Center Vortices and Chiral Symmetry Breaking in SU(2) Lattice Gauge Theory

TL;DR

This paper explores how center vortices in SU(2) lattice gauge theory contribute to chiral symmetry breaking by analyzing near-zero modes and their relation to topological features like vortex intersections and instantons.

Contribution

It demonstrates that center vortices and instantons produce similar Dirac spectra and that vortex intersections can generate near-zero modes, advancing understanding of chiral symmetry breaking mechanisms.

Findings

Vortex and instanton ensembles have similar Dirac spectra.

Vortex intersections can generate near-zero modes.

Center vortices contribute to chiral symmetry breaking via near-zero modes.

Abstract

We investigate the chiral properties of near-zero modes for thick classical center vortices in SU (2) lattice gauge theory as examples of the phenomena which may arise in a vortex vacuum. In particular we analyze the creation of near-zero modes from would-be zero modes of various topological charge contributions from center vortices. We show that classical colorful spherical vortex and instanton ensembles have almost identical Dirac spectra and the low-lying eigenmodes from spherical vortices show all characteristic properties for chiral symmetry breaking. We further show that also vortex intersections are able to give rise to a finite density of near-zero modes, leading to chiral symmetry breaking via the Banks-Casher formula. We discuss the mechanism by which center vortex fluxes contribute to chiral symmetry breaking.