Center vortices in MCG - finite-size and gauge-copy effects

Abstract

In SU(2) lattice gauge theory in maximal center gauge, we investigate the dependence of center-projected Creutz ratios and the vortex density on lattice size and the number of gauge copies. The dependence on the number of copies is rather strong on small lattices, but almost disappears on lattices sufficiently large compared to the expected average vortex thickness. The center-projected string tension, evaluated on sufficiently large lattices, is in good agreement with the full asymptotic string tension, and the vortex density scales according to the second-order asymptotic-freedom formula.

Comments: Lattice 2000 (Topology and Vacuum), 4 pages, 4 EPS-figures