arXiv subjects

Sumit Shaw

Publications and source records attributed to Sumit Shaw.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Dynamics of ($Z_N$) Domain Walls in SU(N) Gauge Theories

We study collisions of domain walls in $SU(N)$ gauge theories using the Polyakov-loop effective potential models. We find that string junctions play a crucial role in the dynamics of $Z_N$ domain walls. In $SU(3)$ gauge theory, the merger of two non-planar $Z_3$ domain walls into a single wall proceeds via the creation of a vortex--antivortex pair in $2+1$ dimensions. In $SU(4)$ gauge theory, low-energy collisions of $Z_4$ walls result in the formation of a single domain wall without the creation of vortices. At higher collision energies, two $Z_4$ domain walls can either bounce back or scatter into another pair of domain walls through the formation of vortices. The creation of vortex--antivortex pairs generalises to the creation of string loops in $3+1$ dimensions for both gauge theories. These results demonstrate a direct dynamical role for topological strings in the evolution of center-domain-wall networks and reveal a new aspect of defect dynamics in non-Abelian gauge theories.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2026

Metastable and critical-bubble branches of Coleman--Weinberg monopoles

We revisit the Coleman--Weinberg monopole problem introduced by Kiselev, where radiative symmetry breaking makes the broken vacuum metastable. We construct the associated static monopole--critical-bubble configuration in the full coupled radial Higgs--gauge system and show that it is a saddle of the static energy functional. The metastable monopole and monopole--critical-bubble branches are characterized by their profiles, energies, and radial Hessian spectra. The monopole--bubble solution carries a negative radial mode, while the metastable monopole remains locally stable until its lowest radial Hessian eigenvalue approaches zero. The resulting branch structure gives a direct static picture of how Coleman--Weinberg monopoles lose metastability, with critical rescaled scalar mass parameter $\mu_c=0.064352(1)$.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Topological Strings in SU(3) Gauge Theory at Finite Temperature

We investigate string configurations in the deconfined phase of SU(3) gauge theory, which arise from the spontaneous breaking of the $Z_3$ center symmetry. These configurations form at the junctions of domain walls of the theory. The complex phase of the Polyakov loop changes by multiples of $2\pi$ on large spatial loops around the string, rendering them topologically stable. Using the Monte Carlo simulations of the partition function, we compute the free energy associated with these configurations. The simulations are performed on lattices with spatial dimensions $N_{x,y}=60, N_z=4$, and temporal extent $N_\tau=2$. Our results show that the free energy of the $Z_3-$strings is dominated by the domain walls. Further near the transition point, thermal fluctuations cause the decay of domain walls as well as the $Z_3$ strings into confined-deconfined interfaces.

hep-lat↗