Eight spectra of very excited flux tubes in $SU(3)$ gauge theory

TL;DR

This study computes the excitation spectra of flux tubes in SU(3) gauge theory using lattice QCD, exploring multiple symmetries and comparing results with string models to identify potential new phenomena.

Contribution

It provides detailed spectra of flux tubes with various symmetries in SU(3) gauge theory and compares them to string models, advancing understanding of flux tube excitations.

Findings

Spectra of flux tubes up to high excitations were obtained.

Comparison with Nambu-Goto string model shows agreement or deviations.

Results suggest possible signals of novel phenomena in flux tube dynamics.

Abstract

We compute the spectra of flux tubes formed between a static quark antiquark pair up to a significant number of excitations and for eight symmetries of the flux tubes, up to $\Delta_u$, using pure $SU(3)$ gauge lattice QCD in $3+1$ dimensions. To accomplish this goal, we use a large set of appropriate operators, an anisotropic tadpole improved action, smearing techniques, and solve a generalized eigenvalue problem. Moreover, we compare our results with the Nambu-Goto string model to evaluate possible tensions which could be a signal for novel phenomena.