Renormalized finite temperature effective potential of $SU(2)$ Yang-Mills theory

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the renormalized finite temperature effective potential of continuum $SU(2)$ Yang-Mills theory develops a non-perturbative minimum at strong coupling, indicating a possible confining phase due to gluon condensate decay.

Contribution

It introduces a non-perturbative analysis of the finite temperature effective potential, revealing a phase transition related to gluon condensate decay in $SU(2)$ Yang-Mills theory.

Findings

Development of a non-perturbative minimum below a critical temperature

Identification of a confining phase candidate

Decay of $A^0$ condensate into three gluons as a key mechanism

Abstract

It is shown that the renormalized finite temperature effective potential for continuum $SU(2)$ Yang-Mills theory develops a non-perturbative minimum for sufficiently strong coupling, i.e. below a critical temperature. The corresponding phase can be the candidate for the confining phase of the continuum theory and becomes energetically favoured basicly due to the decay of the $A^0$ condensate into three gluons.