Prediction for Maximum Supercooling in SU ( N ) Confinement Transition
Abstract
The thermal confinement phase transition in SU(N) Yang-Mills theory is first order for N≥3, with bounce action scaling as N^{2}. Remarkably, lattice data for the action include a small coefficient whose presence likely strongly alters the phase transition dynamics. We give evidence, utilizing insights from softly broken supersymmetric Yang-Mills models, that the small coefficient originates from a deconfined phase instability just below the critical temperature. We predict the maximum achievable supercooling in SU(N) theories to be a few percent, which can be tested on the lattice. We briefly discuss the potentially significant suppression of the associated cosmological gravitational wave signals.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions
High-Energy Particle Collisions Research
Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Physical Review Letters
- Publisher
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Volume
- 136
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 041902–041902
- Publication date
- 2 January 2026
- Language
- EN