Conformal Anomaly in Yang-Mills Theory and Thermodynamics of Open Confining Strings

TL;DR

This paper investigates the thermodynamic effects of open confining strings in Yang-Mills theory, deriving new sum rules for condensates and linking string presence to pressure changes in gluonic systems.

Contribution

It introduces new sum rules for chromoelectric and chromomagnetic condensates and connects the confining string effects to gluonic pressure modifications.

Findings

Confining strings lower gluonic pressure in the system.

Presence of strings affects the gluon plasma's pressure deficit.

Potential energy of heavy quark pairs relates to pressure changes.

Abstract

We discuss thermodynamic properties of open confining strings introduced via static sources in the vacuum of Yang-Mills theory. We derive new sum rules for the chromoelectric and chromomagnetic condensates and use them to show that the presence of the confining string lowers the gluonic pressure in the bulk of the system. The pressure deficit of the gluon plasma is related to the potential energy in the system of heavy quarks and anti-quarks in the plasma.