Lattice calculation of the Polyakov loop and Polyakov loop correlators

We discuss calculations of the Polyakov loop and of Polyakov loop correlators using lattice gauge theory. We simulate QCD with 2+1 flavors and almost physical quark masses using the highly improved staggered quark action (HISQ). We demonstrate that the entropy derived from the Polyakov loop is a good probe of color screening. In particular, it allows for scheme independent and quantitative conclusions about the deconfinement aspects of the crossover and for a rigorous study of the onset of weak-coupling behavior at high temperatures. We examine the correlators for small and large separations and identify vacuum-like and screening regimes in the thermal medium. We demonstrate that gauge-independent screening properties can be obtained even from gauge-fixed singlet correlators and that we can pin down the asymptotic regime. (author)