Gauge Singularities in the SU(2) Vacuum on the Lattice

TL;DR

This paper investigates gauge singularities in SU(2) lattice configurations, revealing their density, scaling behavior, and correlations with other gauge-related phenomena, enhancing understanding of the non-perturbative vacuum structure.

Contribution

It identifies and characterizes gauge singularities in SU(2) lattice gauge configurations, linking their properties to physical parameters and gauge fixing ambiguities.

Findings

Spike density is approximately 1.5 per fm^4.

Spike density scales with the string tension.

Number of spikes decreases near deconfinement.

Abstract

SU(2) configurations, which have been generated by the Wilson action, are transformed to a Landau gauge and smoothed by Fourier filtering. This leads to sharp peaks in the field strengths and in related quantities. These spikes are caused by gauge singularities. Their density is determined as 1.5 spikes per fm**4, and it scales with the string tension. The number of spikes vanishes when approaching the deconfinement regions. Correlations of spikes with Gribov copies, with cooled action maxima and with the gluon propagator are studied.