Deconstructing finite temperature pure gauge theory

Abstract

A deconstructed finite temperature gauge theory has the Euclidean time direction kept discrete and finite. The ultraviolet behavior is that of one dimension less than at zero temperature. One can add to the action a gauge invariant term dependent on Polyakov loops, without worrying about nonlocality. The deformation of {\" U}nsal and Yaffe is best analyzed in this framework. It is shown that turning it on causes a dramatic change in the Hilbert space on which the transfer matrix in the temperature direction acts. The undeformed Hilbert space is everywhere a gauge singlet while the deformed one includes all states transforming locally, anywhere, under any SU(N)/Z(N) irreducible representation. Implications of this in the context of large N reduction are discussed.