Correlation functions between topological objects -- field theoretic versus geometric definitions

Abstract

We analyze topological objects in pure gluonic $SU(2)$ lattice gauge theory and compute correlation functions between instantons and monopoles. Concerning the instantons we use geometric and field theoretic definitions of the topological charge. On a $12^3\times 4$ lattice it turns out that topological quantities have a non-trivial local correlation. The auto-correlation functions of the topological charge depend on cooling for both definitions. We fit the correlation functions to exponentials and obtain screening masses.