Anatomy of deconfinement

Journal Article · 29 December 2019 · Journal of High Energy Physics (Online)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP12(2019)167 · OSTI ID:1596977

Hanada, Masanori ^[1]; Jevicki, Antal ^[2]; Peng, Cheng ^[3]; Wintergerst, Nico ^[4]

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1. Univ. of Southampton (United Kingdom); Brown University
2. Brown Univ., Providence, RI (United States)
3. Brown Univ., Providence, RI (United States); Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States)
4. Univ. of Copenhagen (Denmark). The Niels Bohr Inst.

In the weak coupling limit of $${\rm SU}(N)$$ Yang-Mills theory and the $${\rm O}(N)$$ vector model, explicit state counting allows us to demonstrate the existence of a partially deconfined phase: $$M$$ of $$N$$ colors deconfine, and $$\frac{M}{N}$$ gradually grows from zero (confinement) to one (complete deconfinement). We point out that the mechanism admits a simple interpretation in the form of spontaneous breaking of gauge symmetry. In terms of the dual gravity theory, such breaking occurs during the formation of a black hole. We speculate whether the breaking and restoration of gauge symmetry can serve as an alternative definition of the deconfinement transition in theories without center symmetry, such as QCD. We also discuss the role of the color degrees of freedom in the emergence of the bulk geometry in holographic duality.

• Research Organization: Brown Univ., Providence, RI (United States); Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP) (SC-25)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0010010; SC0019480
• OSTI ID: 1596977
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1659668; OSTI ID: 1987958
• Journal Information: Journal of High Energy Physics (Online), Journal Name: Journal of High Energy Physics (Online) Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 2019; ISSN 1029-8479
• Publisher: Springer BerlinCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English