A global optimization method for Landau gauge fixing in Lattice QCD

Abstract

An algorithm for gauge fixing to the minimal Landau gauge in lattice QCD is described. The method, a combination of an evolutionary algorithm with a steepest descent method, is able to solve the problem of the nonperturbative gauge fixing. The performance of the combined algorithm is investigated on $8^4$, $\beta = 5.7$, and $16^4$, $\beta = 6.0$, lattice SU(3) gauge configurations.Comment: To appear in Comp. Phys. Comm. Minor changes in tex