Spectral function and excited states in lattice QCD with the maximum entropy method

Abstract

We apply the maximum entropy method to extract the spectral functions for pseudoscalar and vector mesons from hadron correlators previously calculated at four different lattice spacings in quenched QCD with the Wilson quark action. We determine masses and decay constants for the ground and excited states of the pseudoscalar and vector channels from the position and area of peaks in the spectral functions. We obtain the results mπ1 = 660(590) MeV and mρ1 = 1540(570) MeV for the first excited state masses, in the continuum limit of quenched QCD. We also find unphysical states that have an infinite mass in the continuum limit, and argue that they are bound states of two doublers of the Wilson quark action. If the interpretation is correct, this is the first time that the state of doublers has been identified in lattice QCD numerical simulations. © 2001 The American Physical Society.