Lyapunov Exponent of SU(3) Gauge Theory

Abstract

The classical SU(3) gauge theory is shown to be deterministic chaotic. Its largest Lyapunov exponent is dertermined, from which a short time scale of thermalization of a pure gluon system is estimated. The connection to gluon damping rate is discussed.

Comments: 9pages, 5 figures appended as PostScript files, DUKE-TH-92-41