Evidence for layered symmetry breaking in SU(2) lattice gauge theory

TL;DR

This study investigates layered symmetry breaking in SU(2) lattice gauge theory, revealing a spontaneous symmetry breaking at weak coupling and its restoration at strong coupling, with implications for phase transitions.

Contribution

The paper provides evidence of layered symmetry breaking in SU(2) lattice gauge theory using partial axial gauge fixing and identifies its relation to phase transitions.

Findings

Symmetry breaks spontaneously at weak coupling.

Symmetry is restored at strong coupling.

Layered symmetry breaking occurs independently in hyperplanes.

Abstract

Simulations of four-dimensional SU(2) lattice gauge theory are performed with partial axial gauge fixing trees spanning three of the four dimensions. The remaining SU(2) gauge symmetry, global in three directions and local in one, is found to break spontaneously at weak coupling, with the average fourth-dimension-pointing link in each perpendicular hyperplane as order parameter. The symmetry is restored at strong coupling. Symmetry breaking in each hyperplane appears to be independent, and occurs regardless of boundary conditions. The associated phase transition is likely coincident with the Polyakov loop transition.