Coherent center domains in SU(3) gluodynamics and their percolation at T_c

TL;DR

This paper investigates the structure of Polyakov loop domains in SU(3) gauge theory and shows that the deconfinement transition is associated with the percolation of these domains, revealing new insights into the phase transition mechanism.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of coherent center domains and their percolation properties across the deconfinement transition in SU(3) lattice gauge theory.

Findings

Coherent domains exist both below and above T_c with phases near center values.

Cluster percolation correlates with the deconfinement transition.

Deconfinement characterized by percolation of specific Polyakov loop domains.

Abstract

For SU(3) lattice gauge theory we study properties of static quark sources represented by local Polyakov loops. We find that for temperatures both below and above T_c coherent domains exist where the phases of the local loops have similar values in the vicinity of the center values 0, +/- 2 pi/3. The cluster properties of these domains are studied numerically. We demonstrate that the deconfinement transition of SU(3) may be characterized by the percolation of suitably defined clusters.