Deconfinement transitions in lattice gauge theories
Deconfinement transitions in lattice gauge theories
Lattice gauge theory was introduced as a method for performing non-perturbative calculations in quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the gauge theory of the strong force. Although realistic QCD calculations are not yet feasible, studies of simpler models have produced a wealth of information concerning non-perturbative phenomena such as confinement. We have used Monte Carlo simulations to study the phase structure of three such models. A general theory of the finite temperature deconfinement transition has been tested for the case of three dimensional quantum electrodynamics (QED). We find that the phase transition is of the predicted Kosterlitz-Thouless type, but does not have the expected critical exponent. We have also attempted to determine the phase diagram of the three dimensional abelian Higgs model, and investigated the transition from the confined phase to the Higgs phase. Finally, the archetypal deconfinement transition, that of four dimensional lattice QED, has been studied by performing a fixed gauge calculation of the photon propagator, which shows a clear change from massive to massless behaviour at the transition. This result supports the findings of a similar calculation for lattice QCD, which showed that the gluon has a massive particle propagator. Our calculations were all done using parallel computers, which currently offer the greatest hope for obtaining the computational power needed to produce definitive results from lattice QCD calculations. (D 82521)
University of Southampton
1988
Coddington, Paul David
(1988)
Deconfinement transitions in lattice gauge theories.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
Lattice gauge theory was introduced as a method for performing non-perturbative calculations in quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the gauge theory of the strong force. Although realistic QCD calculations are not yet feasible, studies of simpler models have produced a wealth of information concerning non-perturbative phenomena such as confinement. We have used Monte Carlo simulations to study the phase structure of three such models. A general theory of the finite temperature deconfinement transition has been tested for the case of three dimensional quantum electrodynamics (QED). We find that the phase transition is of the predicted Kosterlitz-Thouless type, but does not have the expected critical exponent. We have also attempted to determine the phase diagram of the three dimensional abelian Higgs model, and investigated the transition from the confined phase to the Higgs phase. Finally, the archetypal deconfinement transition, that of four dimensional lattice QED, has been studied by performing a fixed gauge calculation of the photon propagator, which shows a clear change from massive to massless behaviour at the transition. This result supports the findings of a similar calculation for lattice QCD, which showed that the gluon has a massive particle propagator. Our calculations were all done using parallel computers, which currently offer the greatest hope for obtaining the computational power needed to produce definitive results from lattice QCD calculations. (D 82521)
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Published date: 1988
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Local EPrints ID: 461874
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/461874
PURE UUID: 188c4aa4-b1c7-49df-ae08-32bba56c2995
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 18:57
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 18:57
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Author:
Paul David Coddington
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