On The Deconfinement Transition in SU(4) Lattice Gauge Theory

TL;DR

This paper investigates the nature of the deconfinement transition in SU(4) lattice gauge theory, finding evidence for a first order phase transition with specific thermodynamic characteristics.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed lattice study of the deconfinement transition in SU(4), demonstrating its first order nature and estimating the latent heat.

Findings

Susceptibility scales linearly with volume for certain N_t values

Transition identified as first order based on susceptibility behavior

Estimated latent heat is about two-thirds of the ideal gas energy density at T_c

Abstract

The deconfinement transition in SU(4) lattice gauge theory is investigated on N_s^3 X N_t lattices for N_s = 8-16 and N_t = 4-8 using a modified Wilson action which is expected to be free of any bulk transitions. The susceptibility chi_{|L|}^{max}, where L is the order parameter for deconfinement, is found to increase linearly with spatial volume for N_t = 4, 5, and 6, indicating a first order deconfinement phase transition. The latent heat of the transition is estimated to be approximately 2/3 of the corresponding ideal gas energy density at T_c.