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arXiv · 2605.02156

Lattice Gauge Theory and Wilson-Loop Confinement: A Statistical-Mechanical Survey

Ethan Zhou·Marcus Reed·Caleb Hayes
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Abstract

Wilson loops provide the central gauge-invariant probe of confinement in lattice gauge theory. This survey reviews the statistical-mechanical formulation of lattice gauge ensembles, the strong-coupling and duality mechanisms behind area laws, finite-temperature and continuum scaling diagnostics, and the mathematical status of Wilson-loop confinement.

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Ethan Zhou, Marcus Reed, Caleb Hayes. 2026-05-04. Lattice Gauge Theory and Wilson-Loop Confinement: A Statistical-Mechanical Survey. https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.02156

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