Dynamical gluon mass generation from <A^2> in linear covariant gauges

Abstract

We construct the multiplicatively renormalizable effective potential for the mass dimension two local composite operator A^2 in linear covariant gauges. We show that the formation of <A^2> is energetically favoured and that the gluons acquire a dynamical mass due to this gluon condensate. We also discuss the gauge parameter independence of the resultant vacuum energy.

Comments: 21 pages. 14 .eps figures. v2: minor modifications. v3: version accepted for publication in JHEP