The torelon spectrum and the world-sheet axion

Abstract: We present a major update on the spectrum of the closed flux-tube (torelon) in $D=3+1$ $SU(N)$ gauge theories. Namely, we calculate the excitation spectrum of a confining flux-tube which winds around a spatial torus as a function of its length $l$, for short as well as long tubes. We do so for $N=3,5,6$ and two different values of the lattice spacing. Our states are characterised by the quantum numbers of spin $J$, transverse parity $P_{\perp}$, longitudinal parity $P_{\parallel}$ as well as by the longitudinal momentum $p_{\parallel}$. Our extended basis of operators used in combination with the generalized eigenvalue method enables us to extract masses for all irreducible representations characterised by ${ |J|,P_{\perp},P_{\parallel} }$. We confirm that most of the low-lying states are well described by the spectrum of the Goddard-Goldstone-Rebbi-Thorn string. In addition we provide strong evidence, that in addition to string like states, massive modes exist on the world-sheet. More precisely the ground state with quantum numbers ${|J|}^{P_{\perp}, P_{\parallel}}=0^{--}$ exhibits a behaviour which is in agreement with the interpretation of being an axion on the world-sheet of the flux-tube. This state arises from a topological interaction term included in the effective world-sheet action. In addition we observe that the second excited state with ${|J|}^{P_{\perp}, P_{\parallel}}=0^{++}$ behaves as a massive mode with mass twice that of the axion.