Analysis of Static Wilson Line Correlators from Lattice QCD at Finite Temperature with $T$-matrix Approach

Abstract: We employ a thermodynamic $T$-matrix approach to study Wilson line correlators (WLCs) for a static quark-antiquark pair within the quark-gluon plasma (QGP). By refining earlier determined input parameters, self-consistent $T$-matrix calculations can approximately reproduce the WLCs from 2+1-flavor lattice-QCD (lQCD) computations, while also satisfying constraints on the bulk medium from the QGP equation of state. The main difference from earlier results is a reduced screening in the input potential toward higher temperatures. When elaborating the consequences of this scenario on transport properties we find a more pronounced temperature dependence of the low-momentum relaxation rate of heavy quarks in the QGP. This, in particular, leads to a rather weak increase of the (temperature-scaled) spatial diffusion coefficient, which turns out to be in fair agreement with the most recent pertinent lQCD data.