Anisotropic heavy quark potential in strongly-coupled $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM in a magnetic field

TL;DR

This paper investigates how a constant magnetic field affects the anisotropic heavy quark potential in strongly coupled $ ext{N}=4$ SYM theory using gauge/gravity duality, revealing a weakening of quark interactions.

Contribution

It provides the first analysis of magnetic field-induced anisotropy in heavy quark potential within strongly coupled $ ext{N}=4$ SYM at both zero and nonzero temperatures.

Findings

Magnetic field decreases the attractive force between heavy quarks.

Parallel potential experiences the least attraction under magnetic influence.

Magnetic field weakens quark interactions in the plasma.

Abstract

In this work we use the gauge/gravity duality to study the anisotropy in the heavy quark potential in strongly coupled $\mathcal{N}=4$ Super-Yang Mills (SYM) theory (both at zero and nonzero temperature) induced by a constant and uniform magnetic field $\mathcal{B}$. At zero temperature, the inclusion of the magnetic field decreases the attractive force between heavy quarks with respect to its $\mathcal{B}=0$ value and the force associated with the parallel potential is the least attractive force. We find that the same occurs at nonzero temperature and, thus, at least in the case of strongly coupled $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM, the presence of a magnetic field generally weakens the interaction between heavy quarks in the plasma.