Effective thermal potential between static $Q$ and $\bar{Q}$ in SU(3) gauge theory

Abstract

A non-perturbative calculation of the effective thermal potential between heavy $Q$ and $\bar{Q}$ from lattice QCD is difficult, and usually involves a Bayesian analysis. Here we present a simple method to obtain the potential from smeared Wilson loop, using the structure of the thermal Wilson loop. We present results for the $Q\bar{Q}$ thermal potential in a gluonic plasma for temperatures $\lesssim 2T_c$. We also present preliminary results for the effective potential when the $Q$ and $\bar{Q}$ are in octet color configuration.

Comments: 7 pages, 5 figures, contribution to Lattice 2019