Topology of Center Vortices
نویسنده
چکیده
The topology of center vortices is studied. For this purpose it is sufficient to consider mathematically idealised vortices, defined in a gauge invariant way as closed (infinitely thin) flux surfaces (in D=4 dimensions) which contribute the nth power of a non-trivial center element to Wilson loops when they are n-foldly linked to the latter. In ordinary 3-space generic center vortices represent closed magnetic flux loops which evolve in time. I show that the topological charge of such a timedependent vortex loop can be entirely expressed by the temporal changes of its writhing number.
منابع مشابه
Magnetic Monopoles, Center Vortices and Topology of Gauge Fields
Recent lattice calculations have given strong evidence for two confinement scenarios: 1. the dual Meissner effect [1], which is based on a condensate of magnetic monopoles in the QCD vacuum and 2. the center vortex picture [2], where the vacuum consists of a condensate of magnetic flux tubes which are closed due to the Bianchi identity. There are also lattice calculations which indicate that th...
متن کاملMagnetic Monopoles, Vortices and the Topology of Gauge Fields
Lattice calculations performed in Abelian gauges give strong evidence that confinement is realized as a dual Meissner effect, implying that the Yang-Mills vacuum consists of a condensate of magnetic monopoles. Alternative lattice caluclations performed in the maximum center gauge give strong support that center vortex configurations are the relevant infrared degrees of freedom responsible for c...
متن کاملar X iv : h ep - l at / 9 90 40 04 v 1 6 A pr 1 99 9 Deconfinement in SU ( 2 ) Yang - Mills theory as a center vortex percolation transition
By fixing lattice Yang-Mills configurations to the maximal center gauge and subsequently applying the technique of center projection, one can identify center vortices in these configurations. Recently, center vortices have been shown to determine the string tension between static quarks at finite temperatures (center dominance); also, they correctly reproduce the deconfining transition to a pha...
متن کاملCenter Vortices in Continuum Yang-mills Theory A
The properties of center vortices are discussed within continuum Yang-Mills theory. By starting from the lattice theory and carefully performing the continuum limit the gauge potential of center vortices is obtained and the continuum analog of the maximal center gauge fixing is extracted. It is shown, that the Pontryagin index of center vortices is given by their self-intersection number, which...
متن کاملTopological charge of Center Vortices
Center vortices provide an appealing picture of confinement [1]. When center vortices are removed from the Yang-Mills ensemble, the string tension [2] and the quark condensate [3] are lost. Therefore one should expect that center vortices can also explain spontaneous breaking of chiral symmetry. The mechanism of spontaneous breaking of chiral symmetry seems to be tied to the topological propert...
متن کامل