Small eigenvalues of the SU(3) Dirac operator on the lattice and in randommatrix theory - art. no. 094503

We calculate complete spectra of the staggered Dirac operator on the lattic e in quenched SU(3) gauge theory for beta=5.4 and various lattice sizes. Th e microscopic spectral density, the distribution of the smallest eigenvalue , and the two-point spectral correlation function are analyzed. We find the expected agreement of the lattice data with universal predictions of the c hiral unitary ensemble of random matrix theory up to a certain energy scale , the Thouless energy. The deviations from the universal predictions are de termined using the disconnected scaler susceptibility. We find that the Tho uless energy scales with the lattice size as expected from theoretical argu ments making use of the Gell-Mann-Oakes-Renner relation. [S0556-2821(99)006 09-8].