Polyakov's confinement mechanism for generalized Maxwell theory

Abstract

We study fractional-derivative Maxwell theory, as appears in effective descriptions of, for example, large $N_f$ QED${}_3$, graphene, and some types of surface defects. We argue that when the theory is UV completed on a lattice, monopole condensation leads to a confining phase via the Polyakov confinement mechanism.

Comments: 24 pages + references, 6 figures