String breaking mechanisms induced by magnetic and electric condensates

TL;DR

This paper investigates how string breaking occurs in gauge theories with magnetic and electric condensates, revealing different mechanisms and observable effects in Wilson loops through numerical experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a new understanding of string breaking mechanisms in gauge theories with simultaneous electric and magnetic condensates, supported by numerical evidence.

Findings

String breaking mechanisms differ with condensate types.

In mixed condensate phases, string breaking is observable in Wilson loops.

Numerical experiments confirm the new string breaking phenomenon.

Abstract

The normal confining phase of gauge theories is characterised by the condensation of magnetic monopoles and center vortices. Sometimes in coupled gauge system one finds another phase with simultaneous condensation of electric and magnetic charges. In both phases the confining string breaks down at a given scale because of pair creation, however the mechanism is different. In the former case the string breaking is a mixing phenomenon which is invisible in the Wilson loop. On the contrary, in presence of both electric and magnetic condensates the string breaking can be observed even in the Wilson loops. Numerical experiments on a 3D $Z_2$ gauge-Higgs system neatly show this new phenomenon.