Abstract :
The deconfinement transition in SU(4) lattice gauge theory is investigated on Ns3×Nt lattices for Ns=8–16 and Nt=4–8 using a modified Wilson action which is expected to be free of any bulk transitions. The susceptibility χ|L|max, where L is the order parameter for deconfinement, is found to increase linearly with spatial volume for Nt=4,5, and 6, indicating a first order deconfinement phase transition. The latent heat of the transition is estimated to be ≈2/3 of the corresponding ideal gas energy density at Tc.
