On Lie and associative algebras containing inner derivations

We describe subalgebras of the Lie algebra \mf{gl}(n^2) that contain all inner derivations of $A=M_n(F)$ (where $n\ge 5$ and $F$ is an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0). In a more general context where $A$ is a prime algebra satisfying certain technical restrictions, we establish a density theorem for the associative algebra generated by all inner derivations of $A$.Comment: 11 pages, accepted for publication in Linear Algebra App

Lie Superautomorphisms on Associative Algebras, II

Lie superautomorphisms of prime associative superalgebras are considered. A definitive result is obtained for central simple superalgebras: their Lie superautomorphisms are of standard forms, except when the dimension of the superalgebra in question is 2 or 4.Comment: 19 pages, accepted for publication in Algebr. Represent. Theor

Identifying derivations through the spectra of their values

We consider the relationship between derivations $d$ and $g$ of a Banach algebra $B$ that satisfy \s(g(x)) \subseteq \s(d(x)) for every $x\in B$, where \s(\, . \,) stands for the spectrum. It turns out that in some basic situations, say if $B=B(X)$, the only possibilities are that $g=d$, $g=0$, and, if $d$ is an inner derivation implemented by an algebraic element of degree 2, also $g=-d$. The conclusions in more complex classes of algebras are not so simple, but are of a similar spirit. A rather definitive result is obtained for von Neumann algebras. In general $C^*$-algebras we have to make some adjustments, in particular we restrict our attention to inner derivations implemented by selfadjoint elements. We also consider a related condition $\|[b,x]\|\leq M\|[a,x]\|$ for all selfadjoint elements $x$ from a $C^*$-algebra $B$, where $a,b\in B$ and $a$ is normal.Comment: 12 page

Adjoint torelons, and the persistence of color electric flux tubes in the deconfined phase

It is argued that the adjoint torelon loop, i.e. a Polyakov loop in the adjoint representation running in a spatial, rather than temporal, direction, is an observable which is sensitive to the presence of long color electric flux tubes at high temperatures. We show via lattice Monte Carlo simulations that this observable has a sharp peak at the deconfinement transition, remains much larger than the vacuum value for some range of $T>T_c$, and falls below the vacuum value for $T > 2T_c$. This result suggests that long electric flux tubes may persist for a finite range of temperatures past the deconfinement transition, and at some stage disappear, presumably melting into a plasma of gluons. As a side remark, we point out that our results at $T<T_c$ imply that the eigenvalues of ordinary Polyakov loop holonomies in the confinement phase have a slight tendency to attract rather than repel, which may be relevant to certain models of confinement.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Dimensional Reduction and the Yang-Mills Vacuum State in 2+1 Dimensions

We propose an approximation to the ground state of Yang-Mills theory, quantized in temporal gauge and 2+1 dimensions, which satisfies the Yang-Mills Schrodinger equation in both the free-field limit, and in a strong-field zero mode limit. Our proposal contains a single parameter with dimensions of mass; confinement via dimensional reduction is obtained if this parameter is non-zero, and a non-zero value appears to be energetically preferred. A method for numerical simulation of this vacuum state is developed. It is shown that if the mass parameter is fixed from the known string tension in 2+1 dimensions, the resulting mass gap deduced from the vacuum state agrees, to within a few percent, with known results for the mass gap obtained by standard lattice Monte Carlo methods.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures. v2: Typos corrected. v3: added a new section discussing alternative (new variables) approaches, and fixed a problem with the appearance of figures in the pdf version. Version to appear in Phys Rev