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J. Greensite

Publications and source records attributed to J. Greensite.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2007

On the Ambiguity of Spontaneously Broken Gauge Symmetry

Local gauge symmetries cannot break spontaneously, according to Elitzur's theorem, but this leaves open the possibility of breaking some global subgroup of the local gauge symmetry, which is typically the gauge symmetry remaining after certain (e.g. Coulomb or Landau) gauge choices. We show that in an SU(2) gauge-Higgs system such symmetries do indeed break spontaneously, but the location of the breaking in the phase diagram depends on the choice of global subgroup. The implication is that there is no unique broken gauge symmetry, but rather many symmetries which break in different places. The problem is to decide which, if any, of these gauge symmetry breakings is associated with a transition between physically different, confining and non-confining phases. Several proposals - Kugo-Ojima, Coulomb, and monopole condensate - are discussed.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2007

Color Screening, Casimir Scaling, and Domain Structure in G(2) and SU(N) Gauge Theories

We argue that screening of higher-representation color charges by gluons implies a domain structure in the vacuum state of non-abelian gauge theories, with the color magnetic flux in each domain quantized in units corresponding to the gauge group center. Casimir scaling of string tensions at intermediate distances results from random spatial variations in the color magnetic flux within each domain. The exceptional G(2) gauge group is an example rather than an exception to this picture, although for G(2) there is only one type of vacuum domain, corresponding to the single element of the gauge group center. We present some numerical results for G(2) intermediate string tensions and Polyakov lines, as well as results for certain gauge-dependent projected quantities. In this context, we discuss critically the idea of projecting link variables to a subgroup of the gauge group. It is argued that such projections are useful only when the representation-dependence of the string tension, at some distance scale, is given by the representation of the subgroup.

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arXiv2007

Yang-Mills Ground State in 2+1 Dimensions and Temporal Gauge

A gauge-invariant wavefunctional is proposed as an approximation to the ground state of Yang-Mills theory in 2+1 dimensions, quantized in temporal gauge. The proposed vacuum state is the true ground state of the appropriate Hamiltonian in both the free-field limit, and in a zero mode strong-field limit. Confinement, in this approach, arises via dimensional reduction, and we present numerical results for the mass gap. The issue of color screening is briefly discussed.

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arXiv2006

Peculiarities in the Spectrum of the Adjoint Scalar Kinetic Operator in Yang-Mills Theory

We study the spectrum of low-lying eigenmodes of the kinetic operator for scalar particles, in the color adjoint representation of Yang-Mills theory. The kinetic operator is the covariant Laplacian, plus a constant which serves to renormalize mass. In the pure gauge theory, our data indicates that the interval between the lowest eigenvalue and the mobility edge tends to infinity in the continuum limit. On these grounds, it is suggested that the perturbative expression for the scalar propagator may be misleading even at distance scales that are small compared to the confinement scale. We also measure the density of low-lying eigenmodes, and find a possible connection to multi-critical matrix models of order m=1.

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arXiv2006

Vortices, Symmetry Breaking, and Temporary Confinement in SU(2) Gauge-Higgs Theory

We further investigate center vortex percolation and Coulomb gauge remnant symmetry breaking in the SU(2) gauge-Higgs model. We show that string breaking is visible in Polyakov line correlators on the center projected lattice, that our usual numerical tests successfully relate P-vortices to center vortices, and that vortex removal removes the linear potential, as in the pure gauge theory. This data suggests that global center symmetry is not essential to the vortex confinement mechanism. But we also find that the line of vortex percolation-depercolation transitions, and the line of remnant symmetry breaking transitions, do not coincide in the SU(2)-Higgs phase diagram. This non-uniqueness of transition lines associated with non-local order parameters favors a straightforward interpretation of the Fradkin-Shenker theorem, namely: there is no unambiguous distinction, in the SU(2) gauge-Higgs models, between a "confining" phase and a Higgs phase.

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arXiv2005

Eigenmodes of covariant Laplacian in SU(2) Yang-Mills vacuum: higher representations

The study of lowest eigenmodes of the covariant Laplacian in fundamental representation of the gauge group revealed their specific localization properties. These may bear information on confinement of fundamental scalar particles in SU(2) Yang-Mills vacuum. It was expected that scalar particle eigenmodes in other representations would be localized in different physical volumes. However simulations show strikingly different results for the adjoint and higher (J=3/2) representations. Apart from much higher extent of localization, we find evidence of different scaling behavior of localized eigenmodes.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2005

Localized eigenmodes of the covariant lattice Laplacian

We study numerically the eigenmode spectrum of the covariant lattice Laplacian, in the fundamental SU(2) color group representation. It is found that eigenmodes at the lower and upper ends of the spectrum are localized, and that the localization volume scales. In contrast, the eigenmodes of the lattice Faddeev-Popov operator are all extended rather than localized (as required for confinement) despite the similarity of the kinetic and Faddeev-Popov operators.

