Topological Strings in SU(3) Gauge Theory at Finite Temperature

TL;DR

This paper studies topologically stable Z3 strings in SU(3) gauge theory at high temperature, analyzing their free energy and decay near the phase transition using lattice Monte Carlo simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed lattice simulation analysis of Z3 strings in the deconfined phase, highlighting their free energy and decay mechanisms.

Findings

Z3 strings have free energy dominated by domain walls.

Thermal fluctuations cause decay of strings and domain walls near the transition.

Strings are topologically stable due to phase changes in the Polyakov loop.

Abstract

We investigate string configurations in the deconfined phase of SU(3) gauge theory, which arise from the spontaneous breaking of the $Z_3$ center symmetry. These configurations form at the junctions of domain walls of the theory. The complex phase of the Polyakov loop changes by multiples of $2\pi$ on large spatial loops around the string, rendering them topologically stable. Using the Monte Carlo simulations of the partition function, we compute the free energy associated with these configurations. The simulations are performed on lattices with spatial dimensions $N_{x,y}=60, N_z=4$, and temporal extent $N_\tau=2$. Our results show that the free energy of the $Z_3-$strings is dominated by the domain walls. Further near the transition point, thermal fluctuations cause the decay of domain walls as well as the $Z_3$ strings into confined-deconfined interfaces.