Introduction to $Z_N$ Symmetry in $SU_N$ Gauge Theories at Finite Temperatures

Abstract

There have been several talks at this workshop on the physical interpretation and consequences of the $Z_N$ symmetry which is present in the Euclidean Path Integral formulation of $SU_N$ Gauge Theories at finite temperature. The purpose of this paper is to present an introduction to this subject. After a brief review of Gluodynamics at finite temperature, the nature of the $Z_N$ symmetry in this system is described and its relationship to confinement is discussed. $Z_N$ domain walls and bubbles are then described as is their relationship to the confining--deconfining phase transition. The effect of Fermions is then considered and the presence of metastable extrema of the Effective Potential for the Polyakov--Wilson Line is described. It is then argued that these metastable extrema do not correspond to physically realizable metastable states.