Probing the QCD vacuum with overlap fermions

Abstract

We use low lying eigenvectors of the overlap-Dirac operator as a probe of the QCD vacuum. If instantons play a significant role one would expect the low lying eigenmodes of the overlap-Dirac operator to consist mainly of the mixed ``would be zero modes''. Then, the eigenmodes should exhibit local chirality. Studying a recently introduced local chirality parameter, we find evidence supporting this picture.