Squared width and profile of the confining flux tube in the U(1) LGT in 3D

TL;DR

This paper investigates the structure of the confining flux tube in 3D U(1) lattice gauge theory using Monte Carlo simulations, comparing results with effective models to understand confinement mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the flux tube profile and width in 3D U(1) LGT, testing effective string and superconductor models against simulation data.

Findings

Dual superconductor model agrees well with data.

Effective bosonic-string model fails quantitatively.

Results offer insights into confinement in 3D U(1) gauge theory.

Abstract

The dual formulation of the compact U(1) lattice gauge theory in three spacetime dimensions allows to finely study the squared width and the profile of the confining flux tube on a wide range of physical interquark distances. The results obtained in Monte Carlo simulations are compared with the predictions of the effective bosonic-string model and with the dual superconductor model. While the former fails at describing the data from a quantitative point of view, the latter is in good agreement with it. An interpretation of these results is proposed in light of the particular features of the U(1) lattice gauge theory in 3D and a comparison with non-Abelian gauge theories in four spacetime dimensions is discussed.