Observing Long Colour Flux Tubes in SU(2) Lattice Gauge Theory

TL;DR

This study provides high-precision measurements of chromo field distributions and flux tube profiles in SU(2) lattice gauge theory, confirming string formation over large distances and improving static potential accuracy.

Contribution

It offers the first detailed analysis of flux tube profiles and static potential in SU(2) gauge theory at large distances with high statistical precision.

Findings

String formation observed up to 2 fm

Flux tube profiles match theoretical expectations

Static potential measured with unprecedented accuracy

Abstract

We present results of a high statistics study of the chromo field distribution between static quarks in SU(2) gauge theory on lattices of volumes 16^4, 32^4, and 48^3*64, with physical extent ranging from 1.3 fm up to 2.7 fm at beta=2.5, beta=2.635, and beta=2.74. We establish string formation over physical distances as large as 2 fm. The results are tested against Michael's sum rules. A detailed investigation of the transverse action and energy flux tube profiles is provided. As a by-product, we obtain the static lattice potential in unpreceded accuracy.