Universality, vortices and confinement: modified SO(3) lattice gauge theory at non-zero temperature

TL;DR

This paper studies a modified SU(2) lattice gauge theory at finite temperature, revealing a potential physical phase transition separate from bulk artifacts, using a Z(2) monopole suppression approach.

Contribution

It introduces a modified adjoint SU(2) lattice gauge theory with monopole suppression and provides evidence for a genuine finite temperature effect distinct from bulk transitions.

Findings

Indications of a finite temperature phase transition

Decoupling of physical effects from unphysical bulk transitions

Insights into vortices and confinement mechanisms

Abstract

We investigate the adjoint SU(2) lattice gauge theory in 3+1 dimensions with the Wilson plaquette action modified by a Z(2) monopole suppression term. For the zero-twist sector we report indications for the existence of a finite temperature effect decoupled from the unphysical bulk transitions.