Continuum limit of string formation in 3-d SU(2) LGT

TL;DR

This paper investigates the continuum limit of flux tube formation in 3D SU(2) lattice gauge theory, comparing simulation data with effective string models and perturbation theory to understand the string-like behavior of flux tubes.

Contribution

It provides evidence that the flux tube data converges to Nambu-Goto string predictions and analyzes the scales where the potential deviates from perturbation theory.

Findings

Data converges to Nambu-Goto predictions

Static potential departs from one-loop perturbation theory at certain scales

Modified Lennard-Jones potential fits intermediate region data well

Abstract

We study the continuum limit of the string-like behaviour of flux tubes formed between static quarks and anti-quarks in three dimensional SU(2) lattice gauge theory. We compare our simulation data with the predictions of both effective string models as well as perturbation theory. On the string side we obtain clear evidence for convergence of data to predictions of Nambu-Goto theory. We comment on the scales at which the static potential starts departing from one loop perturbation theory and then again being well described by effective string theories. We also estimate the leading corrections to the one-loop perturbative potential as well as the Nambu-Goto effective string. In the intermediate regions we find that a modified Lennard-Jones type potential gives surprisingly good fits.