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arXiv · 1012.1214

Confinement from semiclassical gluon fields in SU(2) gauge theory

Kurt Langfeld·Ernst-Michael Ilgenfritz
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Abstract

The infrared structure of SU(2) Yang-Mills theory is studied by means of lattice gauge simulations using a new constrained cooling technique. This method reduces the action while all Polyakov lines on the lattice remain unchanged. In contrast to unconstrained cooling, quark confinement is still intact. A study of the Hessian of the Yang-Mills action shows that low action (semi-) classical configurations can be achieved, with a characteristic splitting between collective modes and higher momentum modes. Besides confinement, the semiclassical configurations also support the topological susceptibility and generate spontaneous breakdown of chiral symmetry.We show that they possess a cluster structure of locally mainly (anti-) selfdual objects. By contrast to an instanton or a meron medium, the topological charge of individual clusters is smoothly distributed.

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Kurt Langfeld, Ernst-Michael Ilgenfritz. 2010-12-06. Confinement from semiclassical gluon fields in SU(2) gauge theory. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2011.02.009

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