Center vortex model for the infrared sector of SU(3) Yang–Mills theory—confinement and deconfinement Original Research Article

The center vortex model for the infrared sector of Yang–Mills theory, previously studied for the SU(2) gauge group, is extended to SU(3). This model is based on the assumption that vortex world-surfaces can be viewed as random surfaces in Euclidean space–time. The confining properties are investigated, with a particular emphasis on the finite-temperature deconfining phase transition. The model predicts a very weak first order transition, in agreement with SU(3) lattice Yang–Mills theory, and also reproduces a consistent behavior of the spatial string tension in the deconfined phase. The geometrical structure of the center vortices is studied, including vortex branchings, which are a new property of the SU(3) case.