Thermalization in SU(3) gauge theory after a deconfining quench

TL;DR

This paper investigates the real-time evolution of fluctuations in the Polyakov loop after a quench into the deconfined phase of SU(3) gauge theory, revealing delayed thermalization due to domain formation and long-wavelength mode dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a classical relativistic Lagrangian approach to study non-equilibrium dynamics in SU(3) gauge theory and compares it with lattice gauge theory results, highlighting domain effects on thermalization.

Findings

Structure factor peaks diverge as 1/k^2 in the long-wavelength limit.

Competing Z(3) domains delay thermalization of long-wavelength modes.

Long-wavelength relaxation times are comparable to system size.

Abstract

We determine the time evolution of fluctuations of the Polyakov loop after a quench into the deconfined phase of SU(3) gauge theory from a simple classical relativistic Lagrangian. We compare the structure factors, which indicate spinodal decomposition followed by relaxation, to those obtained via Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques in SU(3) lattice gauge theory. We find that the time when the structure factor peaks diverges like $\sim 1/k^2$ in the long-wavelength limit. This is due to formation of competing Z(3) domains for configurations where the Polyakov loop exhibits non-perturbatively large variations in space, which delay thermalization of long wavelength modes. For realistic temperatures, and away from the extreme weak-coupling limit, we find that even modes with $k$ on the order of $T$ experience delayed thermalization. Relaxation times of very long wavelength modes are found to be on the order of the size of the system; thus, the dynamics of competing domains should accompany the hydrodynamic description of the deconfined vacuum.