effects, at least for the spectrum at zero temperature, are expected to be at the 5% level. Presented here are early results – in particular, the critical temperature and pion mass dependence of the light quark chiral susceptibility.

title: Lattice QCD thermodynamics in the presence of the charm quark
abstract: We present an update on the 2 + 1 flavor QCD equation of state of the Wuppertal–Budapest Collaboration, extending our previous studies to finer lattice spacings and providing a continuum extrapolation of the trace anomaly. A Symanzik improved gauge and a stout-link improved staggered fermion action is utilized. We also present preliminary results for the fully dynamical charmed equation of state.

title: MULTIMODE ANALYSIS OF THE HOLLOW PLASMA CHANNEL WAKEFIELD ACCELERATOR
abstract: The hollow plasma channel is analyzed as an accelerating structure. The excitation of the channel by an ultra-relativistic beam is analyzed. Coupling to the fundamental and all higher order azimuthal modes of the excited electromagnetic fields is derived. Implications of this work for plasma-based accelerators, including beam loading and beam breakup, are discussed. Small initial transverse displacements of the beam are shown to couple to deflecting modes in the channel. The asymptotic growth rate of the resultant beam breakup instability is analyzed and a method for reducing the growth is proposed.

title: Terahertz Radiation as a Bunch Diagnostic for Laser‐Wakefield‐Accelerated Electron Bunches
abstract: Experimental results are reported on the temporal and spectral characterization of coherent terahertz (THz) radiation. The radiation is emitted by relativistic electron bunches, which in turn are produced by a laser‐driven plasma‐based accelerator. As the femtosecond electron bunches exit the plasma‐vacuum interface, coherent transition radiation (at THz frequencies) is emitted. Measuring the properties of this radiation allows characterization of the electron bunches. Theoretical work on the emission mechanism is presented, including a model that calculates the THz waveform from a given bunch profile. It is found that the spectrum of the THz pulse is coherent up to the 200‐μm‐thick ZnTe detection limit of 4 THz, which corresponds to the production of sub‐50 fs (root‐mean‐square) electron bunch structure. The measurements demonstrate both the shot‐to‐shot stability of bunch parameters that are critical to THz emission (such as total charge and bunch length), as well as femtosecond synchronization between ...

title: Low noise particle in cell simulations of laser plasma accelerator 10 GeV stages
abstract: Because of their ultra-high accelerating gradient, laser plasma based accelerators (LPA) are contemplated for the next generation of high-energy colliders and light sources. The upcoming BELLA project will explore acceleration of electron bunches to 10 GeV in a 1 meter long plasma, where a wakefield is driven by a PW-class laser. Particlein-cell (PIC) simulations are used to design LPA stages relevant to the upcoming experiments. Simulations in a Lorentz boosted frame are used to gain significant speed up and to simulate the 10 GeV stages at full scale parameters, which are otherwise impractical. As criteria on energy spread and beam emittance become more stringent, PIC simulations become more challenging as high frequency noise artificially increases those quantities. To reduce numerical noise, we consider using a Poisson solve to calculate the beam self-fields. This method allows correct cancelation of the beam transverse self-forces and prevents artificial emittance growth.

title: Simulation of electron postacceleration in a two-stage laser wakefield accelerator
abstract: Electron bunches produced in self-modulated laser wakefield experiments usually have a broad energy spectrum, with most electrons at low energy (1-3 MeV) and only a small fraction at high energy. We propose and investigate further acceleration of such bunches in a channel-guided resonant laser wakefield accelerator. Two-dimensional simulations with and without the effects of self-consistent beam loading are performed and compared. These results indicate that it is possible to trap about 40 percent of the injected bunch charge and accelerate this fraction to an average energy of about 50 MeV in a plasma channel of a few mn.

title: STUDY OF LASER INJECTION OF ELECTRONS INTO PLASMA WAKEFIELDS
abstract: A proposed laser-plasma based electron source  using laser triggered injection of electrons is examined. The source generates ultrashort electron bunches by dephasing background plasma electrons undergoing fluid oscillations in a plasma wake. The plasma electrons are dephased by colliding two counter-propagating laser pulses. Laser intensity thresholds for trapping and optimal wake phase for injection are calculated. Numerical simulations of test particles, with prescribed plasma and laser fields, are used to verify analytic predictions and to characterize the quality of the electron bunches.