Single static-quark system above $T_c$ investigated by energy-momentum tensor in SU(3) Yang-Mills theory

TL;DR

This study analyzes the energy-momentum tensor distribution around a static quark in the deconfined phase of SU(3) Yang-Mills theory using gradient-flow formalism, revealing temperature-dependent mechanical distortions and screening effects.

Contribution

It introduces a numerical method to analyze the EMT distribution around a static quark in SU(3) Yang-Mills theory above the critical temperature, highlighting new insights into the gauge field structure.

Findings

Significant eigenvalue separation of EMT not seen in Maxwell theory

Separation increases as temperature approaches critical temperature

Evidence of thermal screening and perturbative behavior at different distances

Abstract

We investigate the distribution of energy-momentum tensor (EMT) around a static quark in the deconfined phase of SU(3) Yang-Mills theory. The EMT defined through the gradient-flow formalism is used for the numerical analysis of the EMT distribution around the Polyakov loop with the continuum extrapolation. Using EMT, one can study the mechanical distortion of the color gauge field induced by the static charge. We find substantial separation in the absolute values of the EMT eigenvalues which is not observed in Maxwell theory. The separation grows as temperature is lowered toward the critical temperature. The lattice data also indicate the thermal screening at long distance and the perturbative behavior at short distance.