Evidence for monopoles in the quantizedSU(2) lattice vacuum: A study at finite temperature

Abstract

InSU(2) gauge theory colour confinement occurs if the vacuum condenses into a coherent monopole plasma. To verify this picture, the first question to be answered is whether the vacuum supports monopoles at all. Since we expect the monopoles to be dilute and massive in the deconfinement, phase, we begin the search there. The method relies on cooling equilibrium lattice gauge field configurations—which are generated at the appropriate temperature—until the underlying semiclassical solutions emerge. We then pass to the confinement region and ask whether the monopoles condense. Finally, we repeat the procedure for gauge groupSU(3). The results confirm our expectations.