Computation of the Vortex Free Energy in SU(2) Gauge Theory

TL;DR

This paper measures the vortex free-energy in SU(2) gauge theory at weak coupling, demonstrating that thick vortices are likely to be excited, which is crucial for understanding confinement.

Contribution

It provides the first measurement of the vortex free-energy order parameter at weak coupling in SU(2) using multihistogram methods.

Findings

Vortex excitation probability tends to unity at weak coupling.

Supports the condition for confinement in SU(N) gauge theories.

First empirical measurement of vortex free-energy in this regime.

Abstract

We present the first measurement of the vortex free-energy order parameter at weak coupling for SU(2) in simulations employing multihistogram methods. The result shows that the excitation probability for a sufficiently thick vortex in the vacuum tends to unity. This is rigorously known to provide a necessary and sufficient condition for maintaining confinement at weak coupling in SU(N) gauge theories.