pith. machine review for the scientific record. sign in

arxiv: hep-ph/0605199 · v2 · submitted 2006-05-17 · ✦ hep-ph · hep-th· nucl-th

Recognition: unknown

Heavy Quark Diffusion in Strongly Coupled N=4 Yang Mills

Authors on Pith no claims yet
classification ✦ hep-ph hep-thnucl-th
keywords diffusionquarkcoefficientheavycontourcoupledformulalambda
0
0 comments X
read the original abstract

We express the heavy quark diffusion coefficient as the temporal variation of a Wilson line along the Schwinger-Keldysh contour. This generalizes the classical formula for diffusion as a force-force correlator to a non-abelian theory. We use this formula to compute the diffusion coefficient in strongly coupled $\N=4$ Yang-Mills by studying the fluctuations of a string in $AdS_5\times S_5$. The string solution spans the full Kruskal plane and gives access to contour correlations. The diffusion coefficient is $D=2/\sqrt{\lambda} \pi T$ and is therefore parametrically smaller than momentum diffusion, $\eta/(e+p)=1/4\pi T$. The quark mass must be much greater than $T\sqrt{\lambda}$ in order to treat the quark as a heavy quasi-particle. The result is discussed in the context of the RHIC experiments.

This paper has not been read by Pith yet.

discussion (0)

Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.

Forward citations

Cited by 4 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. Heavy Quark Transport is Non-Gaussian Beyond Leading Log

    hep-ph 2026-04 unverdicted novelty 7.0

    Heavy-quark momentum transfer beyond leading logarithm in weak-coupling plasmas is non-Gaussian with asymmetric exponential tails, matching the structure seen in strongly coupled holographic plasmas.

  2. Anisotropic drag force in finite-density QGP from charged rotating 5D black holes

    hep-th 2026-04 unverdicted novelty 7.0

    The drag force on a heavy quark in a rotating finite-density holographic plasma is purely tangential and anisotropic, with worldsheet regularity fixing the renormalised transverse force and selecting a co-rotating equ...

  3. A kernel-derived orthogonal basis for spectral functions from Euclidean correlators

    hep-lat 2026-03 unverdicted novelty 6.0

    A kernel-derived orthogonal basis enables controlled approximation of spectral functions and low-energy transport coefficients from Euclidean correlators without priors.

  4. Spin dynamics and polarization in relativistic systems: recent developments

    nucl-th 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 1.0

    The review summarizes developments in spin hydrodynamics, polarization from spin-vorticity coupling, pseudo-gauge freedom, and heavy-flavor spin dynamics in relativistic systems.