Deconfinement phase transitions in external fields

TL;DR

This paper investigates how external fields influence deconfinement transitions in lattice gauge theories, revealing that non-abelian theories' transition temperature drops to zero under strong fields, unlike abelian theories.

Contribution

It demonstrates the differing responses of abelian and non-abelian gauge theories to external fields, highlighting the impact on deconfinement temperatures and implications for QCD vacuum understanding.

Findings

Deconfinement temperature in non-abelian theories decreases with increasing external field strength.

Abelian theories do not show a decrease in deconfinement temperature under external fields.

Results suggest a fundamental difference in vacuum dynamics between abelian and non-abelian gauge theories.

Abstract

We compare vacuum dynamics of abelian versus non abelian lattice gauge theories in presence of external fields. We find that the deconfinement temperature of non abelian theories depends on the strength of a constant abelian chromomagnetic field end eventually goes to zero. On the contrary such an effect is not shared by abelian theories. We argue on the relevance of this result to understand the QCD vacuum.