Static quark-antiquark pair free energy and screening masses: continuum results at the QCD physical point

TL;DR

This study investigates the static quark-antiquark free energy and screening masses in 2+1 flavor QCD at finite temperature, using lattice simulations to extrapolate continuum results and distinguish electric and magnetic screening effects.

Contribution

The paper provides continuum extrapolated free energies and distinguishes electric and magnetic screening masses in finite-temperature QCD using novel correlator analysis.

Findings

Continuum limit free energies obtained from Polyakov loop correlators.

Two distinct screening masses identified in electric and magnetic sectors.

Results consistent with theoretical expectations for screening phenomena.

Abstract

We study the correlators of Polyakov loops, and the corresponding gauge invariant free energy of a static quark-antiquark pair in 2+1 flavor QCD at finite temperature. Our simulations were carried out on $N_t$ = 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 lattices using a Symanzik improved gauge action and a stout improved staggered action with physical quark masses. The free energies calculated from the Polyakov loop correlators are extrapolated to the continuum limit. For the free energies we use a two step renormalization procedure that only uses data at finite temperature. We also measure correlators with definite Euclidean time reversal and charge conjugation symmetry to extract two different screening masses, one in the magnetic, and one in the electric sector, to distinguish two different correlation lengths in the full Polyakov loop correlator. This conference contribution is based on the paper: JHEP 1504 (2015) 138