Observing long color flux tubes in SU(2) lattice gauge theory

Abstract

We present results of a high statistics study of the chromofield distribution between static quarks in SU(2) gauge theory on lattices of volumes ${16}^{4}$, ${32}^{4}$, and ${48}^{3}$\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}64, with a physical extent ranging from 1.3 fm up to 2.7 fm at \ensuremath{\beta}=2.5, 2.635, and 2.74. We establish string formation over physical distances as large as 2 fm. The results are tested against Michael's sum rules. A detailed investigation of the transverse action and energy flux tube profiles is provided. As a by-product, we obtain the static lattice potential to unprecedented accuracy.