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Topological strings in SU(3) gauge theory at finite temperature

Sanatan Digal* and Sumit Shaw†

Vinod Mamale‡

  • *Contact author: digal@imsc.res.in
  • †Contact author: sumitshaw@imsc.res.in
  • ‡Contact author: vinod.mamale@wits.ac.za
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Phys. Rev. D 113, 094511 – Published 29 May, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/pq8n-cvrm

Abstract

We investigate string configurations in the deconfined phase of SU(3) gauge theory, which arise from the spontaneous breaking of the Z3 center symmetry. These configurations form at the junctions of domain walls of the theory. The complex phase of the Polyakov loop changes by multiples of 2π on large spatial loops around the string, rendering them topologically stable. Using the Monte Carlo simulations of the partition function, we compute the free energy associated with these configurations. The simulations are performed on lattices with spatial dimensions Nx,y=60,Nz=4, and temporal extent Nτ=2, 4. Our results show that the free energy of the Z3 strings is dominated by the domain walls. Further near the transition point, thermal fluctuations cause the decay of domain walls as well as the Z3 strings into confined-deconfined interfaces.

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Phys. Rev. D 113, 094511– Published 29 May, 2026
  • Received 31 August 2025
  • Revised 2 April 2026
  • Accepted 29 April 2026
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