Improving lattice quark actions

We explore the first stage of the Symanzik improvement program for lattice Dirac fermions, namely the construction of doubler-free, highly improved classical actions on isotropic as well as anisotropic lattices (where the temporal lattice spacing, a(t), is smaller than the spatial one). Using field transformations to eliminate doublers, we derive the previously presented isotropic D234 action with O(a(3)) errors, as well as anisotropic D234 actions with O(a(4)) or O(a(t)(3), a(4)) errors. Besides allowing the simulation of heavy quarks within a relativistic framework, anisotropic lattices alleviate potential problems due to unphysical branches of the quark dispersion relation (which are generic to improved actions), facilitate studies of lattice thermodynamics, and allow accurate mass determinations for particles with bad signal/noise properties, like glueballs and P-state mesons. We also show how field transformations can be used to completely eliminate unphysical branches of the dispersion relation. Finally, we briefly discuss future steps in the improvement program. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.