Casimir Effect in (2+1)-dimensional Yang-Mills Theory as a Probe of the Magnetic Mass

TL;DR

This paper investigates the Casimir effect within a gauge-invariant Hamiltonian framework for (2+1)-dimensional nonabelian gauge theories, demonstrating agreement with lattice results and proposing its use to probe magnetic screening in higher dimensions.

Contribution

It introduces a gauge-invariant Hamiltonian approach to analyze the Casimir effect in (2+1)D gauge theories and links it to magnetic screening phenomena in (3+1)D at high temperatures.

Findings

Results align with recent lattice simulations.

Casimir effect can probe magnetic screening in high-temperature gauge theories.

Provides a gauge-invariant formulation for nonabelian gauge theories.

Abstract

We consider the Casimir effect in a gauge-invariant Hamiltonian formulation of nonabelian gauge theories in (2+1) dimensions, for an arbitrary gauge group. We show that the result is in good agreement with recent lattice simulations. We also argue that the Casimir effect may be viewed as a good probe of magnetic screening effects in (3+1)-dimensional gauge theories at high temperatures.