Non-analyticity in scale in the planar limit of QCD

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a large-N phase transition in continuum planar gauge theory by showing that Wilson loop eigenvalue distributions change non-analytically with loop size, using numerical lattice gauge theory methods.

Contribution

It provides evidence of a non-analytic change in eigenvalue distributions of Wilson loops at large N, indicating a phase transition in continuum planar gauge theory.

Findings

Eigenvalue distribution of Wilson loops changes non-analytically with size

Establishes a large-N phase transition in continuum gauge theory

Uses numerical lattice gauge theory methods

Abstract

Using methods of numerical Lattice Gauge Theory we show that in the limit of a large number of colors, properly regularized Wilson loops have an eigenvalue distribution which changes non-analytically as the overall size of the loop is increased. This establishes a large-N phase transition in continuum planar gauge theory, a fact whose precise implications remain to be worked out.