On the deconfining transition of SU(∞) gauge theory

Monte Carlo simulations for twisted Eguchi-Kawai models with asymmetric couplings have been used to investigate the large-N deconfining phase transition of pure SU(N) gauge theories. Data with N = 25, 36, 49 and 64 and the variable asymmetry parameter ξ allow us to disentangle these theories' bulk first-order transition from their physical deconfining transition. The SU(64) data is in good agreement with asymptotic freedom and gives a critical temperature of T_c/Λ_E = 1 118 ± 6 or T_c/√σ = 0.42 + 0.05, which is close to the SU(3) ratio of deconfining temperature to the string tension. The data also suggest that the transition is first order.