Magnetic Z(N) symmetry in hot QCD and the spatial Wilson loop

We discuss the relation between the deconfining phase transition in gauge theories and the realization of the magnetic Z(N) symmetry. At low temperature the Z(N) symmetry is spontaneously broken while above the phase transition it is restored. This is intimately related to the change of behaviour of the spatial 't Hooft loop discussed in hep-ph/9909516. We also point out that the realization of the magnetic symmetry has bearing on the behaviour of the spatial Wilson loop. We give a physical argument to the effect that at zero temperature the spatial Wilson loop must have perimeter law behaviour in the symmetric phase but area law behaviour in the spontaneously broken phase. At high temperature the argument does not hold and the restoration of magnetic Z(N) is consistent with area law for the Wilson loop.Comment: 30 pages, discussion of the Wilson loop at high temperature completely revised, new references adde

Gauge Theories with a Layered Phase

We study abelian gauge theories with anisotropic couplings in $4+D$ dimensions. A layered phase is present, in the absence as well as in the presence of fermions. A line of second order transitions separates the layered from the Coulomb phase, if $D\leq 3$.Comment: 17 pages+9 figures (in LATeX and PostScript in a uuencoded, compressed tar file appended at the end of the LATeX file) , CPT-94/P.303

Mean phase predictor for maximum a posteriori demodulator

A system and method for optimal maximum a posteriori (MAP) demodulation using a novel mean phase predictor. The mean phase predictor conducts cumulative averaging over multiple blocks of phase samples to provide accurate prior mean phases, to be input into a MAP phase estimator

Gauge Theory in d=2+1 at High Temperature: Z_N interface

We calculate on the lattice the interface tension in the SU(2) pure gauge theory in d=2+1 at high temperature. The result is compared to the perturbative prediction. The agreement confirms applicability of the perturbation theory in this case.Comment: Lattice'94 contribution, 3pp, uuencoded compressed postscrip

Domain Walls and Metastable Vacua in Hot Orientifold Field Theories

We consider "Orientifold field theories", namely SU(N) gauge theories with Dirac fermions in the two-index representation at high temperature. When N is even these theories exhibit a spontaneously broken Z2 centre symmetry. We study aspects of the domain wall that interpolates between the two vacua of the theory. In particular we calculate its tension to two-loop order. We compare its tension to the corresponding domain wall in a SU(N) gauge theory with adjoint fermions and find an agreement at large-N, as expected from planar equivalence between the two theories. Moreover, we provide a non-perturbative proof for the coincidence of the tensions at large-N. We also discuss the vacuum structure of the theory when the fermion is given a large mass and argue that there exist N-2 metastable vacua. We calculate the lifetime of those vacua in the thin wall approximation.Comment: 29 pages, 4 figures. v2: minor changes in the introduction section. to appear in JHE

Monopoles, vortices and confinement in SU(3) gauge theory

We compute, in SU(3) pure gauge theory, the vacuum expectation value (vev) of the operator which creates a $Z_3$ vortex wrapping the lattice through periodic boundary conditions (dual Polyakov line). The technique used is the same already tested in the SU(2) case. The dual Polyakov line proves to be a good disorder parameter for confinement, and has a similar behaviour to the monopole condensate. The new features which characterise the construction of the disorder operator in SU(3) are emphasised.Comment: 8 pages, 4 eps figures, typed with elsart.cl

Echec de la baisse de la TVA en restauration : mat ou pat ?

Cette étude de cas permet une approche chiffrée de l\u27impact supposée de la baisse de la TVA en restauration commerciale sur l\u27emploi, les investissements et la baisse des prix pour le client