Static and non-static vector screening masses

TL;DR

This paper compares perturbative and lattice QCD calculations of vector current screening masses at finite temperature, showing good agreement and confirming weak-coupling predictions about screening lengths in a quark-gluon plasma.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparison of static and non-static vector screening masses from weak-coupling calculations and lattice QCD, validating theoretical predictions with numerical results.

Findings

Good agreement between perturbative and lattice results for screening masses.

The lightest screening mass exceeds the free limit at T≈508 MeV.

Results support weak-coupling predictions about screening lengths.

Abstract

Thermal screening masses of the conserved vector current are calculated both in a weak-coupling approach and in lattice QCD. The inverse of a screening mass can be understood as the length scale over which an external electric field is screened in a QCD medium. The comparison of screening masses both in the zero and non-zero Matsubara frequency sectors shows good agreement of the perturbative and the lattice results. Moreover, at $T\approx 508\mathrm{MeV}$ the lightest screening mass lies above the free result ($2\pi T$), in agreement with the $\mathcal{O}(g^2)$ weak-coupling prediction.