John Wheater

Abstract:

We study the interface between two different Z(3) vacua in the deconfined phase of SU(3) pure gauge theory in 2+1 dimensions just above the critical temperature. In simulations of the Euclidean lattice gauge theory formulation of the system we measure the fluctuations of the interface as the critical temperature is approached and as a function of system size. We show that the intrinsic width of the interface remains small even very close to the critical temperature. Some dynamical exponents which govern the interaction of the interface with our Monte Carlo algorithm are also estimated. We conclude that the Z(3) interface has properties broadly similar to those in many other comparable statistical mechanical systems.

Abstract:

We construct the pair of logarithmic operators associated with the recoil of a $D$-brane. This construction establishes a connection between a translation in time and a world-sheet rescaling. The problem of measuring the centre of mass coordinate of the $D$-brane is considered and the relation between the string uncertainty principle and the logarithmic operators is discussed.

Abstract:

We study the high-temperature properties of the Z(3) interface which forms between the various ordered phases of pure SU(3) gauge theory above a critical temperature. On a (2+1)-D Euclidean lattice, we perform an accurate measurement of the interface tension, which shows good agreement with the prediction of perturbation theory. We also examine the behaviour of the Debye electric screening mass, and compare this with theoretical predictions.