DETECTION OF CENTER VORTICES IN THE LATTICE YANG-MILLS VACUUM - ART. NO. 094501

We discuss the implementation of the ''direct'' maximal center gauge ( a gauge which maximizes the lattice average of the squared-modulus of the trace of link variables), and its use in identifying Z(2) center v ortices in Yang-Mills vacuum configurations generated by lattice Monte Carlo calculations. We find that center vortices identified in the va cuum state account for the full asymptotic string tension. Scaling of vortex densities with lattice coupling, change in vortex size with coo ling, and sensitivity to Gribov copies are discussed. Preliminary evid ence is presented, on small lattices, for center dominance in SU(3) la ttice gauge theory. [S0556-2821(98)00419-6].