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arXiv2005

Localized eigenmodes of covariant Laplacians in the Yang-Mills vacuum

As a probe of the Yang-Mills vacuum, we study numerically the eigenmode spectrum of the covariant lattice Laplacian operator. We find that the eigenmodes at the low and high ends of the spectrum are localized in finite regions whose volume is insensitive to the lattice volume. We also find that the vacuum is seen very differently by localized modes of the covariant Laplacian in different representations of the gauge group. In the fundamental representation, the data suggests that the localization volume is finite in physical units set by the string tension, and localization disappears when center vortices are removed. In the adjoint and j=3/2 representations the low and high-lying modes are far more localized, and the localization volume appears to scale to zero, in physical units, in the continuum limit. The adjoint Laplacian is insensitive to vortex removal, but we find that exponential localization is absent for adjoint eigenmodes in the Higgs phase of a gauge-Higgs theory. Localization is also absent in the spectrum of the Coulomb gauge Faddeev-Popov operator, as required in Coulomb gauge confinement scenarios.

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arXiv2004

Infrared Divergent Coulomb Self-Energy in Yang-Mills Theory

It is shown numerically that the Coulomb self-energy of an isolated, color non-singlet source diverges in an infinite volume. This is in accord with the Gribov Horizon scenario of confinement advocated by Gribov and Zwanziger. It is also shown that this divergence can be attributed to the presence of center vortices in thermalized lattice configurations.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2003

Adventures in Coulomb Gauge

We study the phase structure of SU(2) gauge theories at zero and high temperature, with and without scalar matter fields, in terms of the symmetric/broken realization of the remnant gauge symmetry which exists after fixing to Coulomb gauge. The symmetric realization is associated with a linearly rising color Coulomb potential (which we compute numerically), and is a necessary but not sufficient condition for confinement.

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arXiv2003

Coulomb Energy, Vortices, and Confinement

We estimate the Coulomb energy of static quarks from a Monte Carlo calculation of the correlator of timelike link variables in Coulomb gauge. We find, in agreement with Cucchieri and Zwanziger, that this energy grows linearly with distance at large quark separations. The corresponding string tension, however, is several times greater than the accepted asymptotic string tension, indicating that a state containing only static sources, with no constituent gluons, is not the lowest energy flux tube state. The Coulomb energy is also measured on thermalized lattices with center vortices removed by the de Forcrand-D'Elia procedure. We find that when vortices are removed, the Coulomb string tension vanishes.

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arXiv2003

The Confinement Problem in Lattice Gauge Theory

I review investigations of the quark confinement mechanism that have been carried out in the framework of SU(N) lattice gauge theory. The special role of Z(N) center symmetry is emphasized.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2002

Center Vortices at N > 4 Colors

We discuss two issues related to the physics of center vortices in pure SU(N) lattice gauge theory at large N: (1) Center vortices are stable classical solutions of the Wilson action, as well as of a wide class of improved lattice actions, for any N > 4. (2) The natural scaling of k-string tensions at large N, in the vortex picture of confinement, is σ(k)=k σ(1). This is the common large N limit of Casimir and Sine Law scaling. The crucial feature for explaining this behavior is the existence of center monopoles.

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arXiv2002

k-String Tensions and Center Vortices at Large N

We point out that there is a natural explanation, in terms of the center vortex confinement mechanism, for the expected Casimir/Sine Law scaling of k-string tensions in the large N limit. The crucial ingredient is the existence of Z(N) center monopoles, which go over to U(1) monopoles in this limit. Vortex densities leading to Casimir/Sine Law scaling at large-N are constructed; these densities have no obvious pathologies and in particular do not grow with N. We also note that center vortices are stable classical solutions of the Wilson action, for all SU(N) gauge theories with N>4, and extend this old result to a broad class of lattice actions motivated by the improved action program and the renormalization group.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2002

The Gluon Chain Model Revisited

I describe how the gluon chain model of QCD string formation meets a number of criteria which are required of any theory of the confining force, including: the correct center dependence and (at large-N) Casimir scaling of the string tension, the logarithmic broadening of the QCD flux tube, and the existence of a Luscher term in the static quark potential.

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