Monte Carlo Simulations of the SU(2) Vacuum Structure

TL;DR

This paper uses lattice Monte Carlo simulations to study the SU(2) gauge theory's vacuum structure, focusing on the role of the lowest Landau mode in understanding vacuum stability and properties.

Contribution

It demonstrates the significance of the lowest Landau mode in the lattice formulation, linking it to continuum one-loop effective potential insights.

Findings

Lowest Landau mode is crucial for vacuum instability analysis.

Lattice results align with continuum predictions on the mode's role.

Vacuum properties are influenced by the peculiar behavior of the lowest Landau mode.

Abstract

Lattice Monte Carlo simulations are performed for the SU(2) Yang Mills gauge theory in the presence of an Abelian background with external sources to obtain information on the effective potential. The goal is to investigate the lowest Landau mode that, in the continuum one-loop effective potential, is the crucial mode for instability. It is shown that also in the lattice formulation this lowest Landau mode plays a very peculiar role, and it is important for the understanding of the vacuum properties.