String tension from gauge invariant Magnetic Monopoles

TL;DR

This study explores gauge-invariant magnetic monopoles derived from the Abelian decomposition in QCD, demonstrating their significant role in confinement through analytical and lattice QCD evidence.

Contribution

It introduces a unique gauge-invariant definition of monopoles using Wilson Loop eigenvectors, linking monopoles to confinement in SU(N) gauge theories.

Findings

Monopoles cause peaks in the restricted field strength.

String tension from monopoles closely matches total string tension.

Monopoles are associated with structures consistent with theoretical expectations.

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between colour confinement and the monopoles derived from the Cho-Duan-Ge decomposition. These monopoles, unlike Dirac and 't Hooft monopoles, do not require a singular gauge field and are defined for any choice of gauge (and are not just restricted to, for example, the maximum Abelian gauge). The Abelian decomposition is defined in terms of a colour field $n$; the principle novelty of our study is that we have used a unique definition of this field in terms of the eigenvectors of the Wilson Loop. This allows us to investigate the relationship between the gauge invariant monopoles and confinement both analytically and numerically, as well as retaining the maximal possible symmetry within the colour field so that it is able to see all the monopoles in an SU($N_C$) calculation. We describe how the Abelian decomposition is related to the Wilson Loop, so that the string tension may be calculated from the field strength related to the decomposed (or restricted) Abelian field. We discuss the structures in the colour field which may cause an area law in the Wilson Loop, which turn out to be magnetic monopoles. If these monopoles are present, they will lead to an area law scaling of the Wilson Loop and thus be at least partially responsible for confinement. We search for these monopoles in quenched lattice QCD. We show that the string tension is dominated by peaks in the restricted field strength, at least some of which are located close to structures in the colour field consistent with with theoretical expectations for the monopoles. We show that the string tension extracted from the monopole contribution to the restricted field is close to that of the entire original field; again suggesting that confinement can at least partially be explained in terms of these monopoles.