Confining proprties of a gas of Z(2) vortices

Abstract

Vortex solutions are studied in an SO(3) gauge theory spontaneously broken to SO(2). These vortices have a Z(2) magnetic charge. A dilute gas of Z(2) vortices is studied taking into account vortex-vortex interactions. By going to a dual representation we show that odd charges are confined with a string tension which decreases exponentially with the inverse coupling.

Comments: 3 pages, Lattice 2002(Topology)