Notes on the Deconfining Phase Transition

Abstract

I review the deconfining phase transition in an SU(N) gauge theory without quarks. After computing the interface tension between Z(N) degenerate vacua deep in the deconfined phase, I follow Giovannangeli and Korthals Altes, and suggest a new model for (discrete) Polyakov loop spins. Effective theories for (continuous) Polyakov loop spins are constructed, including those with Z(N) charge greater than one, and compared with Lattice data. About the deconfining transition, the expectation values of Z(N) singlet fields (``quarkless baryons'') may change markedly. Speculations include: a possible duality between Polyakov loop and ordinary spins in four dimensions, and how Z(N) bubbles might be guaranteed to have positive pressure.