Lattice calculation of the Polyakov loop and Polyakov loop correlators

Abstract

We discuss calculations of the Polyakov loop and of Polyakov loop correlators using lattice gauge theory. We simulate QCD with 2+1 flavors and almost physical quark masses using the highly improved staggered quark action (HISQ).We demonstrate that the entropy derived from the Polyakov loop is a good probe of color screening. In particular, it allows for scheme independent and quantitative conclusions about the deconfinement aspects of the crossover and for a rigorous study of the onset of weak-coupling behavior at high temperatures. We examine the correlators for small and large separations and identify vacuum-like and screening regimes in the thermal medium. We demonstrate that gauge-independent screening properties can be obtained even from gauge-fixed singlet correlators and that we can pin down the asymptotic regime.