Work

Comparison of smoothening flows for the topological charge in QCD-like theories

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We investigate properties of the topological charge for several S U ( N C ) gauge field ensembles for N C = 4 , 5, 6 with a single fermion in the two-index antisymmetric representation, covering multiple lattice spacings at otherwise approximately constant physical parameters. Comparing the topological charge defined by the Wilson flow and the overimproved DBW2 flow we find that already at small flow times the latter stabilizes on discrete values. We provide evidence that as the lattice spacing is lowered the Wilson flow also separates into discrete sectors at earlier flow times. Adopting the DBW2 definition in the remainder of the analysis, we do not see any evidence of fractional topological charges, which could in principle appear at finite lattice spacing.

Source: Physical review. D/Physical review. D.

DOI: 10.1103/53vh-wm6v

Authors: Pietro Butti, Michele Della Morte, Benjamin Jäger, Sofie Martins, J. Tobias Tsang

Institutions: University of Southern Denmark, European Organization for Nuclear Research

Language: English

Topic: Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid