SU(N ) gauge theories in 2+1 dimensions: glueball spectra and k-string tensions

Journal article

We calculate the low-lying glueball spectrum and various string tensions in SU(N) lattice gauge theories in 2 + 1 dimensions, and extrapolate the results to the continuum limit. We do so for for the range N ∈ [2, 16] so as to control the N -dependence with a useful precision. We observe a number of striking near-degeneracies in the various JPC sectors of the glueball spectrum, in particular between C = + and C = − states. We calculate the string tensions of flux tubes in a number of representations, and provide evidence that the leading correction to the N -dependence of the k-string tensions is ∝ 1/N rather than ∝ 1/N2, and that the dominant binding of k fundamental flux tubes into a k-string is via pairwise interactions. We comment on the possible implications of our results for the dynamics of these gauge theories.

Authors: Athenodorou, A; Teper, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
• Journal: Journal of High Energy Physics
• Volume: 2017
• Issue: 2
• Article number: 15
• Publication date: 2017-02-01
• Acceptance date: 2017-01-24
• DOI: 10.1007/JHEP02(2017)015
• ISSN: 1029-8479
• Keywords: 1/N expansion; confinement; lattice quantum field theory; field theories in lower dimensions