Evidence that centre vortices underpin dynamical chiral symmetry breaking in $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ gauge theory

Understand

The link between dynamical chiral symmetry breaking and centre vortices in the gauge fields of pure $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ gauge theory is studied using the overlap-fermion quark propagator in Lattice QCD.

• Overlap fermions provide a lattice realisation of chiral symmetry and consequently offer a unique opportunity to explore the interplay of centre vortices, instantons and dynamical mass generation.
• Simulations are performed on gauge fields featuring the removal of centre vortices, identified through gauge transformations maximising the center of the gauge group.
• In contrast to previous results using the staggered-fermion action, the overlap-fermion results illustrate a loss of dynamical chiral symmetry breaking coincident with vortex removal.