Glueball Spectra of SU(2) Gauge Theories in 3 and 4 Dimensions: A Comparison with the Isgur-Paton Flux Tube Model

TL;DR

This paper compares lattice-calculated glueball spectra of SU(2) gauge theories in 2+1 and 3+1 dimensions with the Isgur-Paton flux tube model, assessing the model's accuracy and identifying areas for improvement.

Contribution

It provides a direct comparison between lattice results and flux tube model predictions for glueball spectra in different dimensions, testing the model's reliability.

Findings

Flux tube model predictions partially agree with lattice results.

Certain aspects of the flux tube model require refinement based on discrepancies.

The comparison highlights key features of glueball spectra in different dimensions.

Abstract

We use the results of recent lattice calculations to obtain (part of) the mass spectrum of continuum SU(2) gauge theory in both 2+1 and 3+1 dimensions. We compare these spectra to the predictions of the Isgur-Paton flux tube model for glueballs. We use this comparison to test the reliability of different aspects of the model and also to learn which aspects of the lattice calculations it is important to improve upon.