Impact of ghost loops on dynamical gluon mass generation

TL;DR

This paper investigates how ghost loops influence the non-perturbative generation of gluon mass by analyzing their impact on the gluon propagator using gauge-invariant truncation schemes and lattice data.

Contribution

It provides a quantitative estimate of the ghost loop's contribution to the gluon propagator and its effect on gluon mass generation, using lattice data and Schwinger-Dyson equations.

Findings

Ghost loops significantly affect the gluon propagator shape.

Removal of ghost loops alters the gluon mass generation mechanism.

Results are consistent across four and three-dimensional analyses.

Abstract

Exploiting the gauge-invariant properties of the PT-BFM truncation scheme for the gluon Schwinger-Dyson equation, we estimate the individual non-perturbative contribution of the "one-loop dressed" ghost loop to the gluon propagator. Using the available quenched lattice data for the gluon and the ghost propagators in d=4 and d=3, we determine how the overall shape of the gluon propagator is affected by the removal of the ghost loop, and what are the consequences on the phenomenon of gluon mass generation.