Subleading properties of the QCD flux-tube in 3-d lattice gauge theory

TL;DR

This paper investigates the behavior of flux tubes in 3D SU(2) lattice gauge theory, comparing simulation data with effective string models and perturbation theory, and finds evidence supporting Nambu-Goto string predictions.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed comparison of flux tube properties with both effective string models and perturbation theory in three dimensions.

Findings

Data converges to Nambu-Goto string predictions

Static potential departs from perturbation theory at certain scales

An empirical formula fits intermediate region data well

Abstract

We study the continuum limit of the string-like behaviour of flux tubes formed between static quarks and anti-quarks in three dimensional SU(2) lattice gauge theory. We compare our simulation data with the predictions of both effective string models as well as perturbation theory. On the string side we obtain clear evidence for convergence of data to predictions of Nambu-Goto theory. We comment on the scales at which the static potential starts departing from one loop perturbation theory and then again being well described by effective string theories. We also estimate the leading corrections to the one-loop perturbative potential as well as the Nambu-Goto effective string. In the intermediate regions we find an empirical formula which gives surprisingly good fits.