Evolution of the Structure Factors in Pure SU(N) Lattice Gauge Theory and Effective Spin Models

TL;DR

This paper investigates the dynamics of phase transitions in SU(3) lattice gauge theory and related spin models, focusing on structure factor evolution, spinodal decomposition, and vacuum domain effects after rapid heating.

Contribution

It introduces a numerical analysis of structure factor growth and applies linear spinodal theory to estimate Debye screening mass in quenched SU(3) gauge theory.

Findings

Exponential growth of low-lying structure function modes observed.

Critical modes identified via spinodal decomposition theory.

Vacuum domains significantly influence gluonic energy density.

Abstract

We consider model A dynamics for a quench from the disordered into the ordered phase of SU(3) lattice gauge theory and the analogue 3d 3-state Potts model. For the gauge model this corresponds to a rapid heating from the confined to the deconfined phase. The exponential growth factors of low-lying structure function modes are numerically calculated. The linear theory of spinodal decomposition is used to determine the critical modes. This allows for the Debye screening mass estimation in an effective phenomenological model. The quench leads to competing vacuum domains, which make the equilibration of the QCD vacuum after the heating non-trivial. The influence of such domains on the gluonic energy density is studied.