QCD Flux Tubes as Sigma Model Relics

TL;DR

This paper models QCD flux tubes using a low energy sigma model derived from flavor symmetry breaking, revealing their interactions, confinement mechanisms, and topological ambiguities.

Contribution

It introduces a sigma model framework for flux tubes in SO(N_c) QCD, highlighting their interactions and topological features related to Alice strings.

Findings

Flux tubes mediate confinement in the low energy theory.

Interactions of flux tubes with sources are characterized.

Ambiguity in defining global Alice strings is demonstrated.

Abstract

We describe flux tubes and their interactions in a low energy sigma model induced by $SU(\NF) \goto SO(\NF)$ flavor symmetry breaking in $SO(N_c)$ QCD. Gauge confinement manifests itself in the low energy theory through flux tube interactions with unscreened sources. The flux tubes which mediate confinement also illustrate an interesting ambiguity in defining global Alice strings.