Properties of the SU(N_c) gluon plasma

Abstract

We investigate the deconfinement transition in SU(N_c) gauge theories, and properties of the deconfined phase. A detailed lattice study of SU(4) and SU(6) gauge theories are conducted, and finite volume and cutoff effects on thermodynamic observables are studied. The scaling of the deconfinement transition point with lattice spacing is used to calculate Λ_MS̅. The continuum estimates of the thermodynamic quantities are used to study properties of the gluon plasma. In particular, the approach to conformal limit is studied. We do not find any evidence of a strongly coupled, conformal phase in these theories.