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VOLUME 83 (2006) | ISSUE 7 | PAGE 326
Liquid crystal defects and confinement in Yang-Mills theory
PACS: 12.38.-t,12.38.Aw,61.30.-v
Abstract
We show that in the Landau gauge of the SU(2) Yang-Mills theory the residual global symmetry supports existence of the topological vortices which resemble disclination defects in the nematic liquid crystals and the Alice (half-quantum) vortices in the superfluid 3He in the A-phase. The theory also possesses half-integer and integer-charged monopoles which are analogous to the point-like defects in the nematic crystal and in the liquid helium. We argue that the deconfinement phase transition in the Yang-Mills theory in the Landau gauge is associated with the proliferation of these vortices and/or monopoles.