The quenched SU(2) adjoint scalar propagator in minimal Landau gauge

TL;DR

This study investigates the adjoint scalar propagator in quenched SU(2) gauge theory across multiple dimensions and finds no clear signs of confinement effects in the propagator, contrasting with expectations of matter confinement signatures.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive lattice study of the adjoint scalar propagator in minimal Landau gauge across 2, 3, and 4 dimensions, comparing with fundamental cases.

Findings

No conclusive difference between adjoint and fundamental scalar propagators.

Scalar propagator shows no obvious sign of confinement in the studied range.

Results suggest matter confinement signatures may not be visible in these propagators.

Abstract

It is a long-standing question whether the confinement of matter fields in QCD has an imprint in the (gauge-dependent) correlation functions, especially the propagators. In particular in the quenched case a fundamental difference could be expected between adjoint and fundamental matter. In a preceding investigation the propagator of a fundamental scalar has been studied, showing no obvious sign of confinement. Here, complementary, the adjoint scalar propagator is investigated over a wide range of parameters in the minimal Landau gauge using lattice gauge theory. This study is performed in two, three, and four dimensions in quenched SU(2) Yang-Mills theory, both in momentum space and position space. No conclusive difference between both cases is found.