A confinement criterion for gauge theories with matter fields

Abstract

A generalization of the Wilson loop area-law criterion is proposed, which is applicable to gauge theories with matter in the fundamental representation of the gauge group. This new criterion, like the area law, is stronger than the statement that asymptotic particle states are massive color singlets, which holds even for theories described by the Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism.

16 pages, 12 figures. v2: minor change in terminology, dictated by a precedent in the literature. No change in content. v3: reference added

References in corpus (3)

• Scaling behavior and positivity violation of the gluon propagator in full QCD
• On the Ambiguity of Spontaneously Broken Gauge Symmetry
• Vortices, Symmetry Breaking, and Temporary Confinement in SU(2) Gauge-Higgs Theory

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Is entanglement a probe of confinement?
• Excitations of elementary fermions in gauge Higgs theories
• Different faces of confinement
• Centre vortex structure in the presence of dynamical fermions
• Excited states of massive fermions in a chiral gauge theory
• Non-perturbative Aspects of Quantum Field Theories from Holography