Spontaneous breaking of remnant gauge symmetries in zero-temperature SU(2) lattice gauge theory

Abstract

The 4-d SU(2) lattice gauge theory is simulated in the minimal Coulomb gauge which aims to maximize the traces of all links in three directions. Fourth-direction links are interpreted as spins in a Heisenberg-like model with varying interactions. These spins magnetize in 3-d hyperlayers at weak coupling, breaking a remnant gauge symmetry, as well as the Polyakov-loop symmetry. They demagnetize at a phase transition around $β= 2.5$ on the infinite lattice, as determined by Binder cumulant crossings. Because $N$ symmetries are breaking on an $N^4$ lattice, the transition is unusually broad, encompassing most of the crossover region on typical lattices.