Improved smoothing algorithms for lattice gauge theory

The relative smoothing rates of various gauge field smoothing algorithms are investigated on O(a(2))-improved SU(3) Yang-Mills gauge field configurations. In particular, an O(a(2))-improved version of APE smearing is motivated by considerations of smeared link projection and cooling. The extent to which the established benefits of improved cooling carry over to improved smearing is critically examined. We consider representative gauge field configurations generated with an O(a(2))-improved gauge field action on 16(3)x32 lattices at beta=4.38 and 24(3)x36 lattices at beta=5.00 having lattice spacings of 0.165(2) fm and 0.077(1) fm, respectively. While the merits of improved algorithms are clearly displayed for the coarse lattice spacing, the fine lattice results put the various algorithms on a more equal footing and allow a quantitative calibration of the smoothing rates for the various algorithms. We find the relative rate of variation in the action may be succinctly described in terms of simple calibration formulas which accurately describe the relative smoothness of the gauge field configurations at a microscopic level.