Comparison of filtering methods in SU(3) lattice gauge theory

Abstract: We systematically compare filtering methods used to extract topological excitations from lattice gauge configurations. We show that there is a strong correlation of the topological charge densities obtained by APE and Stout smearing. Furthermore, a first quantitative analysis of quenched and dynamical configurations reveals a crucial difference of their topological structure: the topological charge density is more fragmented, when dynamical quarks are present. This fact also implies that smearing has to be handled with great care, not to destroy these characteristic structures.