Static quark potential from center vortices in the presence of dynamical fermions

For the first time, center vortices are identified on SU(3) lattice ensembles that include dynamical fermions. Using a variational method, the static quark potential is calculated on untouched, vortex -removed, and vortex-only fields. Two dynamical ensembles and one pure gauge ensemble are studied, allowing for an exploration of the impact of dynamical fermions on the center-vortex vacuum. Novel modifications to the standard Coulomb term are introduced to describe the long range behavior of the vortex-removed potential. These modifications remove a source of systematic error in the fitted string tension on the original ensembles. Our pure Yang-Mills result is consistent with previous studies, where projected center-vortex fields only reproduce approximately two thirds of the string tension. Remarkably, we find that the vortex-only fields on both dynamical lattices are able to fully reproduce the respective untouched string tensions.

Automated summary

This study identifies center vortices for the first time on SU(3) lattice ensembles with dynamical fermions. By using a variational method, the static quark potential is calculated on different field configurations, including untouched, vortex-removed, and vortex-only fields. The impact of dynamical fermions on the center-vortex vacuum is explored by studying two dynamical ensembles and one pure gauge ensemble. Novel modifications to the standard Coulomb term are introduced to improve the accuracy of the fitted string tension on the original ensembles. The results show that the vortex-only fields on both dynamical ensembles can fully reproduce the respective untouched string tensions.