On the Conformal anomaly of k-strings

Abstract

Simple scaling properties of correlation functions of a confining gauge theory in d-dimensions lead to the conclusion that k-string dynamics is described, in the infrared limit, by a two-dimensional conformal field theory with conformal anomaly c = (d−2)σk/σ, where σk is the k-string tension and σ that of the fundamental representation. This result applies to any gauge theory with stable k-strings. We check it in a 3D Z4 gauge model at finite temperature, where a string effect directly related to c can be clearly identified.