A comprehensive picture of topological excitations in finite temperature lattice QCD

We study spectra, localization properties and local chirality of eigenvecto rs of the lattice Dirac operator. We analyze ensembles of quenched SU(3) co nfigurations on both sides of the QCD phase transition. Our Dirac operator is a systematic expansion in path length of a solution of the Ginsparg-Wils on equation. Analyzing the finite volume behavior of our observables and th eir scaling with the gauge coupling we come up with a consistent picture of topological excitations on both sides of the QCD phase transition. Our res ults support the interpretation of the dominant gauge field excitations see n by the Dirac operator as a fluid of instanton-like objects. (C) 2001 Else vier Science B.V. All fights reserved.