Center Dominance and Z2 Vortices in SU(2) Lattice Gauge Theory
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We find, in close analogy to abelian dominance in maximal abelian gauge, the phenomenon of center dominance in maximal center gauge for $SU(2)$ lattice gauge theory. Maximal center gauge is a gauge-fixing condition that preserves a residual $Z_2$ gauge symmetry; ``center projection'' is the projection of $SU(2)$ link variables onto $Z_2$ center elements, and ``center dominance'' is the fact that the center-projected link elements carry most of the information about the string tension of the full theory. We present numerical evidence that the thin $Z_2$ vortices of the projected configurations are associated with ``thick'' $Z_2$ vortices in the unprojected configurations. The evidence also suggests that the thick $Z_2$ vortices may play a significant role in the confinement process.
21 pages, Latex, uses psfig
21 pages, Latex, uses psfig