On the roughening transition in abelian lattice gauge theories

We study the width of the confining string between static quarks in abelian lattice gauge theories using strong coupling expansions. We consider gauge groups Z_n and U(1) in 3 and 4 dimensions. This extends previous work with Lüscher, where SU(2) and Z₂ were studied. In ν = 3 dimensions we find evidence for a roughening transition. It is characterized by a divergence of the string width for an infinitely far separated quark-antiquark pair, while the string tension remains non-zero. In ν = 4 dimensions for the abelian groups we do not have evidence for a roughening transition away from a phase transition.     

Roughening transition in lattice gauge theories in arbitrary dimension: (II). The groups Z3, U(1), SU(2), SU(3)

Strong coupling expansions for the string tension and other quantities in lattice gauge theories are computed in arbitrary dimension for the groups Z₃, U(1), SU(2), SU(3). This enables us to determine the location of the roughening transition, which seems to be group independent when measured in an appropriate variable. In four dimensions, the strong coupling expansion of string tension calculated up to fourteenth order for SU(2), and twelfth order for SU(3) agrees nicely with Monte Carlo data up to the roughening point.     

Linked cluster expansions for U(1) lattice gauge theory in 2 + 1 and 3 + 1 dimensions

Compact U(1) lattice gauge theory is studied in 2 + 1 and 3 + 1 dimensions using strong coupling series expansions and the recently proposed exact linled cluster expansion alborithm Results for the vacuum energy, specific heat and axial string tension in 2 + 1 dimensions are in agreement with previous finite lattice estimates. In 3 + 1 dimensions, we present new strong coupling series results (order g^?40) which together with the ELCE estimates show evidence of a continuous phase transition at x = 1/g⁴ = 0.72 ± 0.08. The associated critical index for the vanishing string tension is μ = 0.65 ± 0.12. The axial string tension in D = 3 + 1 appears to undergo a non-deconfining roughening transition at smaller x (0.56 ± 0.07).     

SU(2) Lattice gauge theory in (2+1)D

Cluster expansion methods are applied to theSU(2) lattice gauge model in (2+1) dimensions. Strong-coupling series are calculated for the vacuum energy per site, the axial string tension, and the scalar mass gap; while ELCE approximants are used to estimate the string tension beyond its roughening transition. The simple scaling behaviour expected of this super-renormalizable theory is clearly seen, and we estimate that in the continuum limit the string tension σ～(0.14±0.01)g ⁴, while the mass gapM _s ～(2.2±0.25)g ². More accurate Monte Carlo simulations are needed to check the universality between the Hamiltonian and Euclidean versions of this model.     

Abelian lattice gauge theories in 3 + 1 dimensions: The linked cluster approach

We use the linked cluster expansion methods of Nickel to derive strong couping series for Z_N abelian gauge theories. These new results together with corresponding estimates using the exact linked cluster expansion algorithm are analysed and compared with previously obtained results for U(1) lattice gauge theory in 3 + 1 dimensions. We confirm the phase structure of these theories as found by other techniques. The critical value of N at which the phase structure of Z_N alters is estimated to be N_C = 4.5 ± 0.2. In each case the string tension estimates using the ELCE algorithm are found to be stable in the presence of a roughening transition.     

U(3) four-dimensional lattice gauge theory and Monte Carlo calculations

Monte Carlo results for the pure U(3) lattice gauge theory on a 6⁴ lattice are reported. Wilson loops and the string tension are presented. The first-order phase transition in U(3) is reflected quite clearly in a discontinuity in the string tension at β = β_c. The U(1) factor of U(3) is extracted using the determinant of the Wilson loops. As expected, the U(1) component appears to deconfine at the phase transition..     

Vortex free energy and string tension at strong and intermediate coupling

We present results of high temperature expansions up to order g^?24 for the vortex free energy respectively string tension in pure lattice gauge theories with gauge groups SU(2) and Z₂ in 3 and 4 dimensions. For SU(2) in 4 dimensions the result is compared with Monte Carlo calculations of Creutz and is in good agreement. An intermediate coupling region is seen, where the string tension smoothly interpolates between strong coupling and weak coupling behaviour.     

Self-avoiding and planar random surfaces on the lattice

We study models of self-avoiding (SARS) and of planar (PRS) random surfaces on a (hyper-) cubic lattice. If N_γ(A) is the number of such surfaces with given boundary γ and area A, then N_γ(A) = exp(β₀A + o(A)), where β₀ is independent of γ. We prove that, for β > β₀, the string tension is finite for the SARS model and strictly positive for the PRS model and that in both models the correlation length (inverse mass) is positive and finite. We discuss the possibility of the existence of a critical point and of a roughening transition. Estimates on intersection probabilities for random surfaces and connections with lattice gauge theories are sketched.     

Large dimensional lattice gauge theories: (I). Z2 pure gauge system

The transition pattern of lattice gauge theories can be stydied by a variational method based on strong coupling series. For large space-time dimension d, this leads to a 1/d expansion when the parameter βd is kept fixed. The first-order phase transition of the Z₂ pure gauge system is studied here.     

Monte Carlo studies of wilson loops in four-dimensional U(2) gauge theory

Wilson loops are calculated using Monte Carlo simulations for pure U(2) gauge theory on a 6⁴ lattice. The loops appear to contain an area law piece in both the high and low temperature regions. The string tension is discontinuous at β = β_c, where β_c is the critical inverse temperature. This suggests that the first-order phase transition in U(2) gauge theory is not a deconfining phase transition. The determinant of the Wilson loop, however, extracts the U(1) part of the theory and appears to lose the area law at low temperature.     

Discontinuity of the Wilson string tension in the 4-dimensional lattice pure gauge Potts model

We consider the 4-dimensionalq-state pure gauge Potts model. Forq large enough, we give a new proof of the existence of a unique coupling constant β _t , where a first order phase transition occurs. Moreover we prove the following new results: The string tension is discontinuous at β _t , the Wilson parameter exhibits at β _t a direct transition from an area law decay (quark confinement) to a perimeter law decay (quark deconfinement).     

SU (2) lattice gauge theory and Monte Carlo calculations

Monte Carlo results for theSU (2) lattice gauge theory in four dimensions are presented. The string tension is measured with high statistics and also the mass of the perimeter term is determined. Wilson loop-plaquette correlations, which are related to roughening, are measured.     

Analytic approximations to hamiltonian lattice field theories: (I). Periodic gaussian model for U(1) theories

Periodic gaussian models are introduced for local and global U(1) invariant hamiltonian lattice field theories. The models coincide with standard lattice theories at weak coupling, but the leading non-perturbative contributions to wave functions and physical quantities are exactly calculable. Electric charges are confined and the mass gap is finite if correlations of an integer-valued magnetic field are of infinite range (d = 2 + 1 gauge model). Otherwise, for short-range correlations, the mass gap and the string tension vanish at weak coupling (QED, XY model, etc.)     

The string tension of compact U(1) four-dimensional lattice gauge theory

Monte Carlo simulations of the string tension are calculated for four-dimensional U(1) gauge theory on a 6⁴ lattice. The string tension follows the result -1n(β/2) in the high temperature region and is zero for β > β_c, where β_c is the critical inverse temperature.     

The two confining phases of lattice gauge theories

I suggest that the roughening transition of lattice gauge theories is the boundary between two different confining phases: In the hot phase the short-distance interquark potential is exponentially decreasing, while in the cool confining phase it is proportional to $\text{1}\text{R}$, independently of space dimensionality d. As d increases, the cool confining phase shrinks to zero and the system undergoes a first-order deconfining transition.     

Geometrical string and dual spin systems

We are able to perform the duality transformation of the spin system which was found before as a lattice realization of the string with linear action. In four and higher dimensions this spin system can be described in terms of a two-plaquette gauge hamiltonian. The duality transformation is constructed in geometrical and algebraic language. The dual hamiltonian represents a new type of spin system with local gauge invariance. At each vertex ξ there are d (d − 1) /2 Ising spins ∧_{μ, η} = ∧_{η,μ N}. ≠ P = 1, … , d and one Ising spin Γ on every linkξ ξ + e,). For the frozen spin Γ  1 the dual hamiltonian factorizes into d (d − 1) /2 two-dimensional Ising ferromagnets and into antiferromagnets in the case Γ  −1. For fluctuating F it is a sort of spin-glass system with local gauge invariance. The generalization to p-membranes is given.     

How well do Monte Carlo simulations distinguish between U(1) and SU(2)?: A study of the string tension in U(1) lattice gauge theory

To investigate how a system with a known deconfining phase transition behaves when studied on finite lattices via Monte Carlo simulations, we have made such studies of compact U(1) lattice gauge theory for 8⁴, 10⁴, and 12⁴ lattices. We have concentrated on the mean plaquette energy and the string tension. The string tension does not vanish on a finite lattice, but using finite size scaling arguments the indications are that it does vanish on an infinite lattice, where we predict the critical coupling β_c = 1.008 and the correlation length exponent $\text{ν =}\text{1}\text{3}$. We compare our results to those for SU(2) and find that although there are differences, they are not yet definitive.     

Thermodynamics of SU(3) lattice gauge theory

The pressure and the energy density of the SU(3) gauge theory are calculated on lattices with temporal extent N_τ = 4, 6 and 8 and spatial extent N_σ = 16 and 32. The results are then extrapolated to the continuum limit. In the investigated temperature range up to five times T_c we observe a 15% deviation from the ideal gas limit. We also present new results for the critical temperature on lattices with temporal extent N_τ = 8 and 12. At the corresponding critical couplings the string tension is calculated on 32⁴ lattices to fix the temperature scale. An extrapolation to the continuum limit yields T_c/√σ = 0.629(3). We furthermore present results on the electric and magnetic condensates as well as the temperature dependence of the spatial string tension. These observables suggest that the temperature dependent running coupling remains large even at T ≅ 5T_c. For the spatial string tension we find √σ_s/T=0.566(13)g²2(T) with g² (5T_c) ≅ 1.5.     

Phase structure of QCD at high temperature with massive quarks and finite quark density: A Z(3) paradigm

The confinement/deconfinement phase transition in SU(3) lattice gauge theories at high temperatures is analogous to that of the Z(3) gauge theories. We study various Z(3) gauge-matter theories that result from replacing the gauge group SU(3) with its center Z(3). We include large-mass fermions in the Wilson formulation and allow a chemical potential. We show that in the limit of strong coupling and high temperature the (3 + 1)-dimensional theory becomes a three state, three-dimensional Potts model with uniform external fields of real and imaginary strengths related to the fermion mass and chemical potential. By studying the phase structure of the q = 3, d = 3 Potts model with external fields we argue that the confinement/deconfinement phase transition is first order, but highly sensitive to external fields, and that it does not occur at “strong coupling” in a Z(3) gauge theory if there is a light enough fermion present. We discuss the consequences of this result for QCD.