On the $N_f$-dependence of gluonic observables

Abstract

We compute $t_0$, $w_0$ and the topological susceptibility, defined at finite gradient flow time for two-flavour QCD. The use of three lattice spacings and pion masses between 192 and 500 MeV together with a careful error analysis allow to approach the continuum limit of the two-flavour theory despite significant auto-correlations. A comparison to $N_f=0$ results shows the size of sea quark effects in $t_0^2\chi$, with $\chi$ the topological susceptibility, and low energy observables such as $t_0/w_0^2$ and $t_0/r_0^2$.