Smoothing algorithms for projected center-vortex gauge fields

Abstract: We study the application of $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ gauge field smoothing methods to $\mathrm{Z}(3)$-projected center-vortex gauge fields. Due to the proportionality of the vortex links to the identity, naive applications of these methods are either ineffectual or limited in scope, containing subtle issues which are not obviously manifest. To overcome these issues we introduce centrifuge preconditioning, a novel method applied prior to smoothing that rotates the links away from the center while preserving the fundamental structure of the vortex field. Additionally, the concept of vortex-preserved annealed smoothing is formulated to ensure the smoothing procedure maintains the underlying vortex structure. The application of these new methods in the context of annealed smoothing applied to vortex fields is shown to successfully achieve the desired smoothness condition required for the study of more advanced operators.