Proper static potential in classical lattice gauge theory at finite T

TL;DR

This paper calculates the real-time static quark-antiquark potential at finite temperature in classical lattice gauge theory, revealing screening effects and confirming an imaginary component, with implications for understanding gauge field interactions.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed computation of the proper real-time potential in classical lattice gauge theory at finite temperature, highlighting the role of Gauss's law and source treatment differences.

Findings

The real part of the potential is screened at finite T.

An imaginary part of the potential is confirmed.

Differences between quantum and classical source treatments are discussed.

Abstract

We compute the proper real-time interaction potential between a static quark and antiquark in classical lattice gauge theory at finite temperature. Our central result is the determination of the screened real-part of this potential, and we reconfirm the presence of an imaginary part. The real part is intimately related to the back-reaction of the static sources onto the gauge fields, incorporated via Gauss's law. Differences in the treatment of static sources in quantum and classical lattice gauge theory are discussed.