Efficient Hadronic Operators in Lattice Gauge Theory

TL;DR

This paper develops non-local gauge-invariant operators in lattice gauge theory to better isolate hadronic ground and excited states, improving the accuracy of hadron property measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a new class of non-local operators that efficiently distinguish ground and excited hadronic states in lattice simulations.

Findings

Operators reveal the spatial structure of excited states.

Ground state can be isolated without contamination.

Wave functions show expected nodal behavior.

Abstract

We study operators to create hadronic states made of light quarks in quenched lattice gauge theory. We construct non-local gauge-invariant operators which provide information about the spatial extent of the ground state and excited states. The efficiency of the operators is shown by looking at the wave function of the first excited state, which has a node as a function of the spatial extent of the operator. This allows one to obtain an uncontaminated ground state for hadrons.